OWNED by Minor International, Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas is expanding its portfolio across the MENA region with the opening of four new properties by 2011.
The Anantara Qasr Al Sarab Resort & Spa will be UAE’s first five star destination in the Empty Quarter. With over 85 per cent of the development complete the resort, will open to visitors by the fourth quarter of 2009. The company has also partnered with Blue City Company 1 (BCC1) to develop their first resort in Al Madina A’Zarqa, a natural peninsula in Oman and two unique five star resorts, the Anantara Marrakech Resort & Spa and Anantara Mogador Resort & Spa in Morocco marking their entry into the African market.
According to Dillip Rajakarier, the new chief operating officer of Minor International, the group had a very successful 2008, although it could have been much better.
“The fourth quarter was affected because of the closures at the Bangkok airport. If not for that, we would have shown a much higher growth in terms of earnings. Again in 2009, we’ve seen some trouble earlier in the year, but now with our portfolio well diversified, both in terms of hotels we expect the year to be very good. Thailand has always been a destination of good value offers and good hotels and now with our expansion in Abu Dhabi, Bali and Maldives, 2009 will be a good year.”
While guest numbers had dropped for the first quarter of 2009 in comparison to 2008, which saw occupancies running around 90 per cent, “we are experiencing a 20-25 per cent drop, which is not too bad in the scheme of things,” Rajakarier added.
“While our main markets have always been Europe, now we are also taking this opportunity to venture into new markets like Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, India and Russia. Asia is a market that can offer then a value for money product and an unforgettable experience and so we believe that these markets can help us going steadily in 2009 too” he said.