BAHRAIN’S top-ranked Gulf Hotels Group is getting set for another wave of expansion after having recorded in 2012 its highest profits since its inception in 1967, says its chief executive officer Aqeel Raees.
The new commercial laundry of the hotel is expected to be ready by May 2013, while the planning and design phase of the new 2,500 sq m top-of-the-range spa is close to completion and construction is expected to commence in the second half of 2013. This will be completed by mid-2014, Raees tells TTN in an interview.
The management team is also working on implementing the plans to develop the Amwaj Waves Hotel Apartments, with opening scheduled towards the end of 2013. “We are also discussing the take-over of another property in the kingdom,” he says without disclosing the details.
The group also plans to buy property or acquire land and construct a five-star hotel in Dubai, which is once again booming, he says. “It is about time we had our footprint there. For that we are working with other companies in Bahrain to invest in a property there,” he says.
Referring to the group’s stellar performance in 2012, he says despite the difficult circumstances prevailing in the kingdom, the hotel management and its various divisions could ensure high profitability largely by reducing overheads, teamwork and dedication.
Also, major events that took place in 2012, such as the GCC Summit and the reintroduction of the Bahrain F1 Grand Prix helped the hotel sector recover from the downturn experienced in 2011, he explains.
Moreover, The Gulf Hotel, the legendary five-Star hotel of Bahrain, had doubled up as an important Mice destination, hosting a number of international and regional conferences last year, he says. The Gulf Hotel’s hugely successful Gulf Convention Centre was the first major meetings venue in the Kingdom of Bahrain when it launched in May 1997. The centre remains at the forefront of Bahrain’s business scene today, superbly maintaining its status as the largest and most impressive meetings and events facility on the island, he says.
The state-of-the-art facility houses 29 venues and over 4,780 sq m of space to ensure there is plenty of room for almost any type of event. The contemporary surroundings are further enhanced by a team of professional staff who provide impeccable service for all sizes of gatherings, from intimate business meetings to theatre-style conferences for up to 2,200 delegates.
The main source of business for the hotel are Mice and the military, he says. In fact all the hotels in Bahrain depend on the military, he adds.
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The Gulf Hotel will launch a 2,500 sq m Spa later this year |
Referring to Bahrain’s Spring of Culture, an annual celebration of culture, he says: “I think it is one of the best things to happen for Bahrain. There should be no doubt that we need to go in a different direction if we have to market ourselves effectively as a tourism destination. Bahrain is rich in culture and tradition. We should take advantage of that and make it our selling point.”
The F1 was another wonderful thing that happened to Bahrain. It has put the kingdom in the sport tourism map of the world. It is also a tremendous advertisement for the country. When the F1 takes place the whole world tunes into the live telecast come to know that this important event is staged in Bahrain, he says.
Raees adds that although there is overcapacity with the total number of rooms having increased with new hotels opening, the hotels reached a Revpar of 80 for this week’s F1 weekend.
Raees admits that business currently is very competitive. “But we don’t wait for business to come before infrastructure is made. We have to build the infrastructure first. To beat competition we try for perfection. We are well-established in the market that sets us apart from others. We have made a name for ourselves as the best. This is because we have continuity. Most of our top-level management are veterans. They know how to make our business plans work.”
Raees says the human factor is very important in bringing and retaining a client. “We are very local in our approach, but take care to maintain international standards. That is the mix that people like.”
With the onset of summer the hotel will have special rates. “But summer falls during Ramadan. So we will have our summer promotion after that,” he says. The hotel will have a stand for the forthcoming replace with Arabian Travel Market (ATM). This is the third year that we are participating. It is a good showcase to show our present and future projects, he adds.
Asked what needs to be done to promote Bahrain’s tourism, he says: “If there is a will there is a way. A strategic decision to declare Bahrain as a tourist destination should be taken. Our strategy should strike a balance between our culture, tradition, religion and economy. Bahrain has all the prerequisites that a tourism destination requires including the sun, beaches and the right kind of attitude.”
By K S Sreekumar