More than three-quarters of the three-star hotels in Dubai are unbranded and privately owned.
The gap this represents in the Middle Eastern market has seen a sudden surge of three-star branded operators looking for development opportunities in the city. Already committed to opening three-star brands in the region are Centro, Express by Holiday Inn, EasyHotel, Travel Inn, Yotel, Park Inn and Kingsgate.
Speaking at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference in Dubai, InterContinental Hotel Group's chief operating officer for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Chris Maloney, said: "The Middle Eastern market is now mature enough to bring in new products, and investors are ready too."