Nicolas Villemin, regional director for Middle East & North Africa, Preferred Hotels & Resorts, spoke to HN about his new projects for the region.

According to him, Morocco, Egypt and Saudi Arabia are burgeoning markets that he looks forward to grow within.  “Earlier this year, the U.N. World Tourism Organisation Barometer reported a 13 percent increase in North African tourist arrivals and a five percent rise for the Middle East, and we intend to take advantage of this spike in visitor numbers by providing our loyal guests and I Prefer members with a wider selection of independent hotels in these emerging destinations,” he said.

This year, the chain also focused on enhancing the Preferred Residences Collection, a curated global portfolio of luxury villas, apartments and other residential style units, and this will continue to be part of Villemin’s expansion blueprint. “Preferred Residences appeals to a cross-section of luxury travel consumers, including multi-generational families, groups of friends, and business travelers and as such, we can ensure that our residences offer guests the best features of a luxury hotel stay with the comfort, privacy, and convenience of a residence setting. As well as focusing on expansion, I will continue to prioritize our existing hotel members needs to ensure that we are delivering strong results for them.”

Stay tuned for the full interview with Villemin in Hospitality News’ next issue.