Dubai has become the most concentrated city in the world for Starwood-operated hotels outside of New York following the opening of the Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and Majid Al Futtaim Properties on Thursday celebrated the opening of the new property, which was reflagged from the Accor’s Pullman Dubai Mall of the Emirates.
With this opening, Starwood now operates 14 hotels in Dubai with six more scheduled to open in the emirate over the next five years, it said in a statement.
The operator, which has moved its global headquarters to Dubai for one month, is also planning to add 14,000 guest rooms across the Middle East and Africa and create thousands of new jobs.
Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel is directly connected to Mall of the Emirates, which features more than 560 retail brands and is also home to the iconic Ski Dubai snow dome.
Hoyt Harper, global brand leader for Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, said: “With the opening of Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel, our brand portfolio in the region is stronger than ever and globally, we are anticipating record-breaking growth with plans to open our 500th Sheraton hotel by 2015.”
Peter Walichnowski, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Properties, added: “The hotel will be a fantastic addition to our hospitality portfolio and will complement our offerings at Mall of the Emirates, which was ranked as the seventh most lucrative shopping mall in the world by the International Council of Shopping Centres.”
Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel comprises 481 guest rooms, including 94 suites, plus four restaurants and lounges.
The opening marks Starwood’s 16th Sheraton hotel in the Middle East since the debut of the company in the region with the Sheraton Kuwait in 1966.
“The addition of Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel into the Sheraton and Starwood portfolios is a testament to the confidence owners have in Starwood and our brands,” said Bart Carnahan, senior vice president Acquisitions & Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa & Middle East.
“The Sheraton portfolio and pipeline is the strongest it has ever been and we look forward to both new-build and conversion opportunities for the brand throughout the Middle East.”
