Hospitality design firm to open Dubai office
HARRISON, the hospitality design consultancy headquartered in Sutton Coldfield, is establishing an office in Dubai to service the growing number of projects it is spearheading across the United Arab Emirates.
The company’s Middle East headquarters will be headed up by long-serving Harrison director Jon Bentley, who has worked in the UAE for a number of years.
Specialising in international brand roll-outs as well as concept creation and development, the firm – which also has an office in London – already has a number of Middle Eastern clients include Meraas Holding, Al Tayer Group, Meraki, Jumeirah Group and Food Fund International.
The consultancy’s recent openings include the Bentley Bistro & Bar on Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi and the Eat Greek restaurant at the Jumeirah Beach Residence in Dubai.
Bentley said: “The UAE offers tremendous potential for Harrison as we have significant international experience and can bring creative design ideas to the market fresh out of London, knowing that they will work on an operational level and inspire the ever-maturing Dubai market.
“Our global success with high profile hospitality brands such as Nando’s, Pizza Hut, Bella Italia and Giraffe demonstrates our ability to design durable and profitable hospitality venues, adapted to the varying needs and expectations of differing cultural nuances.”
Harrison’s expansion into the UAE comes on the back of a move into the US and the establishment of an office in Texas, handling architectural and hospitality design projects for clients including T.G.I. Friday’s and YO! Sushi.
The company has also expanded significantly in the UK over the last five years and now employs over 40 design specialists, working with high profile clients such as Young’s, Novus Leisure, Mango Tree, Rezidor Hotel Group and Whitbread, as well as retailers Harrods and Selfridges.