A new landmark in Dubai, interview with Roda Hotel's CEO, Imad Elias
Hospitality News ME explores Roda Hotels' plans and projects with its CEO, Imad Elias
As a complex and a community, this project is the biggest in the Middle East
Roda Hotels, is a new hotel management company and subsidiary of Dubai International Real Estate. As one of the newest hotel management companies in the Middle East, Roda has an interesting portfolio of operational and properties under development, including the anticipated and iconic Roda Jewel of the Creek. Dubai.
A seasoned hotelier
With over 40 years of hospitality experience, Elias was asked to manage all the properties within the Roda Hotels’ network, as well as the upcoming ones. “Our portfolio involves investment that rises up to AED 10 billion,” he said. Elias believes that hospitality is about entrepreneurship and a successful track in this business is the result of nothing but true dedication and passion. “I rely on a team that helps me recreate hospitality in a new dimension in this part of the world, where expectations and standards are of a high caliber,” he explained.
A ‘Jewel’ unlike any other
Roda Jewel of the Creek, Dubai is the company’s most anticipated luxury resort. It is located on the banks of the Al Maktoum Bridge near the Floating Bridge and covers nearly 124,000 square meters of land.
The complex will comprise a five-star hotel with 460 rooms, four towers of luxury furnished apartments, a 60-berth marina, a spa, and a fitness center. With a 3,000-person capacity ballroom, a shopping mall and over 15 F&B outlets. According to Elias, they are going out of the box with this project, creating a new concept of a four-star ‘fashion hotel’ and a new three-star ‘lifestyle hotel’, as well as a nonalcoholic hotel that complements family aspirations and needs in the GCC. The project will be ready in two phases; the first one will be completed in August 2017 and the second will be operational a year after. Investment in both phases is AED 4 billion (USD 1.1 billion). “As a complex and a community, this project is the biggest in the Middle East,” Elias commented. He added, “Dubai will have three landmarks: The Frame, the Eye of Dubai and the Jewel of the Creek.”
Catering to the international market
Knowing the innovation and the complexity of the project’s design, Roda Hotel’s management aims to market it locally, regionally, and internationally through e-commerce channels. “We will have regional sales offices which will work on promoting and leasing the project,” he said. The hotel and apartment rooms will be offered for short and long-term leases, but will not be for sale.
More projects underway
Roda Hotels is planning to also develop a network of Jewel-branded projects. Before 2020, two additional Jewels are expected to open in the UAE; the first one, The Jewel of Jumeirah, will bring a 1,000-room hotel and apartments, the second, The Jewel of Garhoud, will have 1,200-room hotel as well as apartments, restaurants, and villas. “We are eyeing business expansion in Egypt, Qatar, and Kuwait, where we would love to have Jewels situated.”