Cristal Group expands into Turkey, Saudi Arabia

Dubai: Cristal Group, an Abu Dhabi-based hotel chain, is expanding into Turkey and Saudi Arabia to reap the benefits of the countries’ growing tourism sectors, its top executive said.

The company plans to open eight hotels in Turkey with its joint venture partner Murat Akipinar, managing director of High Projects, over the next three years, with up to five of those in Istanbul and the rest in Antalya and Turkey’s southern Hatay province, Kamal Fakhoury, chief operating officer, said by phone.

The hotels will be under Cristal’s four brands including the five-star Cristal Grand, the four-star Cristal and Sanctuary and the three-star Emerald. Cristal will also set up an office in the country.

“Turkey is a tourism hub that bodes well for inbound and outbound travel. Demand is good in the five-star segment, as well as the four- and three-star. The three-star segment has untapped potential,” Fakhoury said.

Turkey attracted around 40 million visitors in 2014. By 2023, it hopes to welcome 60 million visitors.

Cristal currently operates five properties, with one in Abu Dhabi and the rest in Lebanon (Zahle), Iraq (Arbil and Baghdad) and Moroni, Comoros, according to its website.

In Saudi Arabia, the company plans to open four properties, including one in Abha by the end of this year, two in Riyadh by 2016 and one in Makkah, an opening date for which has not been set.

It is expanding into the kingdom with its joint venture partner Fahid Mesnid, chairman of Amaken Tourism, Fakhoury said.

Further expansion

In the UAE, Cristal plans to refurbish and reopen the Boutique 7 Hotel and Suites in Dubai’s Tecom area in September.

“In the UAE, we are looking to expand to the northern emirates, including Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah — we are interested in opening resorts there — as well as expanding further in Dubai, with five- and three-star hotels,” Fakhoury said.

Also, Cristal aims to have two more hotels in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, with one opening in two and a half years’ time. It has not identified an opening date for the second property.

The size of the investment for the expansion in the region is more than Dh500 million, Fakhoury said.

The company is also interested in entering Asian markets, such as Malaysia and China.

“China is one of the biggest markets for outbound travel,” Fakhoury said.