Global growth goes from strength to strength for award winning hospitality design firm

Other News   Subscribe to newsletter

7 Jan 2014

World-renowned as the ‘Number 1 Hospitality Design Firm’, HBA/ Hirsch Bedner Associates, the name behind luxurious world-class residences such as The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort in Abu Dhabi, the Four Seasons Hotel in Beijing, and the Hotel Alfonso XIII in Seville Spain, has mapped out plans for further expansion in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) market following a successful year of growth in 2013.

HBA Dubai has increased its revenue in the last two years by 50% accounting for almost 10% of total HBA global revenue, which translates to USD $10 million dollars. Employee numbers also continue to grow with a 45% increase since 2011. With a total of 18 projects currently underway in MENA by various offices around the globe, HBA plans to reinforce its on-going commitment to the region in 2014 with expansion into new geographic areas. Upcoming projects in the region include the Grand Hyatt Mecca in Saudi Arabia, the Corinthia Hotel Benghazi in Libya, the Saraya Aqaba Resort in Jordan, and the Harbor Point Development in Lagos, Nigeria, with projects in sub-Sahara Africa also planned for the near future.

Seeing success on both a regional and a global scale, HBA has witnessed an 85% growth from USD $55 million to USD $101 million between 2010-2013 ranking ‘Number 1’ in the 2013 Hospitality Giants Listing. It has a worldwide design team of 1,300 people, with more than 90% of employees now based outside of the United States.

Leila Abdulrahim, Director, HBA Middle East comments, “This year has been a major success for HBA MENA, with prestigious projects completed such as the Grand Hyatt Spa refurbishment, and the new Al Manzil living room concept in Dubai, both of which earned HBA Dubai recent awards, along with the St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, and the St Regis Nations Towers, in Abu Dhabi which opened this year. There is huge potential in the region, especially following the Dubai Expo 2020 win, with several prestigious hotel brands pledging to more than triple room numbers by the time the Expo comes around. As 2014 approaches we have plans in motion to emulate the success of 2013 and secure further world-class projects in the Middle East and wider region.”

Commenting on HBA’s global growth, Ian Carr Co-CEO of HBA, says, “At HBA, we pride ourselves on diversity in our talent, design skills, and depth of knowledge around the globe. With over 50 years of hospitality experience, HBA today still prides itself on retaining and expanding our top talent to consistently deliver the highest standard of quality to our clients on a global and a local basis, no matter how big or small. Our vision has always been to design the world’s best hospitality projects, and it is this vision that forms the basis of our continued success.”

From continent to continent, each HBA interior is the result of a unique and sensitive response to location, architecture, and client vision. HBA’s international presence, combined with its extensive knowledge of the interior design industry, has facilitated the ability to rewrite the language of design with each new project.