Sheikh Mubarak Al Sabah Hailed Industry Pioneer at Arabian Hotel Investment Conference

April 28 2017, Dubai UAE: His Excellency Sheikh Mubarak A M Al Sabah, founder and chairman of Action Hotels has been acknowledged by the region’s hospitality sector after receiving the signature Industry Pioneer award presented by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC 2017) in Dubai (yesterday, April 27 2017).

AHIC’s Advisory Board of some 40-plus hotel owners, investors, operators and consultants voted Sheikh Mubarak as the Industry Pioneer in recognition for his trailblazing development of the mid-market and mid-economy hotel sector in the Middle East and Australia. 

Sheikh Mubarak recognised the opportunity to open the three- and four-star segment in 2004 when the main development activity region-wide was in the five-star and luxury tiers.

“It’s my great privilege to accept this prestigious Industry Pioneer award from His Highness Sheikh Ahmed voted by the industry. 

“This recognises more than 10 years since we identified a material gap in the Middle East’s hotel market when there were very few, if any, branded three- and four-star hotels in the prime cities across the Middle East. 

“At the same time, with the growth of intra-regional travel and the proliferation of budget airlines, I believed there was an opportunity to develop this segment of hotels across our region,” he said. 

This led to establishment of Action Hotels PLC in 2005 now recognised as the leading hotel company in the Middle East and Australia spearheading the development of economy and mid-market hotels. 

The Company’s portfolio currently consists of 2,181 rooms in 12 operating hotels, of which nine are in the Middle East and three in Australia. pipeline comprises a further six hotels, which will bring the portfolio to 18 hotels with over 3,100 rooms in eight countries by 2018.

“We are delighted that AHIC has seen the importance of this sector within the hotel industry and this year’s theme, “Catalysts of Change”, highlights the significance and growth of the region’s economy and mid-market hospitality sector,” observed Sheikh Mubarak. 

“We are passionate about what we do and this is the reason why, with my team, we continue to commit time, energy, resources and investment to further growth. This Industry Pioneer Award underpins our strategy and acknowledges our team at Action Hotels PLC, who have worked and continue to work tirelessly to grow this sector,” he said. 

Dubai-based Action Hotels being the only Kuwaiti company and the only hospitality company in the region to be listed on the London Stock Exchange and regulated by the Dubai International Financial Centre.