Premier Travel Inn Breaks Ground

See following release issued for Emirates:

Media Release
24 May 2007

Premier Travel Inn Breaks Ground For First Of Several Dubai Hotels

New Zealand business and leisure travellers visiting Dubai will soon be able to stay in a well-known range of good quality, budget-priced hotels in the Emirates hub.

Premier Travel Inn (PTI), the UK’s biggest hotel brand known for its value-for-money prices, has broken ground for a new hotel at the Dubai Investment Park, the first of three properties it plans for Dubai.

Its first property in Dubai, and first overseas investment outside of the UK, will be a 308-room hotel scheduled for completion in first quarter of 2008.

The Premier Travel Inn Dubai will be operated under a joint venture between the Emirates Group, the largest aviation and travel services operator in the Middle East, and the UK’s leading hospitality group, Whitbread Plc. The joint venture, PTI Gulf Hotels, recently secured financing from Emirates Bank International and the National Bank of Dubai for its first three developments in Dubai.

Darroch Crawford, Managing Director, PTI Gulf Hotels, said: “We are forging ahead with our aggressive game plan, which is to bring 830 new rooms into the market over the next 18 months. In addition to Dubai Investment Park, we have also secured sites in Garhoud close to Dubai airport and in the Dubai Silicon Oasis. Tenders for PTI’s new developments are currently in progress.”

Derek Swan, Emirates’ Senior Vice President Business Development, said: “In tandem with the rapid economic development in the GCC, there is a huge and growing market for business and leisure travellers seeking high quality budget hotel accommodation. Premier Travel Inn has an excellent track record in providing a great value-for-money hospitality product, and we are confident that PTI Gulf Hotels are well-positioned to service this demand.

"Over the next five years, we plan to develop eight to nine properties in Dubai and launch some 5,000 rooms throughout the Gulf,” he added.

Emirates Airline flies four times daily from New Zealand to Dubai and beyond, via Australia.

Premier Travel Inn is known for its guarantee of good quality rooms at value for money prices. All its hotels feature ensuite bathroom with shower and bath; king sized beds with duvet; remote control TV/radio alarm; tea/coffee making facilities; and a spacious desk area. Premier Travel Inn, which operates more than 480 budget hotels in the UK with over 32,000 rooms, is renowned for providing consistent guaranteed quality, achieving 80 per cent occupancy rates.

Although the Premier Travel Inn Gulf product will be to its same high UK standard, enhancements are planned, including swimming pools. Room rates are expected to be in the region of US$ 110.

The Premier Travel Inn joint venture complements Emirates’ luxury hotel and serviced apartments management division, Emirates Hotels & Resorts, extending its hospitality portfolio into the budget hotel sector. Emirates has an existing relationship with Whitbread Plc through its franchise operation of the Whitbread Costa Coffee brand in the UAE and the Gulf.

ends

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