Dubai-based hotel group Jumeirah sets sights on Hong Kong as China expansion rolls on
José Silva, the CEO of the company that operates the iconic Burj Al Arab five-star hotel in Dubai, says he would very much like to own a property outright in Hong Kong
Jumeirah Group, the Dubai-based high-end hotel operator known for its iconic sail-shaped property, is eyeing Hong Kong after laying the groundwork for expansion in China even as the city’s luxury hotel scene gets overcrowded with some of the best-known names in the world.
In January, Niccolo Hotels opened The Murray in Central. Rosewood Hotels & Resorts will soon open its first ultra-luxury property this winter in Tsim Sha Tsui, while Marriott International will debut its St Regis brand in Wan Chai early next year.
But Jumeirah’s CEO José Silva is unfazed.
And there’s good reason for it. Revenue per available room – a key industry measure – has increased more than 10 per cent in Hong Kong in the past 12 months through July, according to the latest CBRE report.
“From the moment you sign a deal to the moment you start operations, there will probably be 20 more hotels,” said the veteran hotelier, who took over in March. “You should be well prepared for a lot more competition when it comes.”