Accor has announced plans to rebrand the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2) hotel in Dubai under its M Gallery portfolio.
The ship operated as a luxury cruise liner between 1969 and 2008, before being sold to a Dubai-based firm and eventually reopening as a floating hotel situated in the city’s Port Rashid in 2018.
Accor has taken over operation of the hotel, and will reflag it under the group’s M Gallery Hotel Collection following “further upgrades and renovations”.
According to the hotel’s website qe2.com, the ship currently offer 215 rooms and suites, but in a press release Accor said that “Once the renovation is completed, the new M Gallery Queen Elizabeth 2 will feature 447 hotel rooms”, as well as nine food and beverage outlets, ten meeting rooms, 5,620 sqm of outdoor events space, six retail outlets, a swimming pool and a gym.
Accor currently operates around 100 M Gallery properties, including The Retreat Palm Dubai MGallery by Sofitel, and The Canvas Hotel Dubai – M Gallery Hotel Collection.
The QE2 adds to the group’s 62 hotels and 18,562 rooms across the UAE, with a further 20 properties in the pipeline.
Commenting on the news Mark Willis, CEO of Accor India, Middle East, Africa and Turkey, said:
“This is a great opportunity for Accor to expand its footprint in the UAE with the introduction of a unique project which brings diversity to the portfolio, while expanding the M Gallery brand presence in the city.
“Not only are we in charge of the only floating hotel in Dubai, but we are also contributing the Dubai Urban Master plan 2049, with the aim to map out the path for a sustainable urban development while increasing the city attractiveness as a global destination”.
“We are confident that once finalised, the M Gallery Queen Elizabeth 2 will become a true must-visit attraction, sharing her own stories with her guests while offering a truly unforgettable experience on-board.”
