Hyatt: “The Middle East is seeing a rising demand for lifestyle hotels”

Hyatt has announced the growth of its lifestyle hotels across the Middle East by adding more than 1,300 keys to the region, bringing the number of Hyatt lifestyle hotels to seven by 2023.

The planned expansion includes the opening of the first Hyatt Centric branded hotels in the United Arab Emirates, the State of Qatar and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the first Andaz branded hotel in Dubai, and the second Alila branded property in the Sultanate of Oman.

“A rising demand for lifestyle hotels”

“The Middle East is seeing a rising demand for lifestyle hotels,” said Kurt Straub, vice president of operations for the Middle East, Africa and South-West Asia for Hyatt. “At Hyatt, we aim to grow with intent. And with that in mind, we strive to expand our brand presence in the region by introducing lifestyle-driven brands that cater to the needs of our guests and, at the same time, fit very well into their locations.

“The five planned openings in the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the State of Qatar and the Sultanate of Oman cement our commitment to the region and will provide an enhanced lifestyle experience for our guests.”

The expected growth includes the debut of Hyatt’s lifestyle brand across three countries, with the projected openings of Hyatt Centric Dubai La Mer (2020), Hyatt Centric West Bay Doha (2020), and Jabal Omar Hyatt Centric Makkah Hotel and Residences (2023).

The upcoming debut of Andaz Dubai The Palm (2019) will mark the second Andaz hotel in the United Arab Emirates and expand the luxury lifestyle brand’s presence in the Gulf nation. The hotel will offer an immersive, multisensory local experience, weaving in distinctive elements of the city’s rich culture and heritage, a signature of the Andaz brand.

Alila Hinu Bay Salalah (2020) will be the second Alila resort in Oman and will bring to life the brand’s contemporary expressions of century-old traditions, authentic experiences and sustainable mindset.

“We have identified this segment as a key growth driver for us”

“Our guests’ preferences keep evolving, and we want to ensure that we cater to every traveller’s needs and desires,” said Frederic Flageat-Simon, Hyatt’s global head of lifestyle operations.

“The introduction of a dedicated lifestyle division reflects our commitment to further carve out Hyatt’s role in the ever-growing lifestyle segment. We have identified this segment as a key growth driver for us and strive to advance care for our guests and meet their preference towards personalized, rare and meaningful experiences.”