Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has taken over management of the Emirates-owned luxury Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa in Dubai, the company announced yesterday.
The resort is still owned by Emirates Hotels and Resorts, which was also previously responsible for the management of the 42-suite property. Starwood has brands including Le Meridien, W Hotels and Sheraton in its portfolio.
The hotel is designed to reflect a Bedouin encampment and is located in the 22,500 hectare Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve.
Patrick Antaki, the complex general manager of Al Maha and Le Meridien Al Aqah, said the resort would keep all existing staff under the new management agreement.
"Starwood is bringing with it a wealth of experience and global exposure," said Mr Antaki. "Emirates is giving its hotel business to hoteliers. Our job is to bring in more customers."
He said the hotel was a popular weekend destination for UAE residents. "We evaluate all our businesses on an ongoing basis," Emirates Hotels said. "If we feel that there are any areas that can benefit from third-party expertise, we will bring them on board."
Al Maha opened in 1999 and boasts more than 2,000 pieces in its collection of Arab antiques, artefacts and artworks. Other competing desert resorts, including the Qasr Al Sarab in Abu Dhabi and the Banyan Tree Al Wadi, have since opened in the UAE.
"We have received a good response from our customers, enjoyed a high occupancy, with a large percentage of repeat customers or referrals, and have a firm financial base," Emirates Hotels said. "Now as part of Starwood Hotels' The Luxury Collection portfolio, the resort can tap into wider network and achieve its full potential."
Emirates Hotels last year handed over management of the Harbour Hotel in Dubai Marina to Marriott.
In September last year, Emirates Hotels opened its first property abroad, the A$125 million (Dh448m) conservation-based Wolgan Valley Resort and Spa in New South Wales, Australia.
But the company's planned US$253m (Dh929.1m) resort in the Seychelles has been delayed due to the economic downturn. Emirates yesterday said the resort was in its design phase.
Emirates Hotels also owns Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort in Fujairah. It is building its JW Marriott Marquis Hotel on the Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai. "The addition of the Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa is symbolic of our continued focus to grow our portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts in the Middle East," said Roeland Vos, the president of Starwood for Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
