As reported in the September issue of HOTELS’ Investment Outlook, Jumeirah Group is re-launching Venu, its lifestyle brand, which originally launched in April 2010 and then quickly shelved due to poor global economic conditions.
To mark the re-launch of Venu, Jumeirah Group, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, is revealing the visual identity of the brand and announcing the appointment of Matt Balcik as vice president operations, brand development, charged with leading preparations for the roll-out of Venu internationally. Furthermore, the Dubai-based developer Meraas Holding is in discussion with Jumeirah Group to operate the first Venu hotel on Bluewaters Island in Dubai.
Gerald Lawless, Jumeirah’s president and CEO, told HOTELS’ Investment Outlook that Venu properties will have smaller rooms — 377 sq ft (35 sq m) as opposed to the Jumeirah brand’s 592 sq ft (55 sq m) and more informal service.
Jumeirah said that the essence of the new brand is that of a ‘social catalyst’ – a social place where good things happen, where people feel welcome and at ease, surrounded by a crowd they love, a smooth machine that offers everything they need and nothing they don’t and that this reflected in the “simple and unpretentious” design of the new brand’s logo.
“This is a genuinely exciting innovation for Jumeirah Group. The time is right for us to launch a new contemporary lifestyle brand,” said Nicholas Clayton, CEO Group Operations at Jumeirah Group. “Its provenance and energy comes from Dubai — and the first few Venu hotels will open here — but it is ultimately a powerful way of taking the core essence of the Dubai out into the international market, reflecting the city’s energy, dynamism and cosmopolitan nature. At the same time, coming to a VENU hotel will be an intuitive experience, built around and anticipating the needs of the modern, savvy traveller.”