AL SAFIR Hotel & Tower, a leading four-star property in Bahrain, is celebrating 15 years of successful operations this year.
Having started from an empty shell in Bahrain’s Juffair area in 2000, the property today offers a total of 194 well-appointed rooms that offer “a touch of home”.
The hotel has 126 rooms while the tower has 68 rooms.
The visionary behind the chain’s growth is its CEO A. Hameed Al Halwachi.
Al Halwachi started his career working at the Diplomat hotel and Holiday Inn in Bahrain before joining Al Safir.
Drawing on his years of experience in the industry, Al Halwachi set about expanding and growing the Al Safir chain, which now includes the Grand Safir hotel.
Furthermore, Al Halwachi has ensured the hotel’s strong foothold in the country with the recent achievement of three ISO certifications and a Six Sigma certification for the hotel. He also plans to secure its future business with the adoption of the Business Continuity Management System (ISO 22301), which will be provided by Bahrain-based business consultancy Jafcon.
Al Safir Hotel & Tower, which underwent a total refurbishment in 2012, offers a recreation centre, an indoor and outdoor pool, a spa, two food and beverage outlets and four business centres.
The property is a short distance from the Al Fateh Mosque and the Al Fateh Corniche while attractions such as the National Museum, Bab Al Bahrain Gate and the Manama Souq are nearby.
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The Imperial Suite at the Al Safir |
Al Halwachi says the chain had planned to invest BD15 million ($39.5 million) investment in the Al Safir City project but following Bahrain’s new tourism policies, these plans have been put on hold.
“We will study the market to analyse their feasibility. Although we were not prepared for the new policies at such short notice, we believe that they will be beneficial to the future of the country,” he says.
Al Safir also participates in numerous industry events, aiming to showcase the hotel and the country to a larger audience, and recently attended the OTM exhibition in Mumbai, India – a leading outbound travel event.
The OTM served as a great platform to showcase Al Safir’s offerings to a larger market, he says, adding that Al Safir also entered into agreements with three hospitality groups a the event.
Meanwhile, as part of the hotel’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, Al Safir has partnered with Westin College in Vijayawada, India, and offers a one or two-year contract to students who are looking to gain work experience.
“We place them in various roles in our organisation and give them the needed exposure and opportunity to learn about the industry,” Al Halwachi says.
Regarding the outlook for tourism in the country, Al Halwachi says there is a need for more facilities and attractions for tourists.
“A proper strategy will bring the country on a par with other GCC countries’ travel offerings and will further mark our place on the world map.”