Frasers Hospitality Group is expanding its global presence with eight new properties in the Middle East and Africa. The new properties will increase Frasers Hospitality Group’s global footprint to more than 1,500 units across both regions.
The recent launch of Fraser Suites West Bay, Doha marks the first of eight properties to open, making it the group’s second operating property in Qatar and the fifth in the Middle East. The group’s operating properties in the region – Fraser Suites Diplomatic Area Bahrain, Fraser Suites Seef Bahrain, Fraser Suites Doha and Fraser Suites Dubai - all enjoy an average occupancy rate of over 75%.
Frasers Hospitality Group entered the Middle East when it opened Fraser Suites Seef, Bahrain in 2009. Since its entry into the region, the group has been named as Middle East’s Leading Serviced Apartments Brand and Best Serviced Apartment Company in the Middle East. The properties have also been individually awarded as Leading Serviced Apartments within the region.
Tapping into the region’s business and tourism growth, Frasers Hospitality Group will also enter the Saudi Arabian market for the first time with properties in Jeddah, Khobar and Riyadh. The government’s plans to develop tourist attractions and improve visa issuance for visitors to Saudi Arabia is forecast to boost tourism. Inbound tourism is currently projected to grow 6.1% per annum by 2020. Visitors from the leisure and the business sectors to Jeddah are projected to increase with the expansion of Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport and the development of Jeddah Economic City.
Openings in Nigeria and the Republic of Congo will mark Frasers Hospitality Group’s first entry into Africa. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Sub-Saharan Africa remains a region of immense economic potential. The World Bank has forecast economic growth in the region to rebound to 2.9 percent in 2017, and rise above 3.5 percent by 2018. Given its growth potential, the continent is a key focus of the group’s global growth strategy.
“The Middle East and Africa are significant growth markets in our global expansion plans. As the regions continue to emerge as business hubs, our properties in key cities will be well positioned to cater to the needs of travelers. By 2026, international tourist arrivals are forecast to total more than 100 million in the Middle East and we are ready to meet the increased demand for Gold-Standard serviced residences. The recent opening of Fraser Suites West Bay, Doha is an example of our confidence in the region. Meanwhile, business spending in Africa is expected to grow from US$2.6 trillion in 2015 to US$3.5 trillion by 2025 , which is likely to see an increase in business travel to the region. We are targeting key business centres such as Nigeria’s capital Abuja and Africa’s largest city, and we look forward to expanding our footprint in the region in the coming years,” commented Mr Choe Peng Sum, Chief Executive Officer of Frasers Hospitality Group.
Frasers Hospitality’s global portfolio, including those in the pipeline, stands at 140 properties in more than 80 cities with 23,400 keys worldwide.
