NEW YORK—Minnesota-based AmericInn Hotels and Suites is entering the international lodging market with an upscale, value-based hotel concept, Hotel Business has learned.
Beginning this year, the Midwest chain plans to open at least 20 new hotels across the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent over the next five years as part of a long-term commitment to growth.
“We’re expanding to meet the continuing need we’re seeing for midscale, short- and long-term-stay hotels across the Middle East and Asia,” Paul Kirwin, president/CEO of Northcott Hospitality and AmericInn told Hotel Business. “Our vision is to create a great experience for the consumer as well as offer tremendous investment returns to the hotel owners.”
AmericInn is partnering with Singapore- and Dubai-based Eaglewing Estates and Hotels, Pte. Ltd. to bring an upscale, albeit value-based, hotel brand into key markets that include Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Doha, Mumbai, New Delhi and Bangalore.
“This opportunity to partner and grow with Eaglewing presented itself, we exercised thorough due diligence and agreed that it represented a unique opportunity for the AmericInn brand,” said Kirwin explaining the move.
Eaglewing, which provides hospitality, real-estate project advisory and development services is run by founders and principles Dinky Puri and Rahul Raghuwanshi, who, combined have more than 50 years’ of experience owning, managing and operating hospitality and real-estate businesses.
Puri was enthusiastic about the deal and partnering with a “vibrant, growing hotel brand built upon fundamental American business values like commitment, trust and cooperation. Business, leisure and government travelers alike can expect AmericInn hotels will help them relax, refresh and recharge while they are away from home.”
AmericInn’s new upper-midscale hotels will target domestic and international business and leisure travelers with transient and extended-stay accommodations. The brand’s signature amenities and services, including the AmericInn Perk breakfast, 24-hour coffee bar, Serta Perfect Sleeper beds, pools, workout rooms and business centers, will be incorporated.
The hotels also will look to meet the social and cultural expectations of travelers from the region and include a full-service, all-day restaurant in many locations.
Kirwin told Hotel Business another factor also has been taken into consideration.
“We fully understand the security concerns relative to this expansion and will be very sensitive to travelers’ needs,” said the CEO. “We have a comprehensive plan in place to ensure guests will be safe and secure at every overseas AmericInn.”
AmericInn, with some 200 locations open or under development in the United States, is owned by Northcott Hospitality.
Kirwin indicated the Middle East and India as its first targets in its foray into the international marketplace was a strategic move to leverage strong demographic and travel trends in the region.
“As other opportunities like this present themselves, we will surely explore them with the same diligence and enthusiasm,” Kirwin told Hotel Business.
—Stefani C. O’Connor