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Four Seasons to raise the bar in Bahrain

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The glamorous Four Seasons Bahrain Bay

The newly opened Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay, a destination in itself with world-class facilities and outlets, hopes to bring a qualitative leap in the kingdom’s hospitality sector.

The urban resort hotel, situated on a private island in the $2.5-billion Bahrain Bay development, is a stunning new addition to the market.

Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay rises 68 storeys on a five-hectare oval-shaped island, offering 273 extra-spacious guest rooms – including 57 suites –  with sweeping views of the Manama skyline or the Arabian Gulf.

Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay general manager Greg Pirkle said at peak capacity, the hotel will have 650 people working in it, of which at least 15 per cent would be Bahraini.

Four Seasons Hotels is the operator on behalf of property owner Bahrain-based Signature Hotel Management Company, he said.

“We got involved in the project at the design stage itself and ground was broken in November 2011. From start to finish, the project has taken about three-and-a-half years, so we have pretty much kept to the schedule,” he said.

He said the design and decor of the hotel incorporates a blend of local culture with international themes.

“We have works by Bahraini artists, including a series of ceramic tiles depicting the region’s ancient Dilmun culture by Huda Al Saie,” he said.

The landmark luxury hotel is also a reassuring bold statement of confidence in Bahrain’s tourism sector and the economy.

“We believe we have brought to Bahrain a product that the kingdom can be proud of,” said Rami Z Sayess, regional vice president Four Seasons Hotel.

“Whenever we go to a new market, we make sure that we have the right partner; the right location and a city that can accommodate a Four Seasons hotel. We are proud that we have achieved these in Bahrain,” he said.

Bahrain is a very important hub for Four Seasons in the region. “In the luxury section, there was a need for a hotel of this calibre in the kingdom and the group has brought a great vision to life,” he continued.

With a bouquet of top class signature restaurants and spa facilities spread across 26,000 sq ft, the hotel will become a destination for local and regional visitors, Sayess affirmed.

“We could promote this as a spa or a food and beverages destination. We have brought signature names to Bahrain to be able to put the hotel on the map.”

The hotel features seven options for indoor-outdoor dining including three outlets by celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck, five swimming pools, a spa with 17 treatment rooms, two ballrooms and a Sky Bridge with meeting rooms and restaurants on the 50th and 51st floors.

The infinity pool curving along the edge of the bay features an underwater sound system. The adults-only Azure Pool is a quiet refuge, complete with a heated whirlpool.

Rami Z Sayess

Guests can also take a dip in the salty waters of the bay in an enclosed swimming area, located on the southwest side of the island. In addition, they can enjoy non-motorised water sports, including paddle boats and kayaks.

The H-shaped hotel, designed by renowned international designers, makes a statement every inch – of luxury and sublime taste. The vast lobby is like a park with a dozen olive trees spreading out their branches. A walk through the corridors resembles a museum tour with works of artists from Bahrain and the GCC adorning every wall and room.

“The interiors of the hotel have been designed by Pierre Yves Rochon with Art Deco accents,” says Sayess.

Speaking on the uniqueness of the hotel, Sayess continued: “I think the hotel itself is very unique in terms of architecture. The first thing the guest will see is the building, which is a landmark structure.

“The number and quality of food and beverage outlets that we bring into the city are unique. This includes the renowned restaurants by Wolfgang Puck. The size of the rooms are certainly going to be the largest in the city. We have the second largest spa in the Four Seasons group here.

“The beauty of this hotel is that it’s a corporate hotel and a leisure hotel at the same time. Corporate because we are very close to the business district, the Diplomatic Area, and leisure because of the facilities and the location we have. “

He said the hotel will target every market that is coming to Bahrain. There are 97 hotels within the group and the new hotel will be promoted throughout the network.

“Our target is to help the destination. Bahrain is already on the tourism map, but we also want to explore new feeder markets for the kingdom. Hopefully, the Four Seasons brand will help do that.

“One of the things we do in every market is that we work closely with the in-bound tour operators and tourism authorities to see what we can do jointly to promote the destination. The first thing we are doing ourselves is to promote Bahrain within our own network. For example, there will be a conference for our directors of finance and they will be coming to Bahrain. We will also participate in trade shows where the country will be showcased. When we go overseas, we are not only selling our properties, we are selling the destination. The main thing is to attract the customer to the destination and get them to come to Bahrain.”

Sayess is not at the moment much concerned about occupancy levels. “We bring certainly a new level of service to the city and we expect to raise the bar on every level. Once we have built ourselves a name in the market, we expect the occupancy levels to increase and we believe we will lead the luxury market in a short period. We are very confident of this.”

Speaking on the Bahrain’s tourism market, he said: “It’s early for us to judge, being the new kid on the block. From our limited understanding of the market, Bahrain has a strong weekend leisure business, which we believe will continue to come to town. Certainly we would like to take a big portion of that pie.”


By Sree Bhat

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