THE Crowne Plaza Bahrain has opened its newly refurbished Club Rooms and suites for its guests.
The rooms have been tailor-made to provide maximum comfort and include inter-connecting room access in select categories and modern facilities. The hotel will also undertake further renovations to enhance the product and meet client requirements, as well as to raise occupancy numbers.
According to Ziad Bassila, director of sales and marketing at the hotel, “2005 occupancy was at 68 per cent and our 2006 figures are currently at 72 per cent, however we are aiming for more due to the new rooms that we have recently renovated. Our RevPar has also increased humongously in comparison to 2004 and 2005. 2005 has outperformed the previous years in growth. 2006 will be another success story.”
The refurbishment of the Club Rooms involved upgrading the rooms to international standards, complete with state-of-the-art modern-day amenities, which match the needs of the international business or leisure traveller. These include TV and satellite channels, mini-bar, direct line telephone and internet access, in addition to tea and coffee making facilities.
“Our Crowne Plaza Club Rooms have been redesigned to suit corporate and leisure travellers who are looking for something different and interesting. Comfort has always been our top priority and we have taken great care to ensure your every need is fulfilled once you step into these rooms,” says the hotel’s general manager, George Koumendakos.
Ideally located in the Manama’s diplomatic area and close to the old souq, modern shopping malls and Bahrain’s International Airport, the Crowne Plaza Bahrain is a favourite destination for those visiting this idyllic island in the Gulf.
The Club Rooms’ parquet flooring and the deluxe rooms’ lighter wood finish reflect the commitment to the highest level of elegance and sophistication. Selected rooms overlook the swimming pool, providing guests a wonderful and tranquil view. The spacious bathrooms have options of a bathtub and standing shower as well.
“The refurbishment is part of the hotel’s myriad initiatives to offer stunning elegant and upscale premium rooms, where exceptional service and discreet touches of luxury characterise the wholesome guest experience,” says Koumendakos.
In total, the hotel has 246 rooms and suites, and caters to a mix of business and leisure guests. Says Bassila, “For corporate business, we are favoured by local and multinational companies mainly from the UK and UAE. Weekend feeders markets are from KSA as a prime destination, Qatar and Kuwait.”
Beyond the renovation, the hotel will join forces with Bahrain’s tourism authority to put the country on the international business and leisure map and to increase awareness in different destinations around the world, says Bassila. “For that purpose we will play an important part in the European and Middle Eastern trade fairs and exhibitions.”
The hotel offers purpose-built conference, meeting, exhibition and banqueting venues, with a capacity to host conferences of up to 1,700 delegates in either classroom-style configuration, a lavish sit-down banquet for 1,200 guests or a cocktail reception for 2,000 visitors. The hotel also has individually appointed meeting rooms catering to 60 persons.
Various restaurants and outlets in the hotel cater to international palettes with cuisines from across the world. La Mosaique offers Mediterranean fare with themed nights, and Waves seafood restaurant offers Indian, Lebanese and Thai dishes. The hotel also houses the very popular Harvester's Pub which provides the guests with a special atmosphere of a lively pub and the relaxation of a cocktail bar.
For those guests who are more energetic, and are sports enthusiasts, the Tracks sports bar located next to the health club with a well-equipped ladies and gentleman's gym, provides "large screen" entertainment of all the major international sporting events.
There is the open-air pool also has a tent, kiddies play area and other activities.