Mr. Simon Coombs, President and CEO of Shaza Hotels and Mr. Sanjiv Malhotra, Executive Vice President for Shaza Hotels
Shaza Hotels, a member of the Global Hotel Alliance, is powering ahead with continued portfolio growth and expansion. The group announced today at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai, plans to open six new properties in 2019. The new openings will double the number of keys for the brand while marking its debut in key destinations such as Riyadh, Sharjah, Dubai and Doha.
Mr. Simon Coombs, President and CEO of Shaza Hotels, stated: “We are the number one luxury operator offering true Arabian hospitality and 2019 represents the company’s strongest opening pace since our launch. We are very excited to expand our presence in the GCC with both Shaza Hotels and Mysk by Shaza brands. This year we have six new properties lined up for opening and the first of these Shaza Hotel Residences, Riyadh began operations in February.”
Giving details of the other openings, Mr. Coombs added: “We recently signed an agreement with the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) to manage three retreats, namely Kingfisher Lodge in Kalba, Al Badayer Oasis in Al Badayer and Al Faya Lodge close to Mleiha. These high-end destinations under the ‘Sharjah Collection’ brand, will be operated and managed by our upscale Mysk by Shaza brand. We have already welcomed our first guests in Kingfisher Lodge last month and are now getting ready to celebrate the grand opening. In addition, we have two other fabulous hotels getting ready for opening in the third and fourth quarter of the year, namely Shaza Doha and Mysk The Palm in Dubai.”
The upcoming properties will diversify the brand’s offering with a unique mix of hotels, resorts and retreats, some of which will allow tourists to discover the hidden gems of the Arabian Peninsula such as the ‘Sharjah Collection’. Mr. Coombs stressed: “The latest additions to our portfolio are testament to our compelling value proposition to our partners delivering long-term growth as well as our commitment to provide our guests with a diverse mix of accommodation options in some of the region’s most extraordinary locations.”
Elaborating on the group’s expansion strategy, Mr. Coombs stated: “The various tourism initiatives by the authorities in the region are fuelling continued growth for our industry. Given the massive opportunity, Shaza Hotels has outlined an ambitious expansion strategy that is aimed at accelerating our growth in the region and beyond. Our goal is to have 70% of the portfolio in the GCC with focus on Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Jeddah, Riyadh, Al Khobar, Makkah and Madinah as well as secondary cities in KSA driving superior returns to our stakeholders and associates. The remaining 30% will be outside the region with a focus on high-growth markets such as Turkey, Egypt, Indonesia and Malaysia where we have some interesting projects under consideration.”
Rita Ghantous is a hospitality aficionado and a passionate writer with over 9 years’ experience in journalism and 5 years experience in the hospitality sector.
Her passion for the performance arts and writing, started early. At 10 years old she was praised for her solo performance of the Beatles song “All My Love” accompanied by a guitarist, and was approached by a French talent scout during her school play. However, her love for writing was stronger. Fresh out of school, she became a freelance journalist for Noun Magazine and was awarded the Silver Award Cup for Outstanding Poetry, by The International Library of Poetry (Washington DC).
She studied Business Management and earned a Masters degree from Saint Joseph University (USJ), her thesis was published in the Proche-Orient, Études en Management book.
She then pursued a career in the hospitality industry but didn’t give up writing, that is why she launched the Four Points by Sheraton Le Verdun Newsletter.
Her love for the industry and journalism led her to Hospitality Services - the organizers of the HORECA trade show in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Jordan, as well as Salon Du Chocolat, Beirut Cooking Festival, Whisky Live and other regional shows. She is currently the Publications Executive of Hospitality News Middle East, Taste & Flavors and Lebanon Traveler.
It is with ultimate devotion for her magazines that she demonstrates her hospitality savoir-faire.
