ABU DHABI’S newest and biggest hotel, the Grand Millinnium Al Wahda, will be participating at ATM for the first time to introduce the 850-room property to the regional market. TTN spoke to general manager MICHAEL SORGENFREY to find out how things have gone since the November launch.
How has business been since the hotel opened?
Since opening business has been encouraging. Both our corporate and leisure segments are growing month by month. We now see a substantial number of our hotel guests returning on a weekly and monthly basis. We have also had a great response from long term guests staying in our one- and two- bedroom apartments, with more 70 per cent of them rented out for a year or more.
Are forward bookings looking positive?
We have just launched our exclusive summer offer with room-only rates starting from Dh399 ($108) for a superior room for single or double occupancy. The reaction from the market has been positive and we expect to have a busy summer ahead of us.
Is the destination benefiting from the unrest elsewhere in the region?
We believe the UAE will surely benefit from the difficulties elsewhere in the region. We are already picking up the business and we believe it will continue during the summer period. Abu Dhabi, with its cultural attractions and great hotel offers, will attract many leisure tourists in upcoming months.
What will be the hotel’s message at ATM?
We are working very closely with our travel trade partners both within the GCC and outside the region to develop a close working relationship and partnerships with them. Our sales team will be embarking on a major sales drive throughout the GCC and Europe straight after ATM to promote the property to the travel trade and to answer any questions or inquires agents may have.
Are there any particular promotions that you will be pushing?
We are currently focusing on our summer rate promotion, with rates starting from Dh399, which will be valid until the end of August. By having attractive summer rates and added value for our guests such as complimentary parking, internet, wakeup call with fresh coffee and access to the most magnificent rooftop pool, we believe we can attract the leisure market coming from the GCC. We do have international dining facilities and our innovative chefs are always looking to provide special extra touches for our guests.
We are working on various promotions in our restaurants such as all you can eat sushi for Dh95 ($25) or a value-for-money two for one promotion in our Italian Restaurant, Portobello. Our Zayna luxury spa is also offering special promotions every month such as complimentary foot reflexology massage with every traditional treatment purchased.
What do you hope to gain from participating in ATM?
Our main goal is to present our newly-opened property Grand Millennium Al Wahda to the public. Very important for us is to establish and maintain good connections with the travel agents, press and Mice agencies from across the globe. ATM is a great platform to showcase our newly-launched hotel.