Luxe store Harrods could soon be moving across the pond to the ‘Big Apple’. Chairman of the executive board, Ahmad Al-Sayed announced at a press conference, that the company is eyeing locations in New York as well as “other prime cities”.
However, Harrods wouldn’t be opening overseas as we know it. Al-Sayed stressed that the landmark Knightsbridge store would not be replicated and that the outlet which may open in New York would be a hotel. Knowing the brilliantly British brand we can only imagine how luxurious a Harrods hotel might be.
Qatar Holding, a global investment house founded by the Qatar Investment Authority, bought Harrods in 2010, and since then the firm has invested an impressive £250 million into the company. Al-Sayed says there is more to come.
Indeed the company has already expanded creating a new watch store at Heathrow’s Terminal Two where they aim to “recreate the opulence” of the Knightsbridge store. “Everything is for discussion, and we are studying different ways of expansion.”
“I invest in infrastructure – I invest in different kinds of [businesses],” said Al-Sayed. “We are like fund managers: When we decide on our investment, we check what suits our portfolio and then we make a decision.”
All we can do is keep our fingers crossed that an overseas expansion is confirmed. If Harrods did open a hotel in New York we know where we would be going for our plush and deluxe accommodation across the pond.
