Jumeirah names India representatives

In a bid to expand its representation network in India, Jumeirah Group plans to appoint two dedicated representatives in Delhi and Mumbai, respectively.

The Dubai-based luxury hospitality management group said in a statement yesterday that the representatives would be appointed by Delhi-based OM Tourism, a specialist travel representation company focusing on marketing and positioning international hospitality groups.

The aim behind these appointments is to focus on positioning the Jumeirah brand and representing the group's interests across all segments within the Indian market including the group, corporate and leisure markets, Jumeirah said in a statement.

It added that the deal recognises India as a "key growth region for business to Jumeirah's properties worldwide" and is further validation of the brand's global appeal.

Having recently launched its new contemporary lifestyle five-star hotel brand – Venu Hotels, Jumeirah Group is actively looking to have a presence in the Indian markets, according to the company's Executive Chairman, Gerald Lawless. "We are very keen to get into India and would dearly like to be there. So far we have had discussions but they haven't come to fruition yet. We are cautiously optimistic that before the end of this year at least, we will be at a Letter of Understanding stage on some Indian projects. It could be either for the Venu brand or the Jumeirah brand," he recently told Emirates Business.

Jumeirah Group has a current development pipeline of 60 hotels by 2012. The company expects to open 10 Venu and Jumeirah Hotels in the next 12 months in different parts of the world.

As Lawless said: "Overall, we have 60 hotels signed up. They won't all be open by 2012. Some would be Venu Hotels and some would be Jumeirah." By the end of 2013, Jumeirah is looking to have 30 hotels in operation including the ones it has at present.

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