Bahrain’s island resort on development spree

HAWAR Resort Hotel – Best Western, while gearing up to offer value-added summer retreats amid swaying palms, calm waters and soothing acres of untouched desert sands, is targeting a range of exciting new projects in the days to come.

TTN caught up with Varghese Kurian, chairman and managing director of VKL Holdings and Al Namal Group, the new operators of the four-star resort set in a cluster of 16 islands, to learn about the focus on new activities, facilities and package deals for guests.

“New amenities include amusement parks, a miniature golf course, an enhanced range of water sports including a children’s pool and an entertainment centre,” says an excited Kurian, adding that the resort is already seeing guests from across the region and beyond after its soft opening in May.

Hawar Resort Hotel – Best Western currently offers 40 exquisite rooms including four Royal Suites and 16 furnished two-bedroom apartments, which have already undergone extensive interior and extensive renovation.

The second phase of the development, starting immediately after Ramadan, will add an extra 100 rooms, including 50 deluxe chalets with swimming pools.

“In less than three years, we will have more than 200 rooms,” Kurian highlights. Needless to say, each will feature modern amenities such as wi-fi and sea views from a balcony.

While the resort offers two restaurants and a bar as well as two conference rooms and a banquet hall at the moment, major development plans include a discotheque, a 700-standing or 500-seating capacity convention centre, explains Kurian, noting that an ayurvedic hospital and a seafood restaurant are in the offing. The resort will have a grand opening before the end of the year, he adds.

While the resort is barely 25 km off the southeast coast of Bahrain, and a 45-minute boat ride away from the Al Dur Jetty, the Group has plans are to introduce special boats and a seaplane to transport guests in luxury.

Set on a 100,000 sq m area, the resort is on a natural island, a historical place environmentally recognized a world heritage site, and is targeting inbound tourism from Europe, the Far East and India, says Kurian, hinting that about 50 per cent of the guests would be foreigners.

Meanwhile, Hawar Resort Hotel – Best Western has designed a number of summer and Ramadan package deals for guests from the region, with discounts on rooms ranging up to 50 per cent. Eid Al-Fitr, will be marked by an array of festive offers, including specially designed indoor activities packages for families.

Well known for their achievements in the real estate sector, Bahrain-based Al Namal Group and VKL Group, have also made major inroads in health and hospitality divisions.

At the helm of the group, Kurian, a qualified civil engineer continues to steer the group is also noted for his endless contributions in social welfare and charity causes, both in Bahrain and India.

By Ravi Kalmady