Grand ambitions

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Mark Hoplamazian, CEO of Global Hyatt Corporation.

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Thomas Pritzker, Chairman of Global Hyatt Corporation.

Global hotel empire Hyatt has set its eyes on Middle East expansion. Tamara Walid asks chairman Thomas Pritzker and CEO Mark Hoplamazian why the region is so attractive to the world's leading hospitality players.

The two Hyatt execs look quite at home. And they are. Chairman Thomas Pritzker and president and CEO Mark Hoplamazian of the Global Hyatt Corporation are reclining in the plush sofas of their luxurious suite in Dubai's biggest hotel - the Grand Hyatt.

They are here, along with some 400 other Hyatt top brass, to plot the growth trajectory of the famous hospitality group.

The Dubai venue is no accident. The hospitality and tourism possibilities presented by the emirate are among the main reasons that tempted the group to arrange its annual global meeting in Dubai, as Hyatt seeks to expand its operations in the Middle East.

In 2008 Hyatt is set for three new openings in the region: Grand Hyatt Doha, Park Hyatt Istanbul, and Park Hyatt Jeddah. The properties will be an addition to the company's existing nine Hyatt hotels in the area and its 750 hotels and resorts in over 45 countries worldwide.

"The world is globalising and there are things we need all of our people to understand," says Pritzker. "You come to Dubai, it's the most modern city in the world and it's been built in the last 10 years. We want our general managers and board of directors to understand the scope of what's happening in the world.

It is clear from talking to the Hyatt executive that Dubai impresses him and so does its ruler. Having met Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum several times, he says: "I think Sheikh Mohammed is the greatest real estate entrepreneur of our time and our business has to do with real estate and with being entrepreneurial in the real estate world".

This is the exactly what Pritzker wants to showcase in the meeting - an example of "making a difference".

In January this year, Hyatt opened up a new division in Dubai: a Southwest Asia office to manage its existing properties, as well as oversee the 18 new projects in progress across the GCC and India.

"Our new division, Southwest Asia, is based in Dubai and covers the GCC countries, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Those two regions, Southeast Asia and China, and Southwest Asia, are the highest growth areas for us," adds Hoplamazian.

Perhaps the biggest example of Dubai's hospitality ambition is the Bawadi project, Tatweer's development of Las Vegas-style themed hotels. While some analysts have expressed doubt over the likely success of a Las Vegas-style hotel project, without Las Vegas-style gambling, Hoplamazian is optimistic about the planned development.

He notes that while many Dubai projects have been overloaded with criticism and doubt, they nevertheless "surreally come to life".

"The message herein is that one underestimates the success of projects in Dubai at one's own peril," he says, adding that the group does not have any current projects in Bawadi but would "definitely consider having hotels there".

Another attraction of the region for Hoplamazian and Pritzker is the increasing volume of conference and event activity, especially in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. He says projects such as Bawadi will be well placed to tap into that growth.

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