DUBAI HOTELS READY FOR SUMMER RUSH AS VISITORS BOOK UAE TRIPS
▶ Speed of Emirates’ vaccination drive makes it an attractive location for international travellers
Hotels in Dubai are expecting a surge in holiday bookings this summer as the global vaccination push eases anxieties about travel.
Managers are expecting many foreign visitors to brave the summer heat for a long-awaited trip abroad.
They are receiving inquiries from Russia, the UK and Germany, among other countries, and many are enticing guests with free room upgrades and discounts.
Thomas Grundner, chief commercial officer at J A Resorts & Hotels, said the speed of the UAE’s vaccine campaign made it an attractive destination for international travellers.
“This year we are expecting a summer boom that is unlike previous years,” he said.
“The reason being that we feel many countries have endured strict lockdowns and their citizens will be very keen to travel to more open countries once they can.
“Despite the heat, Dubai still has many attractions open, from indoor theme parks to spas, restaurants, and super-sized malls. We think this will attract summer visitors from countries where things are more closed.”
The UAE is forging ahead in the global race to vaccinate its public against Covid-19. It has the world’s third-fastest vaccine campaign according to the Our World in Data project, compiled at the University of Oxford.
With countries expected to open travel corridors over the coming months, hotels in Dubai said they were prepared for last-minute bookings.
Throughout the summer, some hotels under the J A group will offer onsite PCR testing for guests, who require it for travel.
In terms of demand, Mr Grundner said he hoped to see more interest from the UK next month, as well as Saudi Arabia.
Vinayak Mahtani, chief executive of bnbme, said the holiday home management company was predicting its best year yet.
“For the past month, we have been targeting clients who will be visiting Dubai, as other options to travel in the summer are limited,” he said.
“We foresee the GCC, the US and western Europe to be lead source markets over the summer in Dubai.
“We are taking non-refundable bookings for the summer months, with several reservations already in the books.
“The way it looks, we will need to increase our property portfolio for the summer.”
Last year, hotel stays in the UAE were the world’s second busiest after China, hosting 14.8 million guests in the 12 months.
The staycation boom from UAE residents and a brief influx from foreign tourists over Christmas and New Year also contributed.
Holidaymakers spent an average of 3.7 nights at 1,089 establishments, according to the World Tourism Organisation and the Emirates Tourism Council.
This year, that number is expected to increase, with travel sentiment beginning to improve as countries increase efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19.
One of Dubai’s leading hospitality experts predicted that the staycation market would enjoy a strong summer this year.
“A lot of people won’t be able to go back to their home countries this summer,” said Naim Maadad, chief executive of Gates Hospitality.
“Certain countries will still be very difficult to visit. They won’t have the freedom to do as much as they could in Dubai.
“Everyone is grounded and people need alternatives.”
Mr Maadad also praised the authorities in Dubai for allowing outlets to serve food without curtains or screens during daytime in Ramadan.
“The relaxation of the rules is very positive and it says Dubai is open and ready to welcome back international tourists in a safe manner,” he said.
Michelle Purnell, marketing and communications manager at Studio One Hotel, said many hotels across Dubai were looking forward to more tourism in the hotter months.
“With more than nine million vaccine doses administered in the UAE, Dubai will be a safe place to visit and fully ready to welcome tourists from a variety of destinations,” she said.
“Currently, with regards to advance overseas stayers, we expect to see a shorter lead time in bookings due to restrictions being lifted in various different countries.”
Despite the challenges posed by the pandemic, Ms Purnell said the hotel, which has 141 rooms, had been hitting its targets for the year.
Colin Baker, Middle East regional director at StayWell Hospitality Group, said the company had not yet received a huge number of advance bookings.
“Guests want certainty of travel, so last-minute bookings are at the moment very much the norm and this will continue to be the case until such time as flights return to some form of normality,” he said.
“As we forecast bookings to come last minute at a slower pace compared to the last two years, Park Regis Kris Kin has devised summer-exclusive hotel value-added perks.
“[Guests can enjoy] free room upgrades, guaranteed late checkout, savings of up to 35 per cent on stays and free stay giveaways to entice visitors even more during the sunny season.”