WHILE overall occupancies in the region have dropped, Shangri-La’s two properties in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have held up quite well and the company has witnessed a jump in demand from the leisure markets since October.
Austin Frost, vice president, international sales said: “All major tour operators have their phones ringing again, not to the level of 2008 but things are happening. There is a certain amount of optimism for 2010 but it will still be a very slow process.
“We don’t really begin to see a steady return of business until the second quarter of 2010.”
As a company Shangri-La’s key strategy will remain offering value for money. “The fact that we are one of the few hotels that offers completely free internet across our whole group is greatly appreciated by corporate travellers,“ said Frost.
“From that point of view there is no major shift in strategy. The world has turned upside down in the past 12 months and everyone is taking stock and looking at what can be done. What we are trying to do is remain loyal to key clients because they have been loyal to us and with us through tough times. We have been quite lucky from that point of view.“
In terms of development, the company opened nine hotels in 2009 and a further five are planned for the coming months.
“We are opening a new hotel in Beijing, which will be our sixth property there. Then we open our first hotel in Europe in Paris in September. Towards the end of 2010 we will open in Vienna and in Mumbai, India. In the Middle East, Doha will open in early 2011 as well as the Seychelles. We will continue to develop our presence in China as it is a very important market for us in many ways.”