The Oberoi Group had a great start to 2008, but also saw a fall from September onwards due to the global financial crisis, according to LINCY ISAAC, the group’s director of sales and marketing. A larger volumes of their business is from the USA and Europe, and those markets had been affected greatly.
“However, we continue to have a steady growth from other markets such as the Middle East and Far East,” she said.
“As for 2009, we feel that since the shock of the financial crisis would have been ironed out, (not entirely gone away) people may start considering their well deserved holidays once again and thus may be a better year than 2008,” she said. The focus this year is to be on leisure business through PR activities and also on MICE business.
The first property from the group in the Middle East region will be The Oberoi Dubai at the Business Bay, planned to open early in 2010. Other projects have been signed up with Aldar for Abu Dhabi, one in Muscat and more are under final discussions.
Other source markets that have been particularly good for Oberoi in recent years are South America, Africa, Eastern Europe and Australia.
High on the list of important challenges the group wants to overcome in 2009 would be that people ease up after the shock of the global financial crisis. “Another is that the Mumbai terror attacks will not damage the travel patterns for business people into India,” said Issac.
Oberoi Hotels continue to win many international awards and accolades, she said, and that as a company they have been welcoming Arab guests for many years and are well versed with their specific needs.