Jumeirah Group signs first Venu hotel for Bluewaters Island in deal with Meraas Holding

Jumeirah Group, the global luxury hotel company and a member of Dubai Holding, today announced the first deal for its new contemporary lifestyle hotel brand, Venu™, following the signing of a management agreement with Meraas Holding.

The Jumeirah Group will operate the Venu Bluewaters Island Hotel together with adjoining serviced residences, which will be operated under the Venu Living brand. The Venu properties are expected to open in 2017 and will offer close to 300 hotel rooms and 119 serviced apartments. Bluewaters Island is a mixed-use development that will be located off the coast of Dubai. At the heart of the development is Dubai-I, the world's largest Ferris wheel. The island will also host retail, residential, hospitality and entertainment zones.

Speaking at the signing of the management agreement, Jumeirah Group President and CEO Gerald Lawless said: "Meraas Holding is a respected developer with a bold vision and we are proud to bring our unique hotel experience to Bluewaters Island. Our partnership is strengthened by the synergies between the Jumeirah Group and Meraas, not least for exceptional quality and innovation, and we look forward to working together. Opening our first lifestyle Venu hotel is a significant milestone for the Jumeirah Group and an exciting achievement towards our goals for expansion."

Cherif Hosny, Chief Hospitality Officer, Meraas Holding, said: "Jumeirah Group has successfully evolved from a home-grown brand into a global and reputed industry player. Bluewaters Island is a unique proposition that will enrich Dubai's tourism offering. Our partnership with the Jumeirah Group to operate Venu hotel within the island is in line with our objective to grow our portfolio in the hospitality sector to cater to the 20 million projected tourists that Dubai is set to attract by 2020."

In addition to extensive beachfront access, the Venu Bluewaters Island Hotel will offer a wide range of restaurants, a spa and conference and meeting facilities. Venu is an exciting innovation for the Jumeirah Group. It will operate as an independent brand attracting guests with a passion for simplicity and style, appealing to the modern traveller with its sleek, modern feel. A lifestyle hotel inspired by the spirit of Dubai, Venu offers guests a contemporary experience underpinned by the Jumeirah Group's reputation for quality and service.

The new management agreement bring the total number of properties in Jumeirah Group's future hotel pipeline to 26, in addition to the 22 already in operation in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.