Shaner Hotels, The First Group to expand footprint in Mena

Shaner Hotels, an award winning, international hotel owner, operator and developer, has announced a partnership between its Shaner Italia division and Dubai-based The First Group, that aims to expand its portfolio with lifestyle hospitality brand, The First Collection, among others.

The First Collection at Jumeirah Village Circle, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, and the first hotel to debut under The First Group’s The First Collection, will be the first of many similar projects that the partnership will add to its portfolio.

“While there is an obvious and growing demand for well-branded, well-operated hotels throughout the Gulf region, there are surprisingly few existing opportunities there to pursue as local owners tend to gravitate…