Within the prevailing January this New Year, hotel portfolio within the Middle East gets a huge boost around with the initiation of 22 projects as well as 6,401 keys to be booked in this year.
The advent of the Expo 2020 Dubai slated to be commencing from October 1st, 2021, will be hosting the global hub Dubai for 173 days. The Expo has been possessed and stood under the thought-provoking theme touted as “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, this expo will be revolving around three subthemes known as: – Opportunity, Flexibility as well as Sustainability.
The overall leisure industry as well as hospitality specialists painted a positive image in form of a sturdier recovery, from the COVID-19 Pandemic, that will endure to fast-track till the Dubai as global hub unlocks its doors for the globe on October 1st ,2021 for the Expo 2020’s mammoth event.
Nicolas Mayer, global commerce leader for Tourism & Hospitality at PwC stated that: “If, within October 2021, the globalized pandemic circumstance will have further enhanced, being a realistic scenario, then Expo 2020 will be one amongst the initial as well as most vital events globally for reconnecting the world, digitally as well as physically. “Assuming that there will be a sustained normalisation of the condition, then the initiation of Expo 2020 in October 2021 will have an extra catalyst effect, which will enhance visitor onsets to the UAE. This is principally promising, as Expo will last six months, and thus, will permit for a dispersal of companies over a bigger period of time – which will permit to accommodate any social distancing necessities that will be considered compulsory at that time.”
“Over the past few months officials have underlined the vital role tourism plays in the UAE economy’s progress and recovery as well as the efforts to support us have been tremendous,” added Tim Cordon, Area senior vice president for the Middle East & Africa region at Radisson. “The UAE has been benefitting from local mandate over the past months and the ongoing efforts of the nation and its leaders have led to a global boost throughout the festive season. Looking at 2021, the Expo Dubai, which will commence in October 2021 and go on till March 2022, carries great potential for the market and will hopefully fascinate both, travellers from the Middle East and worldwide.”
According to the TopHotelProjects construction database, 2021 is off to an exhilarating commencement with 434 hotel projects and 81,792 rooms planned to come online in January globally. Europe takes the lead on a territory-by-territory basis with 185 hotels and 31,814 rooms; surveyed by North America with 136 new properties and 23,742 keys. The Middle East has 22 projects and 6,401 keys scheduled to strengthen its hotel portfolio. Dubai is among the top five capitals for hotel market evolution, with six projects planned for this month.
Tim Cordon noted that there will undeniably be many fluctuations that the hospitality sector will have to become familiarized to. The pandemic has essentially altered the way clients look at their travel plans, and there are doubts over when to travel, where to travel, or how long to travel.
“Our aim is to offer as much flexibility and planning comfort as possible. We therefore mitigate this with flexible cancellation and re-booking policies and ensure that we have the right procedures in place in order for our guests to feel at ease. On the other hand, we are ensuring that we uplift our promise, by sustaining and enhancing hygiene standards globally. The post-COVID-19 era will put a major emphasis on cleanliness and safety. I believe there is a real opportunity for brands to stand by and clearly communicate their brand values and positioning to consumers. Consumers need to believe in your brand, in your health and safety commitment and that you will deliver on your promises,” he said.
The UAE’s hospitality sector is pitched up for a top breaking year in 2021, as the nation formulates itself to host one of the principal global events in the world.
