The Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort in Dubai is offering a whopping 40 per cent discount on its rack rates to visitors to the emirate during the Dubai Shopping Festival this month.
The resort which says it has ended 2001 in a "very positive light" despite the downturn sparked by the September attacks in the US, is looking to a "very profitable March". "We managed to end the year in a very positive light, by being able to quickly switch our macro target market to corporate from leisure," said sales and marketing director Karen Hardcastle. She said that while some markets like the UK had begun bouncing back, a reluctance to travel continued in other markets like Japan. Hardcastle expressed optimism over the future of tourism growth in the UAE, especially Dubai which continues to rank among the top 10 destinations of the world. She said that continuing construction of world class attractions and facilities combined with a liberal outlook that guarantees a safe family destination will ensure tourism growth in the country. Referring to the hotel's own expansion plans, Hardcastle said Le Meridien Mina Seyahi planned to add a seafood restaurant and additional meeting rooms to its facilities. She said Le Meridien Mina Seyahi had successfully positioned itself as a boutique type property offering a warm friendly atmosphere, the largest private beach in Jumeirah combined with a 145-berth marina offering watersports, sports, fishing, polo, tennis, PADI certified diving courses, and offsite golf facilities. The resort had become a venue for many large events in the emirate including July 4 US Independence Day, US Presidents Day, Great British Day, World Powerboating Championships and many traditional dhow sailing events.