Well known across the region, Luxury Hotels by Dnata continues to expand its offering of exclusive properties for the discerning traveller
Luxury Hotels by Dnata is a growing portfolio of hand-picked hotels for the discerning luxury traveller.
Launched in 2009, the Dubai-based company provides sales, marketing and public relations support to a selection of 37 four- and five-star hotels across the globe, in a bid to increase their business from the Middle East.
The collection includes hotels in London, Geneva, Vevey, Switzerland, Italy, Durban, Cape Town, Bangkok, Phuket, Hersonissos, Crete, Mauritius and Rotorua, New Zealand.
This year, the company added the Peninsula Hotels in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Bangkok, Beijing, New York, Tokyo, Chicago, Beverly Hills and Manila, the Centara Hotels and Resorts with properties in Thailand, the Maldives, Egypt and India, Il Salviatino in Fiesole, near Florence, Sankhara Villas in Mauritius and Trisara in Phuket, Thailand, to its growing portfolio of properties.
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The fabulous Peninsula on the Bund in Shanghai is marketed by Luxury Hotels by Dnata |
Lisa Balsom, manager for Luxury Hotels by Dnata, says it has been an exciting year for the company. “We have brought onboard new, exciting destinations and experiences to the GCC traveller. Bookings too have increased and we saw more customers travelling to Europe this year than last year,” she says. “With the addition of Centara Hotels and Resorts and Peninsula Hotels, the Luxury Hotels by Dnata brand has become well known in the region. We are seeing hotel companies approach us to discuss our services. Travel agents feel confident booking any of the hotels or resorts in the portfolio, since they know they have been hand-picked.”
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A lot more is in the pipeline for the company as it continues to look for new partners to work with and Luxury Hotels by Dnata hopes to announce more properties in markets such as the Seychelles, Malaysia, Australia and France soon.
Balsom (pictured) believes the global recession did not impact luxury travel as was anticipated. “Affluent travellers are still looking for unique experiences and quality service. To ensure we get to as many potential customers as possible, we have spread our reach, with more sales trips to Qatar and Kuwait, and we now have a sales manager based in Saudi Arabia too,” she says.
“While some customers will hold out for value and will choose last minute, based on the best deal in the market, rather than longer term planning, there are those who will always look for the high-end experience,” she adds.
“We have seen that our guests want and expect seamless service. Once a decision to travel has been made, they expect a quick turnaround. One of our hotels offers service ambassadors who assist with check-in and check-out, making the process more flexible and less rigid. For the luxury traveller it’s all about the service and, with more and more guests taking holiday opportunities over long weekends, we continue in our efforts to offer them a wider, more exciting range of choices.”