Following from the announcement of Corinthia Group’s luxury hotel in Doha, the chairman and founder has revealed an expansion of six hotels to its nine-property portfolio.

In an interview with Forbes by journalist Doug Gollan, Alfred Pisani discusses new projects in Doha (Qatar), Dubai (United Arab Emirates), Bucharest (Romania), Moscow (Russia), Brussels (Belgium) and Rome (Italy).

In its portfolio, Corinthia Group currently has its original hotel, founded in 1968, Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa, in Attard, Malta, as well as the Corinthia Hotel St George’s Bay, Malta.

In addition, it also has hotels in Tripoli (Libya), London (United Kingdom), Budapest (Hungary), Lisbon (Prague), Khartoum (Sudan), Prague (Czech Republic) and St Petersburg (Russia).

Its flagship London hotel has earned four stars from Forbes Travel Guide and is a favourite among celebrities and the entertainment industry, due to its high-quality service and themed penthouses, decked out with rooftop terraces and sought-after views of the city.

With 60 years of hospitality experience under his belt, Mr Pisani shares how in Dubai, works have been completed on the 55-story structure of its “landmark hotel”. He adds that the project should be completed by 2021.

“In Bucharest, the former Grand Hotel of the city is being refurbished into a 35-suite luxury hotel.

“In Brussels, we are about to award a main contract to complete the full renovation, and in some areas rebuilding, of the former Grand Hotel Astoria. This will be another landmark hotel and should be completed by 2022.”

In Moscow, Mr Pisani says the company has just acquired a prominent land plot “with a listed façade overlooking the city’s main boulevard, together with a partner investor”.

He adds that outline permits are in hand, and works will begin later in 2020. Mr Pisani also shares that 2024 has been earmarked as a lunch year.

With regards Rome, Corinthia has signed a deal with a “prominent international real estate investor to co-develop and manage the former headquarters of the Bank of Italy.” He says the design process is underway, while 60 rooms are planned. Mr Pisani adds that the “aim is for this to be the top hotel in Rome.”

Works for the Rome project will also start this year, with the opening aimed at 2022.

As previously covered, a deal has been signed with United Development Company – behind the Pearl in Doha – to manage and operate a Corinthia luxury hotel on Genwan Island. Works are to be completed by 2022.

Asked about whether such mammoth projects will stretch the company’s resources, Mr Pisani assures that he is not concerned about the number of projects as such, but rather, “about how we should accelerate this pace of growth.

“Ultimately, we have the resources to handle this growth, and where needed, we will add to our team at all levels.”