Rosewood Corniche celebrates record year

Rosewood Corniche, one of Jeddah’s most luxurious hotels, celebrated a record 2013. In-room revenues increased by 8.2 per cent, while occupancy levels increased by 3.7 per cent compared to 2012.

Revenues were further boosted during the peak season from June 2013 to November 2013 leading to an increase of 6.1 per cent in revenue per available room and 2.6 per cent in the average room rate. The hotel also reported an increase of 1.2 per cent in its gross operating profit with the total revenue being 2.9 per cent higher than the forecasted budget.

TTN spoke to Hans Peter-Leitzke, managing director of Rosewood Corniche...

What are your main feeder markets?

Domestically, Riyadh is considered as our main feeder market. From a GCC perspective, the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar are the key sources of our business, while on an international scale, the US remains the most significant market, with a steady stream of travellers choosing Rosewood Corniche as their preferred hotel during their stay in the kingdom.  We are constantly involved in the corporate and government sectors, and engaged with a number of wholesalers and tour operators who have a solid base in the Saudi and Middle Eastern markets. 

How important is the travel trade, both locally and regionally, and what travel trade initiatives do you plan to put in place?

The region’s oil-based economies, led by Saudi Arabia, are switching their focus to boost alternative industries such as renewable energies, agriculture, and travel trade. 

Along with the UAE, the kingdom is the largest travel trade market in the GCC with an estimated 15 million visitors expected this year. Rosewood Corniche is one of the most luxurious hotels in Jeddah and as such, it offers unequalled services and experiences to its discerning clientele. We have a great product and service that we want the entire Saudi and Middle Eastern markets to know about and experience first-hand.

What are the property’s key selling points?

The hotel enjoys a magnificent location, situated in the heart of Jeddah’s Corniche in the fashionable northern corner of the city.  The area is within easy reach of key business, diplomatic and designer shopping districts. 

The sophisticated and personalised services we offer through each of our dedicated staff members are also unique.  All rooms and suites enjoy 24-hour butler service and our butlers take care of all guest requests, from a cup of coffee brewed in the room or suite to setting and serving a private dinner party in the suite for up to eight people.

The hotel has only 127 rooms and suites making it Jeddah’s best five-star hotel and this allows staff members to personally interact with every guest, making their experience as fabulous as possible.

Are you collaborating with any other tourism entities to further travel to your destination? 

We are currently discussing a new familiarisation trip with GCC travel agents to promote the hotel’s services and facilities, as we believe that the best way to sell a destination to their clients is to experience it first-hand.

The trip offers a good opportunity to let selected travel agents explore the hotel along with other popular attractions in the city which will help them advice clients planning a trip to the kingdom.  We plan to host more familiarization trips in the future as this is a great way to promote the city and receive more visitors from the region. 

Where do you hope to see the property in five years?

We celebrated a record year amid strong positive growth throughout 2013.  In-room revenue increased by 8.2 per cent in the last year while occupancy levels increased by 3.7 per cent compared to 2012.

We are extremely proud to report such positive figures for 2013.  Our guests are incredibly loyal to the Rosewood brand both here in the Middle East and throughout the world, but we are conscious never to rest on our laurels.

We are now looking ahead to strengthening our position as the number one business and leisure venue in Jeddah, and to maintain our presence as one of the foremost properties in the Kingdom.

We are currently speaking to similar operators in other GCC countries to extend our reach into several new markets.  In the coming years, we will work to secure strategic partnerships with the renowned travel leaders in Saudi Arabia and throughout the Middle East.

Rosewood Corniche opened in September 2007. Since then the property has introduced many new concepts to the hospitality industry including specially trained Fragrance Butlers, a seemingly unusual amenity to offer guests a choice of exotic scents, and the Rosebuds programme for young children. 

Rosewood Corniche was the recipient of Saudi Arabia’s Leading Hotel at the Middle East World Travel Awards in June 2013, a title held for four consecutive years. 

Adding to the accolades is the Best Guest Review Award for 2013 by Booking.com and the 2013 Certificate of Excellence by TripAdvisor.com, presented to the hotel for the second consecutive year in recognition of its personalised services and the unique Rosewood way of looking after guests.