United Arab Emirates – Hotel owners can now make significant cost savings of up to 33% while capitalising on the world’s most respected hotel management companies, including brands within the Hilton, Accor Hotels, IHG, Marriott, and Wyndham Worldwide portfolios, as the Cristal Group launches white-label hospitality solutions in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
The new direction promises unrivalled choice for local hotel owners and investors, allowing them to franchise world-renowned hotel brands for new and existing developments. All operations are then expertly managed by the Cristal Group – drastically cutting costs while leveraging the worldwide respect and recognition of these distinguished global brands.
Building on its success in the hospitality industry in Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia and Kurdistan, the Cristal Group brings its ‘lean and mean’ business management to the day-to-day operations of these hotel partnerships, maintaining the highest design, construction, and operating standards at a fraction of the cost commanded by the larger chains in a traditional franchise model.
Kamal Fakhoury, Chief Executive Officer of the Cristal Group said: “We are thrilled to be at the vanguard of this incredible opportunity, bringing together the world’s most respected hotel brands with our operational acumen and local expertise.”
“White-label partnerships allow us to remain flexible and agile in terms of construction, procurement, and staffing, which translates to significant cost savings for investors. Our laser-sharp value engineering can reduce expenses across all facets of hotel management, from design and build to ongoing operational expenditures, which are often one-third less than the major hotel brands.”
Continuing to build on the success of its existing hotel portfolio, the move into white-label franchising will cement the Cristal Group’s goal of being a premier business and leisure hotel operator in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. In 2022, the four operational hotels in Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Erbil recorded an outstanding annual turnover of over US$15 million. The group’s flagship property, Cristal Hotel Abu Dhabi, has maintained an impressive occupancy rate of 93% or higher since opening in 2009, achieving this enviable benchmark even at the height of the pandemic.
A TAILORED APPROACH
In launching this revolutionary white-label consultancy in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, the Cristal Group has recognised a gap in the market for tailored hospitality solutions that offer real, measurable savings for investors, while allowing them to leverage the established brand recognition of the world’s most respected hotel chains.
“With our years of experience in the region, we recognise that the local market is maturing,” noted Fakhoury. “In the US, over 90% of properties are franchised, and the majority are operated under third-party organisations. In the UAE, almost 90% are managed directly, but owners are starting to realise they can make substantial savings by working with third-party operators like the Cristal Group.”
“What we bring to the table is an outstanding opportunity for investors to work directly under our established brands or align with an international brand at a fraction of the regular operating costs,” said Fakhoury. “We tailor our approach to each owner and project to ensure the highest returns, while maintaining our remarkable operational standards across the board.”