A Dubai-based premium hospitality & event management company Grand Midwest Group has signed a three-year multi-million dollar deal with MS Dhoni as its official brand ambassador.
Established by Mr. Zafar Shah Khan, one of the most prominent businessmen in the UAE, the Grand Midwest Group owns several exclusive hotel properties in Dubai, UK and Ireland, catering to the premium segment of the market.
The company also has interests in the entertainment business in India and currently owns a local cricket team in the UAE. The group’s event management arm – GM Sports.
GM Sports recently announced the launching of a Twenty20 international cricket tournament – Champions League (MCL) – that is scheduled to be played starting end of January next year.
In a statement from the Chairman, Mr. Zafar Shah said, “Grand Midwest Group is immensely proud to associate with one of the world’s most iconic cricket stars, MS Dhoni. What he has achieved is so impressive and we could not wish for a better sportsman to represent our brand. UAE has been host to a fair share of history-making moments between bat and ball over the years; and it gives me great pleasure to welcome such an extraordinary cricketer to our cricket-loving nation”
MS Dhoni was recently named the ninth ‘Most Marketable Sportsperson’ in the world by The London School of Marketing, and the fifth ‘Most Valuable Athlete Brand’ in the world by Forbes, currently endorses more than a dozen brands.
India limited-overs captain, MS Dhoni said: “This is my first endorsement deal outside India and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Grand Midwest Group for welcoming me to the UAE. It’s a company and a brand that resonates well with me and I look forward to working with them.”
The agreement with MS Dhoni underlines Grand Midwest Group’s growing commitment to sports, and Dhoni’s personal brand attributes is certainly going to help reflect the quality of the hotelier’s sports offering in the UAE.