"Manufactured" boutique hotels taking off in Middle East

Boutique hotels are an “emerging opportunity” in the Middle East, said Hannes Schied, managing director and international liaison partner for Horwath HTL. Luxury brands are pervasive throughout the region...Schied said investors view these “manufactured boutique” hotels as safer plays than small, independent boutiques, which have yet to find their footing. He pointed to brands Armani Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Missoni by the Rezidor Hotel Group and the W Hotels by Starwood Hotels as examples.

The market is not mature enough for independent hotels, Hala Matar Choufany, managing director of HVS Dubai, said.