DUBAI. The Emirates Group, the owner of Emirates Airline, has struck a joint venture agreement with UK group Whitbread to launch Premier Travel Inn budget hotels in Dubai and the GCC.
The first Premier Travel Inn in Dubai will be a 300-room hotel at Dubai Investment Park, scheduled to open in the last quarter of 2007. It will be followed in 2008 by a similar size hotel at Dubai Airport, and a 220-room hotel at Dubai Silicon Oasis. Room rates are expected to be about Dhs400 (US$111).
Premier Travel Inn operates more than 470 budget hotels in the UK with over 31,000 rooms.
HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman & Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group, said: “Premier Travel Inn will bring a fresh new offering of proven quality service in a hotel sector where demand is high.
“This renowned hotel brand will also complement our ethos of quality service across all our Emirates operations, and bring a new dimension to our hospitality portfolio.”
Although the Premier Travel Inn GCC product will be to its same high UK standard, enhancements are planned, including swimming pools.
Emirates has an existing relationship with Whitbread through its franchise operation of the Whitbread Costa Coffee brand in the UAE.
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