High occupancy raises hope among hoteliers
POSITIVE TREND: Guest arrival increases 20-35 per cent this season over last year
Sept. 25: Khareef 2016 was a silver lining and a mood elevator amid talks of low oil price and financial slowdown. Good khareef came as a pleasant surprise as all the tourism stakeholders were happy over the outcome and those involved in direct or indirect tourism businesses, made a killing out of it.
Hoteliers, who were not very optimistic due to low footfall initially, ended up doing brisk business by the end of the season. Their post-season reports indicated surge in footfall and revenue in comparison to the same period in the last season. Hotel chains like Rotana, Hilton and Crowne Plaza registered heavy footfall during the season. While Rotana Salalah Resort registered 35 per cent year-on-year increase, Hilton and Crowne Plaza registered 20 per cent increase each during the season.
Salalah Rotana Resort termed the season as “tremendously successful due to excellent Khareef which is a key driver of tourism to the Dhofar region.”
“The increase was anticipated as key airlines in the region including Oman Air, Fly Dubai and Qatar Airways increased flights to Salalah during the season to meet the growing demand. The Resort welcomed over 37,000 guests with a 35 per cent increase year-onyear compared to the same period in 2015. Majority of guests travelled from GCC countries to escape the heat and enjoy the climate, natural beauty and landscape.”
Topping the nationality list were Omanis followed by the UAE and other GCC nationals. Substantial numbers came from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain as well as other countries in the Middle East.
Rotana General Manager Hossam Kamal put it as: “A remarkable increase in the number of guest arrivals this year during Khareef resulting in impressive results compared to last year. Prior to the start of the season, we set out with a media campaign focusing on our resort as well as the region’s tourism offerings. Our guests from GCC countries loved the destination for its cooler climate, natural beauty unrivalled scenery and the outdoor activities available”.
Hilton Salalah Resort witnessed one of its strongest Khareef with a 20 per cent increase in the number of guests and 7 per cent increase in overall revenue. Having his first Khareef in Salalah, General Manager Mehdi Othmani finds the season “An integral part of the Omani tourism industry that has continued to grow in popularity, showcasing Salalah as a mainstream holiday destination to the outside world. At Hilton Salalah Resort, all our guests can always expect to receive heartfelt experiences where our extraordinary team members make sure all guests feel respected, valued and cared for during their stay.”
Having served the hotel industry in several countries across the world Othmani finds good reasons for the tourists coming to Salalah during the season. “It is an ideal holiday destination due to its remarkable climate, breathtaking coastline and the hospitable Omani culture… From the minute one sets foot out of the new airport, Salalah’s magical atmosphere, coupled with its deep traditions of local hospitality, tend to overwhelm them. With a wide choice of accommodation, from boutique hotels, resorts; both luxurious and upscale, to furnished apartments, it’s the only place in this part of the world that is blessed with incredible weather between June and September,” he said.
Where temperatures in other GCC countries rise well over 45 degrees Celsius, Salalah’s serene temperature and its lush green landscape offers views that can otherwise only be seen in tropical countries. Salalah is an amazing family destination where one can spend quality time discovering water-falls, visiting souks, museums and historical sites, enjoying outdoor barbecues with family and friends, become part of the ever popular “Khareef festival” renowned to display and showcase the proud Omani culture, and simply get carried away to a state of tranquility by witnessing the star studded sky at night, while camping, said Othmani.
“We observed one of our strongest Khareef seasons welcoming over 15,000 guests mostly from the GCC, this year, with a healthy increase in both; occupancy numbers and revenue figures. With a 20 per cent increase in the number of guests, as compared to 2015, we also witnessed a 7 per cent increase in overall revenue. Our Omani friends especially from Muscat preferred us the most and were at the top of all nationalities that visited us this Khareef,” he said.
Manuel Levonian, General Manager of Crowne Plaza said: “The 20 per cent growth this season was driven by our focused marketing campaigns for the anticipated Khareef season, as most of the bookings were done by the guests from the neighbouring GCC countries.”
The hotel, according to him, kept on organising food festivals across the season to give the guests a unique experience of enjoying Salalah amid continuous drizzling and greenery everywhere. “Khareef in Salalah also marks the wedding season, when traditional Omani wedding celebrations take place throughout the city,” he said.
Elated over good performance during the Khareef season the hoteliers are preparing for the charters season 2016 which is to begin sometime in October.