Thailand-based Centara Hotels and Resorts is set to expand its reach beyond Asia and open hotels in Muscat, Oman; Doha, Qatar; and Dubai, UAE.
“We see the Middle East as a strategic and extremely important part of our global expansion plans," Centara Hotels & Resorts COO Chris Bailey told Hotelier Middle East. “In addition to our confirmed projects in Dubai, Muscat and Doha there are projects in the pipeline in Saudi Arabia and Iran. It is very important we continue to expand throughout the region to develop brand recognition and coverage.”
The MICE-focused Muscat hotel will be branded four-star, and will have 152 rooms. The first of the two upcoming Doha hotels is set to open by the end of this year and will be a five-star Centara Grand property in the West Bay area. A second 261-room hotel under Centara's residences banner will open in 2017.
Bailey did not reveal many details about the Dubai property, but the firm did confirm it was working with property developers Nakheel to open its Centara Grand Residence & Suites—aimed towards long-stay guests—in 2018.