HOTELS IN DUBAI REPORT SURGE IN INTEREST FOR COP28 BOOKINGS
Hospitality experts expect demand to grow as prices for summit’s opening night rise sharply
Hotels in Dubai have reported an increase in inquiries about bookings during the Cop28 climate change summit, which begins in November.
Hoteliers say it is still too early to gauge precise numbers, but interest has increased and some hotels plan to run daily shuttle buses to the Cop28 venue at Expo City Dubai.
Hoteliers and hospitality experts are expecting a busy time during the climate summit, which runs from November 30 to December 12.
Prices at some hotels have surged by about 200 per cent for the opening night.
“Since the news of Cop28 was announced, we have been receiving ongoing queries from delegations planning to attend,” said Robert El Khoury, vice president of sales and marketing at JA Resorts and Hotels.
“There has been much interest, particularly in our flagship property of JA The Resort as it is located just 15 minutes away from Expo City.
“The resort has confirmed bookings and we are planning to offer shuttle transportation to provide further convenience for our guests.”
World leaders, ministers and climate advocates are among the tens of thousands of people expected to travel to Dubai for the summit.
There are typically two main zones at UN climate summits.
The blue zone, where negotiations take place, is off limits to the public, while the green zone is open to all visitors.
At Cop27, held in Egypt last year, the green zone included cafes, restaurants, areas for people to practise yoga and booths displaying local sustainability initiatives.
Cop28 will coincide with National Day celebrations on December 2 and, while there are still rooms available on hotel websites and aggregators, interest is increasing.
Rove Hotels, which has nine properties in Dubai – including one at Expo City that is fully booked for the duration of the talks – also reported a sharp increase in inquiries.
“We expect demand to fully ramp up during the summer period,” said Paul Bridger, chief operating officer at Rove Hotels.
“We are extremely excited about the upcoming event, it is an amazing opportunity for Dubai and the UAE. We believe it will drive very strong demand for hotels across all segments, from luxury five-star properties to mid-market.”
It has been a bumper few months for hotels in Dubai.
Last month, it was reported that a packed events schedule and bustling tourism season in the emirate led to a 30 per cent increase in room prices.
“While it is relatively early to anticipate exact trends, one thing is certain: the UAE’s hosting of Cop28 will prove one of the country’s most globally resonant events,” said Jochem-Jan Sleiffer, Hilton’s president for Middle East, Africa and Turkey.
“The arrival of delegates from around the world will provide a major opportunity for the hospitality industry.
“We are very excited at the prospect of welcoming Cop28 attendees in November and are already gearing up across our UAE portfolio to prepare for their arrival as we put sustainability at the heart of our operations.”
Sanjay Bhatia, managing director at investment banking advisory company Alpen Capital, said Cop28 would give a further boost to the hospitality industry in the UAE.
“The Cop28 summit, which is scheduled to take place during the peak tourist season of the country and expected to attract 80,000-plus people, will push attendees of the summit and tourists to book much in advance to plan their visit to the country,” said Mr Bhatia, whose company publishes hospitality reports for the GCC.
“The sector will also witness tie-ups between tour operators and hotels to facilitate ease of booking during this period of high demand.
“As a result, the hospitality sector in the UAE is expected to witness a rise in occupancy levels which will positively impact the sector.”
World leaders, ministers and climate advocates are among the tens of thousands expected to travel to the summit