Dubai: The JW Marriott Marquis hotel on Dubai’s Shaikh Zayed Road expects revenue growth of 100 per cent this year over 2013 as the property boosts its room inventory, according to its recently appointed general manager, Bill Keffer.
The hotel, owned by Emirates Group, has 1,105 rooms with the addition of 301 rooms in the recently opened second tower. By the end of the year, the hotel is expected to have 1,608 rooms.
Keffer expects that demand from guests will absorb the new inventory.
“I have never worked in a market that continues to absorb inventory the way this one does,” Keffer said.
Meanwhile, the hotel has been expanding its food and beverage offering, which is expected to post a revenue growth of 30-40 per cent this year over 2013.
As Dubai International Airport undergoes runway repair work for a period of 80 days starting May 1, Keffer does not think it will result in a huge drop in business for the property. Dubai Airports said the number of flights at the airport will be reduced by 26 per cent during the repairs.
The JW Marriott Marquis’ main source markets are the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (40-50 per cent) and Western Europe. However, the hotel has guests from other markets, namely China, India and South America, among others.
“The GCC is a great market, but it will not fuel the growth that we need for the long-term in this market. We need to find other source markets,” he said.
The US hotel chain, Marriott International, currently has three other properties under the JW Marriott brand in the GCC, including Kuwait, Cairo and Deira in Dubai.
