Emirates Palace, managed by Kempinski Hotels, has recorded a remarkable double digit growth in 2006, pushing its occupancy to peak levels in a breakout year that saw the luxury resort join the ranks of the world’s best hotels.
GCC and European tourists led tourist arrivals, while corporate and travel trade bookings have also increased as a result of the hotel’s attractive incentives package and extensive promotional efforts in key and emerging markets abroad, including Russia, India, France and the UK.
Among the more successful promotions that significantly contributed to high occupancy levels were exciting Ramadan and Eid special offers, as well as summer and weekend packages.
Emirates Palace general manager Noel Massoud expects the trend to continue as ongoing familiarisation trips for global tour operators and media professionals are expected to generate a constant stream of bookings from existing markets, as well as new ones.
“This is an extraordinary achievement and credit must go to everyone in the hotel for making sure we stand out among the rest. We have worked very hard to reach this level, putting our best foot forward in all travel-related exhibitions and road shows across Europe and the GCC,” he said.
Massoud also cited the role played by corporate bookers and travel tour operators in the Palace’s exceptional success. “We networked with the right people and the right groups to ensure we have good representation in our preferred markets. In return we offered them a highly competitive package of incentives that ensured a constant flow of guests into the hotel.”
It was also a bountiful year for Emirates Palace as far as awards and recognitions are concerned, and the resort harvested a number of prestigious citations.Increasingly, Emirates Palace has become the venue of choice for international events, further fuelling its growth in conference and exhibitions. “This is an area that will continue to drive a lot of business and guests to the hotel, as the industry continues to expand in Abu Dhabi with new shows and expositions being added to an already busy calendar,” said Massoud.
Built in the style of a majestic Arabian Castle rising from the desert sands, Emirates Palace is comprises 394 luxury rooms and suites that offer all the modern conveniences – from digital entertainment to internet access.