Mövenpick Hotel & Resorts, (MH&R) is casting a sharp strategic eye on a rapidly growing sector of the hospitality industry and responding to an increased interest shown in health tourism.
The Mövenpick Hotel & Resort Beirut, the Lebanese capital’s newest hotel, is a fine example of a property offering the complete resort experience. It contains the exclusive, state-of-the-art Essential Spa and Health Club covering 2,000 sq m
The elegant 292-room Mövenpick Hotel and Resort Beirut is superbly located on the Mediterranean Sea between Ramlet El Bayda Bay and Raouche, a short distance away from the bustling centre of the city and the elegant Verdun shopping area. It is the only hotel in Beirut with a private beach with 72 chalets, 1010 cabanas and an extensive marina, boasting 140 berths. Further recreational facilities include: two squash courts, two tennis courts, three large swimming pools plus an additional one for children, together with extensive water sports activities such as scuba diving, jet ski and wind surfing. There is a shopping centre featuring 35 boutiques and the hotel offers eight restaurants and bars outlets in both indoor and outdoor venues, where Mövenpick’s renowned excellence in gastronomy is clearly demonstrated. The fine dining opportunities include the already famous, Bourj Al Hamam specializing inauthentic Lebanese cuisine.
Mövenpick Hotel & Resort Beirut, is the perfect destination for health conscious leisure travellers who are seeking the ‘new age’ remedies as well as traditional remedial therapies, many of which go back to the Roman Empire. For the business traveller, aware of the benefits of a fully-equipped health and fitness centre and invigorating spa, it is the ideal place to alleviate the stresses and strains brought on by a hectic work schedule.
“Our industry is always facing new challenges,” said Andreas Mattmüller, senior vice-president, Middle East, MH&R, “but it is part of our marketing strategy to be ahead of the trends, so we are naturally very proud of the new addition to our portfolio in Beirut.”
The Essential Spa and Health Club has 11 treatment rooms and offers an enormous range of facilities and treatments in luxurious setting from Japanese ritual bathing to a Serail mud chamber, and heat experience area. Among other things, the gymnasium houses 20 pieces of cardio-equipment connected to TV screens, two aerobics studios, a weights studio, and a 20 m indoor pool.
MH&R are no strangers to this growing sector of the market, for back 1999, the 340-room Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea, Jordan opened at the lowest spot on earth, where there are endless supplies of water, as well as copious amounts of salt and mud, making it an ideal location for remedial and therapeutic tourism.
“The spa, health and fitness facilities at these properties may be the singular jewels in our Middle Eastern crown at present, but they will soon be joined by other hotels and resorts with similar facilities. For example, the Mövenpick Resort El Alamein, which is scheduled to open in a few weeks,” added Mattmüller.
Located on the beach of El Alamein on the Mediterranean coast, the 259-room is to have a spa and wellness centre with fitness, sauna, Jacuzzi and massage. Also in Egypt, the Mövenpick Resort Taba, due to open a the beginning of next year with a 400 m private beach on the Red Sea, will include two outdoor swimming pools, one heated indoor pool, and a spa and fitness centre.