About 46 new hotels likely to open across the Middle East and Africa region in the next three years are hoped to contribute about 33,000 new jobs.
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Middle East and Africa of the InterContinental Hotel Group has agreed that the Company would increase its portfolio by at least 50 percent within next three years, with atleast seven hotels likely to be opened in the UAE.
IHG already owns about 76 properties in the Middle East, including 16 hotels in the UAE, and is opening a Holiday Inn Express at Dubai International Airport this month.
The COO revealed that the Group is on the look out for people with industry experience.
Hotel occupancies in Dubai have begun to see an improvement following global recession, although room rates are still on the lower side. Occupancies in Dubai grew by 6.1 percent in January, compared to that during the same month last year, touching 72.1 percent.