Starwood said to reflag Mall of Emirates hotel

US operator Starwood will reflag Accor’s Pullman Dubai Mall of the Emirates hotel under its Sheraton brand.

On Monday, Accor said in a statement that the property, which is owned by Majid Al Futtaim Properties (MAF), would be rebranded by a US operator in January 2013.

A reliable source, who wished to remain anonymous, told Hotelier Middle East that MAF had awarded Starwood the management contract for the property, to be operated under its Sheraton brand.

Starwood was unable to comment on the partnership.

The hotel has been operated by Accor under the French group’s Pullman brand since October 2010.

“The two parties have reached a consensual decision to end that management contract,” Accor said in a statement earlier this week.

MAF Properties CEO Peter Walichnowski said in the same statement that the decision to introduce an American operator to The Pullman Dubai Mall of the Emirates was made to diversify the owner's hotel portfolio, which is currently managed exclusively by European operators.

MAF owns nine hotels in Dubai, eight of which are operated by Accor under the brands Pullman, Novotel, Suite Novotel and ibis, and one which is operated by Kempinski.

A representative from Majid Al Futtaim Properties was unavailable for further comment at the time of publishing.

Starwood currently operates more than 400 Sheraton hotels in around 70 countries.