Langham waits for Middle East debut

While Langham Hotels & Resorts has seen steady global expansion, the company has yet to open a property in the Middle East. That could change, however, by the end of this year

The Langham Jeddah, is currently under construction and is expected to open by the end of 2017 or early 2018, according to CEO Robert Warman. This may well be in advance of the brand’s upcoming Dubai hotel, which was originally scheduled for a 2015 debut. “Unfortunately the developer has struggled with their contractor in putting that together,” Warman told Arabian Business. The Palm Jumeirah hotel, which he says is advanced in terms of structure, is now due to open next year. “My guess is [within the] next year and a half. I would think somewhere mid-2018.”

In 2015, Langham Hotels also announced plans to open a project in Dubai’s Business Bay with real estate developer Omniyat. The $273-million Langham Place Downtown Dubai has also has also faced delays there. Currently slated to open in 2018, the project is not expected to even begin construction until this spring or even summer, and construction will likely take three years. 

Last year, Langham signed its first hotel in Qatar. The property is scheduled to open in Lusail sometime around the end of 2018 or early 2019. The hotel will be developed by Real Estate Services Group (RSG) and managed by Langham Hospitality Group. Notably, the property will be part of the first phase of the Lusail City development, and close to Lusail Iconic Stadium, where the opening and final matches of the 2022 FIFA World Cup will be played. 

Growth in the Middle East, Warman said, will primarily focus on the GCC.

Further Plans?

Langham is also considering a resort in Doha—one that would only be for women. “We think that could be a really unique positioning to bring a high level of service into what has traditionally probably not been the top tier segment,” Warman said.

“We’re looking at a project in Abu Dhabi; we’re looking at Oman. We think we’ll continue to expand, certainly as  the Dubai, Doha and Jeddah [projects] come out of the ground, and bring more awareness. Today, it’s hard, we know there’s going to be a Langham in Dubai, but it’s not out of the ground yet.”