Barcelo Hotel Group Appoints Jose Canals to Spearhead Robust Middle Eastern Expansion Plans
The appointment of top executive José Canals as the new Managing Director for the Middle East and Asia confirms Barceló’s growth strategy to expand the company footprint across the region over the next years
United Arab Emirates, February 2021. Barcelo Hotel Group, the leading international hotel chain, has appointed Jose Canals as the new Managing Director for the Middle East and Asia. With an extensive tenure and hospitality knowledge, Jose Canals was already responsible for the Mediterranean and north Africa regions and will now spearhead the expansion of the Spanish groups presence in the Middle East, East Africa and Asia.
Jose Canals has been one of the top executives at Barcelo Hotel Group for over 25 years, and has a wealth of experience in leading expansion plans for the Spanish hotel chain internationally. The hoteliers leadership and contribution has resulted in Barcel Hotel Group becoming the largest Spanish hotel chain in the MENA region.
"We are seeing that Barcel Hotel Group is being widely welcomed along with its four brands thanks to the groups values, its flexible and personalized approach to the goals it sets," said Canals.
Barcelo Hotel Group brings a legacy of 90 years of expertise in the hospitality industry, currently operating 262 hotels in 22 countries worldwide. The group recently celebrated the opening of a new 4* property in Dubai. Guests were welcomed in to a unique and perfect blend between Spanish hospitality and Arabic heritage during the opening of Occidental Al Jaddaf two weeks ago.
We continue to grow in the UAE and we are adapting our strategy to suit the unique needs of the local residents as well as international business and leisure travellers. There is a strong demand for Barcel in the Middle East and a desire for the distinctive design, prime locations and all-around top-quality service that we are known for worldwide added Jos Canals.
Barcelo's current UAE portfolio showcases 5 hotels and 1,600 keys, consisting of Dukes The Palm, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, Barcelo Residences Dubai Marina, Occidental Dubai Production City, Occidental Sharjah Grand and Occidental Al Jaddaf, with several project developments in the GCC region in the pipeline.
Barcelo Hotel Group is at the forefront of the hospitality sector in the Middle East. As a group we acknowledge there is potential for growth in the leisure segment and we believe that Jos Canals, with his extensive skillset and extensive know-how, will be the right person to spearhead this growth, said Ral Gonzalez, CEO EMEA Barcel Hotel Group.
Furthermore, 2021 will also see the launch of 5 hotels and 720 keys in the Indian Ocean. Barcelo Hotel Group will be opening 2 resorts in Sri Lanka -Occidental Paradise Dambulla 4* in June and Occidental Eden Beruwala 4*in October- plus two hotels in the Maldives and one resort in Bali (Indonesia) before the end of 2021.
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About Barcelo Hotel Group
Barcelo Hotel Group is the hotel division of the Barcelo Group, which is the 29th largest hotel chain in the world. It currently operates more than 250 leisure and city hotels with 4 and 5 stars, and over 57,000 rooms in 22 countries worldwide, all marketed under four brands: Royal Hideaway Luxury Hotels Resorts, Barcel Hotels Resorts, Occidental Hotels Resorts and Allegro Hotels.
Amit Singh
Mumbai, India
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