The Bahrain Hotels Company (BHC), which owns the Gulf Hotel, has reported a net profit of BD1.7 million ($4.5 million) for the first six months of this year.

The profit showed a 6.7 per cent increase over the first six months of last year, said BHC managing director and board member Mohammed Buzizi.

He also unveiled the hotel's BD3 million current and future expansion plans.

"The Gulf Hotel enjoyed a stable occupancy rate and food and beverage operations registered an appreciable increase over 2001," said Buzizi.

"The hotel still caters the highest number of food covers amongst the five-star hotels," he said.

The BHC board has approved the planned renovation of the Gulf Hotel's south wing, consisting of 130 rooms, said Buzizi.

"The rooms and corridors will be completely renovated, with new furniture and fixtures, carpets and marble tiled bathrooms," he said.

"Designs have been approved by the board, and work will start on the first day of Ramadan and will be completed by the end of June next year."

Buzizi said the sizes of rooms would be enlarged as the balconies will now be incorporated with the rooms.

"Once completed, the Gulf Hotel will have the highest number of five-star rooms in the kingdom, totalling 364," he said.