UAE jobs: Hospitality group to hire 10,000 new staff as part of expansion plan – News

The company operates 17,000 keys and aims to more than double its product portfolio to 35,000-40,000 keys by 2030

Rotana, a leading Abu Dhabi-based hotel management company with properties in the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe and Turkey (Menat), will aggressively expand its portfolio and increase its workforce by up to 10,000 people over the next seven years.

“We employ about 11,000 people in the region and will add 8,000 to 10,000 more by 2030,” said Rotana President and CEO Guy Hutchinson.

The hospitality specialist’s total portfolio includes 130 hotels, with more than 120 hotels to be added by 2030. It operates 17,000 rooms and aims to more than double that to 35,000-40,000 by 2030, he said.

The company operates in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Africa, Egypt, Morocco, Algeria and Tanzania. And its in Kenya, Central and East Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Eastern Europe and Turkey.

Rotana recently announced its expansion into the UK with the launch of two new hotels under its affordable hotel and serviced apartment brands Centro, Centro New Malden and Centro Kingston. These are the first two properties to be launched as part of a wider agreement that will see the development of up to 1,500 keys across various locations in the greater London area, all under the Centro brand.

“We’re focused on growth right now, so we’re always looking for new opportunities,” Hutchinson said.

There are opportunities for all sectors of the GCC, he said.

“Branded hotel apartments will grow rapidly, mid-market like our Centro brand. This will be growth across all brand categories in Saudi Arabia.”

Regarding the UAE market, he said it is not a market that should be judged under normal circumstances.

“It’s a market with a 10-15 year growth plan. The same dynamic doesn’t happen in many countries around the world. It’s unique. No other market in the world has absorbed 140,000 hotel rooms like Dubai and is the world’s largest The top five cities are doing very well. People should have more confidence in what’s going to happen in the market,” said the Rotana CEO.

Looking ahead, he added several feeder markets to support the hospitality industry in the UAE. “Over the past 2-3 years, the UAE has done a great job of opening up new markets because of the variety of events it hosts, such as tennis, Cop28, cultural, sporting, sustainable events,” he said.

– waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com