Courtesy/News Source: power50.hoteliermiddleeast.com

In addition to the new signings, the group also lost one hotel. Kempinski Hotel Ajman was reflagged as the Ajman Hotel, under the Blazon Hotels brand early this year.

In the last year, Kempinski has entered new markets in the GCC and signed new projects to add to its current portfolio of 22 hotels in the Middle East. Leading the group’s strategy for the region is CEO for Middle East and Africa Henk Meyknecht.

In March, the group marked its debut in Oman when Kempinski Hotel Muscat opened after significant delays. The group is now gearing up to open its new Dubai property and the second hotel it will manage on Palm Jumeirah — the 389-room Emerald Palace Kempinski.

Also in the pipeline is Kempinski Hotel Mecca, which is scheduled to open in Q1 of 2022 with 380 rooms and suits, in combination with Kempinski Residences Mecca with 270 apartments.

In addition to the new signings, the group also lost one hotel. Kempinski Hotel Ajman was reflagged as the Ajman Hotel, under the Blazon Hotels brand early this year.

The UAE, Saudi Arabia and Morocco remain key growth regions for Kempinski, but the operator will continue to take a selective approach to its expansion plans.

Meyknecht tells Hotelier Middle East: “We continue to invest into digital guest intelligence platforms to better understand the needs of our guests.

“Internally we expand on Kempinski Intelligence Tools, offering our hoteliers advanced digital platforms, streamlining financial forecasting, global talent development and optimising revenue management. We apply an entrepreneurial approach to all of our strategic decisions, driven by our hoteliers, who embody a guest-centric approach.”