sbe is planning new properties in its portfolio, such as in Europe with a hotel soon to open in Switzerland, but also in South America, the Middle East and Asia. The destinations envisaged by the company are both seafront, country and ski resort locations.
The Delano Porto Cervo will take shape after the renovation of an existing hotel, and will have 68 rooms, a restaurant, bars, a swimming pool, a beach club and a fitness studio.
This structure will be the result of a partnership between sbe, the private equity firm Quianto Capital, in which Accor bought a 50% stake for $319 million in 2018, and the consulting firm Enma Capital, as well as another sbe partner.
Chadi Farhat, SBE's Director of Operations for the Middle East and Europe, said: "We're not saying we want 50 Delanos. It's not a number we are looking for, it's more about strategic locations that we would like Delano to be in."
Despite the pandemic crisis, the Delano brand is expanding globally, which may be at odds with current trends in the luxury hotel industry. sbe and Accor say that the Delano brand is less fragile in the current environment than other upscale brands, and that there is a pent-up demand for luxury accommodation, even in the midst of a global pandemic.
"We are not your traditional luxury or high-end hotel, we create destinations with our hotels. This tells you that as soon as the restrictions are lifted and the health and social distancing measures are in place, which we take seriously, there will be demand," - said Chadi Farhat.
