KHALEEJ TIMES, Monday, Sep 7, 2020 | Muharram 19, 1442
KT special: More UAE residents are holidaying at local hotels
Emirates:
The rebound of the UAE's hospitality sector post Covid-19 will be led by
the country's domestic market, with offerings that are catered around
families and their needs, experts said.
Tim Cordon, area senior vice president for the Middle East & Africa at Radisson
Hotel Group, noted that, based on previous crises, leisure travel is expected to
recover quicker, particularly travel for visiting friends and relatives,
followed by business travel.
"We can see that travellers still want to go on holiday, especially after being
isolated for such a long time, but safety has become a top priority," he said.
"As a result, there has definitely been a staycation trend, and it is expected
to strengthen in the coming months. Therefore, we believe, the post Covid-19
recovery will be driven by a rebound in domestic tourism."
Looking at the current offerings, Cordon said that there is definitely no
shortage in terms of staycation offers, and that residents will be seeing these
for longer. "Whilst the staycation market is usually dominating the summer low,
the current circumstances may lead to extended offers throughout the upcoming
winter season."
He added: "The good news is that our colleagues around the globe are already
seeing positive news and changes within the hospitality sector, but it has also
become clearer that it will take some time for international travel to resume
back to normal. As we enter this new era of travel, we will all need to
implement various methods to ensure travellers maintain their personal space,
making them and others feel safe and at ease."
Abdulla Al Abdouli, CEO of Marjan, also highlighted the increased interest in
staycations over the Eid break and the past few months. He noted that the
flagship destination in Ras Al Khaimah has always been a popular destination for
families looking for some relaxation.
"We have always been a top pick for visitors looking for a great staycation,
even before the Covid-19 pandemic," he said. "Families can enjoy great
facilities at our hotels at great value for money. In addition, there is plenty
of choice for all types of travellers, ranging from luxury offerings to more
budget friendly options."
Al Abdouli highlighted several new projects that were in the pipeline for the
destination that will build upon Ras Al Khaimah's hospitality offerings.
Currently, Al Marjan Island has over 1,600 operational five-star hotel keys,
including Rixos Hotels, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, and Accor Hotels brands.
Upcoming openings include the Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island with 418 hotel
keys, Hampton by Hilton on Al Marjan Island with 515 rooms, and Radisson Resort
Ras Al Khaimah, Marjan Island with 400 rooms.
"Our goal is to develop 2,400 hotel, residential, and mixed-use units by 2025
with several already under design review or in different stages of completion,"
Al Abdouli said. "In all, Al Marjan Island will have 6,500 planned residential
units, 8,000 planned hotel rooms and 400-room wellness retreats and 600 holiday
villas."
"Covid-19 was a challenge that we were able to tackle efficiently because all
the key players took action in a timely manner," he said. "We know that several
things will be different in the future, but right now we are all focused on
recovery."
"While we all would like a speedy recovery, I think the global hospitality
industry will still face uncertain times until medical innovations are able to
mitigate some of the fluctuating circumstances," added Cordon. "Every day is a
new challenge, but Covid-19 has also taught us the importance of communications
- internally with our guests, team members with our partners and locally. Being
able to swiftly adapt, respond and implement will be key moving forward."
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