Hotelier Middle East – May 2019

COVER STORY

HOTELIER MIDDLE EAST | May 2019 | Volume 18 Issue 05 33

and Super 8.
“Last year, we opened the largest TRYP
by Wyndham in the world in Barsha
Heights [Dubai], with 650 units,” adds
Loupasis. “We also introduced Wyndham
Garden in Manama, Bahrain, which is
the largest Gardens in the world with 441
rooms. We also brought the brand to Ajman,
UAE, and in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.”
Other midscale and economy brands in
the MEA include the midscale Howard

Johnson (293 rooms, three hotels) and

Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham (470 rooms,

four hotels) and the economy Days Inn.

The total of midscale and economy hotels

combined in the region is 53 properties

and 4,966 rooms. The upscale and upper

upscale brands in the region include

Wyndham (1,002 rooms, two hotels)

and Wyndham Grand (509 rooms, two

hotels).

Loupasis admits that there “has been an

awakening,” through further expansion in

areas like the UAE and Saudi Arabia. But

what is driving the growth?

In December 2018, Hotelier Middle East

reported how Wyndham Hotels & Resorts

is to open three new hotels in the Deira

Waterfront Development by Ithra Dubai,

a wholly owned subsidiary of Investment

Corporation of Dubai (ICD). The hotels

will operate under the Wyndham, Days

by Wyndham, and Super 8 by Wyndham

brands.

According to Mankis, there is today a

proliferation of upper midscale, upscale,

upper upscale luxury brands throughout

the GCC and wider Middle East. “What’s

missing,” he says, “is internationally

branded three star economy hotels and

internationally branded extended stay

products [hotel apartments]. Both are

underrepresented in the internationally

branded arena here in the region. This has

“Last year, we

opened the largest

TRYP by Wyndham

in the world in

Barsha Heights

[Dubai], with 650

units”

Panos Loupasis

Guest room suiteat the Dammam property

Panos Loupasis