40 Years of JA Resorts and Hotels

FOUR DECADES OF HOSPITALITY EXCELLENCE KHALEEJ TIMES | ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

Unmatched Hospitality An illustrious home-grown brand, JA Resorts & Hotels is in its 40th year of operations. Whether you are looking for a relaxing getaway or an adventure-filled holiday, the group’s slew of properties have a lot to offer on the ground curated to create unforgettable memories. William Harley-Fleming, Cluster General Manager of JA Resorts & Hotels, walks through the milestones achieved by the group. Excerpts from the interview: Mitchelle D’Souza Property Profile The original flagship property, JA Beach Hotel, opened in 1981, was the company’s founding property, alongside the JA Hatta Fort Hotel in Dubai, Al Hajar Mountains.

“After that, in 1997, and subsequently in 2019, the premium five-star property JA The Resort with three 5-star hotels, JA Beach Hotel, JA Palm Tree Court and JA Lake View Hotel, was launched,” says Harley-Fleming.

However, stressing that no two properties in the group are the same, HarleyFleming explained that each property appeals to different demographics, different audiences – all unique in their different offerings under the same JA international service standards.

“We are proud to be owned by two local families, the Baker family and the Saleh family. They have managed to develop the portfolio from the original two hotels in 1981 to 10 properties. They went international in 2013 with two resorts in the Seychelles, JA Enchanted Waterfront Villas and JA Enchanted Island Resort, which was followed quite quickly in 2014 with the debut of JA Manafaru in the Maldives.”

Initiatives undertaken for the celebration Rolling out a comprehensive, integrated market activity around its 40th anniversary, the JA Resorts & Hotels is giving UAE residents the opportunity to get up to 40 per cent discount across all its 10 properties. Harley-Fleming said that the holidaymakers can obtain the discount on room rate by going to jaresortshotels.

JA The Resort: The original heritage hotel at the heart of the action features 235 rooms and suites all with a private balcony or terrace overlooking the Gulf shores, with a private marina and lush hotel gardens William Harley-Fleming Cluster General Manager JA Resorts & Hotels com. He adds: “We have a host of other activities that we are currently in the final stages of putting together, such as the UAE National Day celebrations and a big New Year’s Eve festivity.”

Mitigating the pandemic loss “As a group, we are very resilient and I think the beauty about our group is we are owner and operator,” says HarleyFleming.

“And so it’s allowed us to become very agile over the last 18 months particularly with the pandemic challenges and the hospitality industry being hit the most. It’s allowed us to regroup internally and to advance technology. The hospitality industry, because it’s such a dynamic and such a fast-paced industry, you never really get the time to internally review your operating systems, proce-

dures and technology. And this period has definitely allowed us to do that.”

For JA Resorts & Hotels, whether that was going down the lines of looking at paperless check-ins or increasing sustainability, the adaption was fast track.

The group now has its own water bottling plant within most properties.

Thoughts on completing 40 illustrious years Deeming it a fantastic opportunity, Harley-Fleming is proud of the locally grown hotel group within the UAE, which is now achieving 40 years in the 50th year of the formation of the UAE. “We, as a group, have done extremely well and are very proud of our achievements and the vision. JA Beach Hotel was the first leisure-based hotel in the region when it opened, the others being more corporate and business-orientated. With visionary owners, we are now in the lead.”

For more information,visit www.jaresortshotels.com

JA Hatta Fort Hotel: Nestled amidst the Hajar Mountains, a unique mountain resort in Hatta, steeped in serenity and rustic charm of chalet-style living spaces

Milestone Moment

DESIGNED TO WORK

Uniform Designer, Manufacturer & Supplier Corporate Apparel and Uniforms for Hospitals, Hotels, Industries and International Schools

Office 209, Al Makateb 4, Dubai Productions City, Dubai, UAE +971 4 433 7494 | +971 58 631 00 49 info@reddoorproductions.net

Brewer Smith Brewer Group congratulates its long-standing partner JA Resorts & Hotels on its 40-year anniversary Brewer Smith Brewer Group (BSBG) has offered its sincere congratulations to JA Resorts & Hotels on the occasion of the chain’s 40-year anniversary. The group says it is honoured to be a long-term project partner with both JA Resorts & Hotels and their parent company Dutco Group and is proud of the portfolio of world-class projects they have built together.

The partnership between the two groups began in 2004, with the design and delivery of the Dutco Group headquarters, Dutco House. This project holds huge significance for both BSBG and Dutco Group, with both companies still headquartered in the building to this day.

BSBG has worked on many projects with Dutco Group successfully, with its projects for JA Resorts & Hotels holding a special place within the company’s portfolio. BSBG’s introduction to JA Resorts & Hotels came with the refurbishment of the original flagship hospitality development, Jebel Ali Beach Hotel. It has com-

pleted the refurbishment of all lobbies, corridors, rooms and suites on a fast-track, five-month programme, while the hotel remained operational. It was a memorable project that cemented their relationship because of the success they have accomplished under very challenging conditions.

BSBG’s design for the latest addition to the JA Resorts & Hotels portfolio, JA Lake View Hotel, has become an award-winning hospitality project and spectacular addition to Dubai’s tourism sector. The attention to detail within JA Lake View Hotel sets the project apart, and the stunning amenities, guest rooms, and restaurants are truly world-class.

The design exhibits a true understanding of the surrounding environment, the guest journey, materiality and functionality, and the hotel has been very well received by visitors from across the world, which is a source of enormous pride for all those who collaborated and worked so hard to realise the vision.

JA Manafaru, Maldives: In the crystal-clear waters of the Indian Ocean lies this tropical Maldives resort, blending the serenity of the Maldives with six venues as well as extensive leisure activities, a ​ nd exotic spa and wellness facilities.

JA Ocean View Hotel: Ideal for business or leisure, with scenic Arabian Gulf views offering six restaurants, infinity swimming pool and free WiFi across the property

Home to Infinite Extraordinary Experiences Standing strong on the solid reputation for hospitality and excellent services

T

Nisthula Nagarajan he year 2021 marks a momentous occasion for the JA Resorts & Hotels in the UAE. As the nation celebrates its Golden Jubilees the hospitality group celebrates 40 years of delivering excellent service to its guests since the opening of JA Hatta Fort Hotel in the Hajar Mountains and JA Beach Hotel at Jebel Ali Beach in 1981.

Today, it is a household name with 10 distinct properties across the UAE, even reaching the international sphere with resorts in the Seychelles and China.

How it began Ahmed Baker, the chairman of the Dutco Group of Companies, and the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, who was the ruler of Dubai at the time, sought to construct leisure destinations in key locations in the Emirate of Dubai, which would become some of the first leisure hotels in the region. Sheikh Rashid saw potential in the Jebel Ali Beach near the new Jebel Ali Port and Town, which was also soon to be the home of a new airport, as a suitable location. He also recommended Hatta, a present-day holiday favourite among residents and citizens, which was at the time underdeveloped.

Thus both the JA Hatta Fort Hotel and JA Beach Hotel were built and JA Resorts & Hotels initiated its journey to success.

Expanding outside the UAE Apart from its founding properties, JA Resorts & Hotels has much to be proud

of. Its portfolio has grown to include eight flagship hotels across the UAE and the Indian Ocean, as well as a new brand in China targeting young travellers, which was announced in 2019. The lifestyle hotels will be branded as ‘Big Bed

by JA’ spread across various cities in China.

Getaway to the tropics while staying at the JA Manafaru, the idyllic luxury island resort at the northern edge of the Maldives, surrounded by the azure lagoon, Haa Alifu Atoll, set against the backdrop of Indian Ocean vistas. The JA Enchanted Island Resort, Seychelles is an ultra-luxurious hideaway of 10 exquisite villas on a private island, situated in the middle of the Saint Anne Marine Park.

JA Resorts & Hotels has announced a brand new retreat in Seychelles featuring 10 villa resort residences on the east coast of Mahé on an 8,000 sqm picturesque natural location with beach access.

Local getaways For memorable staycations within the UAE, locals are spoilt for choice. On The Walk at Jumeirah Beach Residence are two hotels — the five-star JA Ocean View Hotel and the deluxe JA Oasis Beach Tower with 180 spacious serviced hotel apartments. Both hotels give guests easy access to the beach, numerous top-notch dining outlets and tonnes of shopping options too. For a more corporate and team-building getaway, book the recently opened The Manor by JA, a 233-room hotel located in Al Furjan.

The pride of the group is the famed JA The Resort — Dubai’s largest experience resort in the Jebel Ali beach area. It is a unique leisure destination in the UAE with rolling landscaped estates of wildlife and three unique hotels offering a whopping 800 suites and rooms between them —

the award-winning JA Beach Hotel and JA Palm Tree Court along with JA Lake View Hotel, and an abundance of entertainment including a nine-hole golf course, shooting club, private marina, football, cricket and rugby pitches, horseback riding, archery, a watersports centre, tennis courts and 800-metre private beach.

For the adventurers, the Hajar Mountains are calling to the JA Hatta Fort Hotel. Hike on the mountain trail to the summit for a spectacular view of the rolling massifs and other thrilling highland escapades and embrace the local nature with activities like date farming and honey collection. The hotel recently unveiled a new café called Peaks and has developed many new outdoor areas for guests to bask in the sunlight. With recent investments in the Hatta region, the upgraded helipad has ensured that the hotel is a central base for the many dignitaries visiting the region.

The award-winning JA Beach Hotel, described as the ‘original heritage hotel in the heart of the action’ has achieved a 30 per cent repeat guest rate from top source markets including UK, France and Germany.

JA Enchanted Island Resort: The ultra-luxurious resort features 10 exquisite villas with private pools and direct beach access on a private island and is a paradise for romantic and magical holidays

What’s next The pandemic has given way to a challenging hospitality space. Despite this, JA Resorts & Hotels continues to seek growth opportunities and further enhance its existing leisure experiences with improvements and additions planned in the coming years. The legacy homegrown brand will celebrate 40 years of success throughout 2021, with initiatives designed to recognise its valued customers, partners and team members. The UAE residents have the opportunity to get up to 40 per cent discount across all its 10 properties on jaresortshotels.com.

JA Oasis Beach Tower: Offers stunning views over The Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina with fully-equipped, contemporary and chic, beach-facing hotel apartments

JA Lake View Hotel: The first hotel in the Middle East to voice-enable every guestroom with volara-powered Alexa Solution