Jumeirah looks to treble hotel portfolio

Dubai-based luxury hotel operator, Jumeirah, is set to almost treble the size its world-wide portfolio by the end of the year.In an interview with UAE daily Gulf News, the company's Executive Chairman Gerald Lawless said that it has heads of agreements signed that will add 20 new properties to the current eight hotels it runs in Dubai, the two it has in London and the one it has in New York."Towards the end of 2007, we will have close to 30 hotels operational and signed up," he told the newspaper. Adding that he hoped to have 60 hotels in the group by 2011.

Several of the new hotels will be in Dubai, but there are also properties under construction in China, Thailand and Bermuda. The company also recently took management control of Etihad Towers hotel and residences in Abu Dhabi.Lawless said that creating a balanced portfolio of properties within and outside Dubai is a key strategic goal for the group. Source