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ALDEN: Maybourne has a core set of underlying values.

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As the UK's Maybourne Hotel Group prepares for its first GCC roadshow, LTN talks to CEO Stephen Alden about the company's plans for the region.

Why did you decide to initiate your first group GCC roadshow?

I want to bring Maybourne to life in this market - to differentiate it from other hotel groups. We have done smaller individual roadshows in the past, but we are now following this up with a bigger roadshow, visiting three destinations in February and three more later on in 2009.

What format will it take?

The GMs of our properties will be asked questions live on stage. It will give the travel trade a chance to ask us about our company and our properties. This roadshow is not just about sales and promotions. This is Maybourne ‘goes live' in the Middle East - it will be like filming a live programme. By approaching it this way it becomes a lifestyle situation.

What differentiates the Maybourne from other hotel operators?

Our approach is based on a strong experience, but then the delivery is intuitive, even from a service standpoint, which is what people are more confident with these days. As a group we are different - what holds us together is a common passion for the business - for delivering service and for creating iconic buildings. All of our staff are passionate, which is an advantage in a company of our size - we are fairly small - although we do have some projects in the pipeline.

Maybourne has a core set of underlying values, but that doesn't mean we have to look and feel the same - it's just a way of doing business. We are intuitive, individual and have a sense of responsibility but we never allow our hotels to stray from our values. We are always genuine, caring and thoughtful.

You have three London properties; what are your plans for rolling out more?

We will not roll out more than one to two hotels per year over the next 10 years. The markets we are looking at are New York, Paris, Moscow and a few of the Middle East cities as well. There are a number of projects we are looking at and we are poised to take that next step.

We are starting with a strong foundation - three hotels in London and the legacy of service and fine buildings, but at the same time, being very much a reflection of modern-day life. It's not about the past - it's thinking about the future.

How would you describe your three current properties - The Connaught, The Berkeley and Claridge's?

Each of the three hotels has a very different personality and each has its own set of very loyal customers. We have just completed a US $140 million renovation of The Connaught and phase one of the renovations on The Berkeley is starting in January, worth around $200 million.

It involves everything from adding another 30 guest rooms and suites through to the addition of 12 residences overlooking the park, as well as a three-storey spa. We are looking to add more facilities around the 200-room hotel. We are building up its iconic standards over the next year.

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