Tourism leaders have voted international hotel group Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts has been voted the brand with the best working relationship with local owners.
The announcement came at the start of the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference in Dubai, and was the result of a survey of the 525 delegates. Le Meridien took 18 per cent of the votes, followed by Jumeirah International and Marriott (13 per cent) and Intercontinental and Starwood (12 per cent).
Intercontinental came top when asked which hotel brand would be the market leaders in the Middle East in five years with 17 per cent, followed by Starwood (15 per cent) and Marriott (12 per cent).
Meanwhile, market transparency was named the single biggest factor influencing the amount of foreign direct investment in real estate in the region.
More than three-quarters of delegates believed that the current wave of hotel development and construction had impacted on the quality of infrastructure in Arabia.
A curtain raiser to the Arabian Travel Market, the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference at Madinat Jumeirah conference centre in Dubai is organised by CB Richard Ellis Hotels, the largest commercial real estate firm in the world, and MEED Conferences. Details of AHIC can be found on www.arabianconference.com.
Platinum sponsors are: IFA Hotels and Resorts; Nakheel Company LLC; Kingdom Hotel Investments and Rezidor SAS Hospitality.
Gold sponsors are: Arabian Travel Market; Deloitte; Dubai Festival City; Emirates; Fairmont Hotels & Resorts; Gullivers Travel Associates; HVS International; Interval International; Jones Lang LaSalle; Jumeirah International; InterContinental Hotels Group; Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts; Marriott International; Port Ghalib; Movenpick Hotels & Resorts; RCI Middle East; Octopus Travel; RSP Group; Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Strategic Solutions.
Media sponsors are: AME Info, CNBC Arabia, CNBC Europe, Global Hospitality Resources, HOTELS, Sleeper and TTN.
Supporters are: Dubai Convention Bureau, Emirates Academy of Hospitality; International Business Leaders Forum; International Hotel & Restaurant Association; TNS, Villeroy & Boch; Virtual World Internet ; the World Travel & Tourism Council and WOW Travels.
