Preferred Hotels & Resorts Unveils Exclusive 2017 Middle Eastern Travel Insights

Preferred Hotels & Resorts, the world’s largest independent hotel brand, has unveiled its exclusive 2017 Travel Insights pertaining to the Middle East. Currently offering 650 distinctive hotels, resorts, residences, and unique hotel groups across 85 countries, Preferred Hotels & Resorts is renowned as a world-leader when it comes to offering bucket-list-worthy independent travel experiences around the world.

Preferred Hotels & Resorts reported earlier this month solid growth on a global and regional level with an addition of 84 hotels to its distinctive portfolio. This growth is set amongst a context of enhanced luxury travel activity, with an increase of inbound travel within the Preferred Hotels & Resorts portfolio of 18% into the Middle East and more concentrated growth of 34% into Dubai.

The Preferred Hotels & Resorts 2017 Middle East Travel insights shows the top inbound and outbound hotels globally and regionally per areas of interest including business, leisure, honeymoon and family.

Part 1. Inbound Travel

• New Hotels in the Middle East

Over the past few years, Preferred Hotels & Resorts has expanded its presence in the Middle East with recent entries in new markets such as Saudi Arabia and Bahrain. The regional brand’s portfolio currently offers 23 hotels, which includes seven new additions across six markets

• Top feeder markets for Preferred Hotels’ Middle East portfolio

In the region, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are the top feeder markets for Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ Middle East portfolio with Nassima Royal Hotel, Dubai being the most booked hotel.

• Top 5 Middle East Hotels per areas of interest

The Preferred Hotels & Resorts portfolio in the Middle East caters to the needs of all, whether based for business, leisure, honeymoon or family travels. According to the 2017 Travel Insight, Palazzo Versace Dubai and Dukes Dubai are the most requested hotels in the Middle East.

• Top 5 Hotels for business

• Top 5 Hotels for leisure

• Top 5 Hotels for honeymoon / couples

• Top 5 Hotels for families

Part 1. Outbound Travel

Outbound travel for Preferred Hotels & Resorts is on the rise with the United States of America, Switzerland and the United Kingdom leading the list of international destinations for UAE / GCC residents.

• Top 10 international destinations with bookings originated from UAE / GCC:

• Top 10 properties booked from UAE / GCC:

The most frequently booked properties in the region are Nassima Royal Hotel in Dubai and The Regency Kuwait in Salmiya, whilst the Monte Carlo Bay Hotel & Resorts is the preferred international property for UAE and GCC residents.

• Top 5 preferred requests for international Hotel stays:

Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ growth in the Middle East and specifically in Dubai fall into a context of a booming tourism industry in the emirate which accounts for around 20 percent of the emirate’s GDP. Dubai today is considered one of the most visited destinations in the world, and with Expo 2020 being held in Dubai and which is expected to attract 25 million visitors, the hospitality sector will be witnessing an exceptional growth and will open new doors to further presence for the Preferred Hotels & Resorts brand in the UAE and the region. Both inbound and outbond travels are expected to consolidate in the region as luxury hotels meet the needs of shifting market trends and adapt accordingly.