Alessandro Aldo Cabella, Area General Manager, Jumeirah Group, talks about the new brand – Zabeel House by Jumeirah – and plans for the Indian market.
Anupriya Bishnoi
What was the objective behind the recent roadshow in India?
Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts recently conducted a three-city roadshow in Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Delhi to further strengthen its relations with the trade and to introduce the newly-opened brand, Zabeel House by Jumeirah. Around 18 Jumeirah properties participated in the roadshow, which was attended by over 140 agents in each city. The event was a huge success.
The India market has witnessed a considerable rise in outbound luxury travel in recent years. The group is focusing on expanding and consolidating its ties with the luxury travel segment to reach out to a larger audience and gain a higher market share. The roadshow served as a platform to increase brand awareness and gain new consumers.
Tell us more about Zabeel House by Jumeirah.
We felt it was necessary to have a second brand in our portfolio and thus, Zabeel House by Jumeirah was born. This brand has been welcomed by European travel agents and various partners that we have met during our India visit. It’s a new, vibrant brand that’s all about the neighbourhood. We don’t use the standard rating of a star hotel, we call it upscale lifestyle. Zabeel House by Jumeirah promises to be stylish, while still delivering on the collection’s ‘upscale casual’ promise of sharp design and smart service, with an informal approach and a moderate price point.
We already have two operational properties in Dubai. The third one will be in the Greens and will be opened by December. Also, the ones that will be coming after that will not just be in the UAE but worldwide. Every property of Zabeel House by Jumeirah will have a sense of the neighbourhood. Guests don’t just come to a city, they come to a neighbourhood where they want to experience something different. That is the promise that Zabeel House by Jumeirah will deliver on.
How important is India as a market for the group?
The Indian market is very important to us, hence, we will repeat these shows a couple of times a year. We feel, our offerings and our hotel brands are appropriate for the Indian market, which has grown about 29-30 per cent and we think it’s only going to grow faster. We are looking forward to growing together. The response we received at the roadshow from agents, wedding planners, etc., was tremendous.
