Habtoor Hotels is set to roll out a summer promotion across its properties at ATM, according to CEO Rahim Abu Omar.
This will be complemented by the opening of a new sales office in Europe.
“2007 is yet another year of ongoing development, growing and innovation for Habtoor Hotels. Last year witnessed the opening of the Metropolitan Suites on Sheikh Zayed Road, increasing the room inventory for the hotel to 255 units,” he said in an email. “This year we are opening a sales office in Europe and work will start on our new property on The Palm, Jumeirah.”
Omar did not share details of the summer deals with TTN, saying that ‘special offers for rooms and unique F&B promotions’ would be unveiled at ATM.
The group’s new property on The Palm Jumeirah is set to open in the winter of 2008/ 2009, he said. “We have started studying drawings for what promises to be a unique property. It is worth mentioning that the Al Habtoor Group was the first one to purchase a plot of land at the Palm when the project was announced at ATM 2002.”
For now, he said, the group is not looking to take the brand outside the two markets it operates in, the UAE and Lebanon, but new destinations are constantly being studied.
The group, which is both owner and operator of its properties, is clear that it will not manage hotels for other owners. “The vision of our chairman, Khalaf Al-Habtoor, is to manage only Habtoor Hotels. We receive a good number of requests from hotel owners and developers to manage their properties; however, the vision is very clear; we only manage Habtoor Hotels.”
In terms of expanding business to existing hotels, Omar said travellers from China are a burgeoning new market, as is the MICE sector. “We are constantly undertaking roadshows, PR and marketing activities and going to exhibitions in our key markets,” he said. The European sales office demonstrates that strategy.
The company has developed three brands and each reflects a different market position: Habtoor Grand Hotels & Resorts are five-star plus properties, which reflect ‘A Touch of Arabia’. The Metropolitan Palaces are five-star and promise ‘An Oasis of Opulence’, whilst the Metropolitans are first-class international hotels that offer a ‘Smile of Arabia’.
The company also operates Lebanon’s first theme park, Habtoorland, described as a Phoenician realm of fantasy, adventure and excitement that travels back into history and legendary heroes. Altogether the park offers 27 thrill rides and attractions, four themed restaurants, a fast-food court, cafes, retail shops and a 1400-seat amphitheatre.