LINQ scales capacity to serve growing GCC demand for modular hospitality solutions
The firm says it has pioneered new materials that deliver optimal acoustic, thermal and fire performance as it ramps capabilities to deliver nearly 1,900 rooms annually
Modular construction specialist, LINQ, has said it has invested in ramping up its production capabilities, and is now capable of delivering nearly 1,900 fully fit-out luxury rooms per year. The move is in response to growing demand for hotel room stock in the GCC, and calls for the construction industry to embrace new and innovative ways to construct hotels in the most rapid, efficient, and cost-effective manner.
LINQ, which is the modular construction arm of UAE-based ALEC, is the first company to have secured a modular construction license from the Dubai Municipality to pioneer G+6 buildings. The firm said it is poised to be the leading modular construction partner to regional resorts, boutique hotels and luxury serviced apartments.
Critically, by producing its ‘plug-and-play’ three- to five-star hotel rooms entirely offsite within the tightly controlled and highly optimised settings of its expansive production facility in the Dubai, the company is able to target a remarkably low material wastage – estimated by the Waste & Resources Action Program (WRAP) to be up to as much as up to 90% less than traditional construction techniques, said a statement from the company.
“When talking about 400,000 new hotel rooms being built over the next six years, every fraction counts. So, the efficiencies made possible by modular construction techniques quickly cascade to offer tremendous benefit. Paired with the potential for enhanced quality, and speed of delivery – made possible by factory-controlled production – this paradigm has the potential to play a significant role in meeting the GCC’s unprecedented demand for hotel room stock,” said Graham Petty, Operations Manager at LINQ.
Through 2024, LINQ demonstrated the feasibility and benefits of modular construction for the hospitality sector by successfully manufacturing and installing 218 serviced apartments at Sindalah, the iconic island destination in the region. Key to the success of this project was the firm’s work in pioneering sustainable materials tailored to enhance efficiency, durability, and sustainability, the statement explained.
Petty continued, “We’re challenging misconceptions around build quality and acoustic performance that relate to dry walling and other traditional techniques. By introducing a lightweight cellular concrete infill to the regional market, we can offer rooms with industry-benchmarked acoustic, thermal and fire performance.”
To further inform the market around this new construction paradigm, LINQ has developed a demo unit for a five-star hotel room that will be showcased at the upcoming Project Control Expo in the UAE. Constructed with a 50mm thick lightweight concrete floor, luxury joinery, and natural marble, this demo unit also includes the DigiValet standalone guest room management system, the company explained.
“We’re demonstrating that modular rooms can be every bit as high-quality, luxurious, and feature packed as their traditionally built counterparts. With global leading hospitality chains now signing on to adopt this approach for their properties in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, we’re at a critical inflection point. At LINQ, we’re primed for the opportunity and are excited to see this segment go from strength to strength,” concluded Petty.
