The Emirati luxury giant Chalhoub Group began its expansion on the island of Gran Canaria last September, as confirmed to Maspalomas24H by financial sources. This business decision is a direct response to the dynamism and high concentration of affluent visitors in the south of the island, with a particular focus on the tourist area of Maspalomas and its surrounding commercial districts. The company aims to capture the spending power of international travelers who demand exclusive and distinctive shopping experiences during their holidays in the archipelago.
The multinational, founded in Dubai in 1955 and now the leading partner for high-end brands in the Middle East, bases its entry into the islands on a detailed analysis of tourist flows. The group manages a diversified portfolio of over 300 international brands and operates disruptive retail concepts such as Level Shoes, the world's largest space dedicated to luxury footwear, located in the Dubai Mall. Corporate management identifies the southern Gran Canaria tourism market as an ideal strategic location to expand its operating model beyond the Middle East, capitalizing on the top-tier hotel infrastructure and the continuous influx of European visitors.
Leading this expansion strategy and the company's digital transformation is Amit Keswani Manghnani, Director of Omnichannel and Artificial Intelligence and a member of the group's Executive Committee. Since joining the company in February 2023, Manghnani has directly overseen the overall customer experience, integrating big data analytics, digital marketing platforms, product technology, and advanced corporate loyalty programs across all physical and online touchpoints. His work is crucial in orchestrating the organization's technological modernization in the markets where it operates.
Amit Keswani Manghnani's career spans over fifteen years of executive experience in the digital and omnichannel retail sector. Prior to joining Chalhoub Group, he held senior management positions for more than a decade at two of Southeast Asia's largest retail companies, where he successfully led digital transformation processes by launching online business initiatives and innovative customer retention platforms. His technical expertise enabled these organizations to adapt quickly to the global digital environment, delivering consumer-centric solutions for leading international brands such as Zara, Sephora, Converse, Foot Locker, and Starbucks.
Manghnani's multicultural background brings a unique and truly global perspective to Chalhoub Group's expansion strategy in Gran Canaria. Born and raised in Spain to Indian parents, he has lived in twelve cities across several continents, including Indonesia, Malaysia, India, the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. This extensive international experience gives him a deep and nuanced understanding of diverse consumer behaviors and the specific characteristics of luxury markets, allowing him to approach commercial innovation from a multicultural perspective fully adapted to the heterogeneous profiles of tourists visiting southern Gran Canaria.
On an academic and personal level, Amit Keswani Manghnani holds an Executive MBA from ESADE Business School in Barcelona and Aalto University in Helsinki, a qualification that strengthens his managerial vision in the field of international business. Beyond his corporate responsibilities, he maintains a keen interest in emerging technological trends, sports, and men's fashion, balancing his demanding executive schedule with regular tennis practice. This multidisciplinary background enriches his approach to customer experience and the development of new luxury retail formats.
Under the operational direction of specialists like Manghnani, Chalhoub Group's implementation plan in Gran Canaria would include the development of retail spaces geared towards the most exclusive segment. The company plans to integrate advanced digital technology and data analytics into the physical points of sale it establishes in the southern tourist areas, with the aim of replicating the personalized service standards that characterize its large shopping complexes in the Middle East. This business initiative consolidates the archipelago as a hub for international investment linked to high-value tourism.
