Dubai: Following its debut in the Middle East earlier this year with the opening of Fraser Suites Seef in Bahrain, Frasers Hospitality opened a property in Dubai this week.
The service apartment operator, which first started operations in 1997 in Singapore, today has a presence in 21 cities around the world and is looking to expand in the Middle East and Gulf region, a company spokesman said. Fraser Suites Doha is scheduled to be launched in January.
Advanced negotiations are also under way for properties in Riyadh, Al Khobar and Jeddah, he said.
Guus Bakker, Chief Operating Officer of Fraser Hosptality's Europe and Middle East operations, said: "Saudi Arabia is a very important market. We have already gone forward in Saudi Arabia to finalise the deal to roll out six properties over there".
The company is also looking for opportunities in Abu Dhabi, he said. "It [Abu Dhabi] is a place where you have to be and we would like to be," he said.
Oman was another location on the company's list. "We would like to expand in the cities where we are," Bakker said.
Upbeat about occupancy
In an industry that is fully saturated, Bakker said he was not worried about being in Dubai despite there being pressure in terms of occupancies.
"We see that now the economy is recovering quite steadily," he said. "The worst is behind us and I only see it getting better from here on."
Between June and September of this year, Frasers Hospitality had its strongest period in France and the United Kingdom, Bakker said. "The good thing is that serviced apartments are crisis-resistant because we have people who are here for long stays, so we don't get affected right away," he said.
Located on Shaikh Zayed Road, Fraser Suites Dubai in the 45-storey Sidra Tower is fully serviced and includes an outdoor swimming pool, a tennis court, a squash court a gym and a spa. It also offers a business centre, boardroom and meeting rooms.
Room rates start at Dh750 per night. When the market picks up, Bakker said the company hopes to improve on current rates.
