1. What is your strategy to target the Indian market? Which segment of travellers/tourists from India is key to your business?
India is a very important market for Jumeirah Group globally and we are continually looking at ways in which we can welcome more guests from this market.
The Indian subcontinent is a huge geographic market with geographically diversified customers and at Jumeirah, we treat all markets with a mindfulness of the local customs. We receive interest from three main tourist sectors in India, including luxury and leisure travellers, destination weddings and MICE. Our extensive global portfolio also means we have the right property for everyone – from the iconic, luxury Burj Al Arab Jumeirah and stunning beachfront resorts to city hotels and all-villa island escapes such as Jumeirah Maldives Olhahali Island providing the ultimate privacy.
2. Which are your focus cities for B2B events and roadshows? What are your marketing plans for connecting with the Indian consumers or B2C plans?
Jumeirah has an excellent reputation and awareness in the market for its portfolio of luxury beach front resorts and city hotels in Dubai. However, those hotels only account for around 50% of our total portfolio. We have a collection of fantastic hotels we believe will really appeal to the Indian market, including Jumeirah Maldives Olhahali Island, and we intend to showcase these destinations through our partners drawing on beautiful activations like high profile destination weddings to capture each hotels charming identity and picturesque settings.
3. Have you seen a shift in travelers’ perspectives and needs post COVID? How has the brand evolved to cope with these changing needs?
We are experiencing a number of changing travel trends in the post-vaccinated world, including increased booking windows and longer stays.
We have also seen strong demand across our suite and villas offerings as guests seek increased privacy and spaces where families and groups can gather to reconnect. This shift towards privacy being the new luxury has been a core focus for Jumeirah and was a key factor behind the opening of our all-villa resort in the Maldives.
Travellers are still conscious of hygiene and the health and safety of guests and colleagues remains Jumeirah Group’s utmost priority. As such, the group has maintained a series of protective measures across all of its hotels and restaurants.
4. Where do MICE and destination weddings figure in your scheme of things for India?
Destination weddings in particular are a focus for us in the Indian market. Jumeirah has hosted a number of Indian weddings across the portfolio and we understand the Indian market and the requirements that need to be met for these occasions.
We know that Indian destination weddings can run-up over a number of days, culminating in the wedding ceremony and reception. Our idyllic venues – from the white sand beaches with turquoise shores, to the stunning Shimmers roof-top terrace – combined with our exceptional Talise Spa and wealth of activities for all ages mean we are perfectly set up to host these grand celebrations.
5. How do you create memorable experiences for the guests? What special packages have you created for Indians also keeping in mind the forthcoming holiday season?
Our capacity to deliver exceptional experiences that speak to each and every guest, impacting them on an emotional level creating that connection to the brand and our people is what brings our guests back to Jumeirah time and time again. This is very much linked to the calibre of talent at Jumeirah and our dedication to providing outstanding service across all guest touchpoints.
Destination dining in particular is a passion of the brand and is one of our strongest differentiators. We are fortunate at Jumeirah Maldives Olhahali Island to be home to two of Jumeirah Group’s award-winning signature restaurants, Shimmers and Kayto, the first venues for these signature dinging concepts outside of Dubai.
We are currently offering a special festive package for guests to enjoy up to 20% savings, with an additional 5% savings for Jumeirah One members, including daily breakfast and exquisite Festive amenities and activities.
6. As a GM, Where do you see yourself taking the brand in the next 5 years?
The new era of hospitality will be increasingly experiential, and it is our goal to craft experiences to be remembered or shared by pushing the boundaries of innovation to make the guest journey unique and embrace our brand DNA of Stay Different. This includes further developing the strong connection between the hotel’s identity and its locality, crafting unique and memorable touchpoints throughout the entire guest journey, and continuing to develop the exceptional destination dining on offer.
