Doha's skyline can be viewed from one of the restaurants at Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara. PICTURE: Joey Aguilar.
By Joey Aguilar
Staff Reporter
Banana Island Resort Doha by Anantara received more than 45,000 visitors since it was officially opened on January 1, a resort official said.
The number included those who came for lunch or dinner in restaurants and cafes in the resort.
“Yesterday (Monday) we had around 900 people on the island and today (Tuesday) we have approximately 800 persons,” Elias El Khoury, director of sales and marketing, told reporters during a media tour on Tuesday.
He said the resort received around 200 people on some days. They came on a short visit to the island and left in the afternoon or evening.
The resort’s main customer base is Qataris which comprises about 85% of its target market, according to El Khoury. The number is followed by people from Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain and Oman.
While it focuses on GCC countries, the resort also expects more travellers from other markets such as Germany and other European countries, the United States and Brazil.
The luxury brand’s first resort in Qatar has 141 guest rooms, suites and villas designed in splendid Arabian style with signature Anantara touches. Its three-bedroom ‘Over Water Villas’ offer 360 sq m of space and a 62 sq m personal pool – ideal for families and groups of friends.
The resort also features various water sport activities such as kayaking, pedalos and stand-up paddle boarding, wakeboarding, banana boat, triple tube and donut rides, water and jet skiing, and fishing trips.
El Khoury stressed that its beach area and pools are for use by clients staying at the resort. Those who booked for lunch and dinner, as well as for the wellness and recreation centres, will not be given access to these amenities.
“We are trying to make a lot of privacy for our clients,” he said. “We are making some limitations especially during weekends when we have very high ‘stay in’ occupancy. We are doing this to serve all our clients better.”
Restaurant bookings cost QR 200 per person which includes a two-way ferry ride from the Al Shyoukh Terminal to the island. Children below three are allowed free.
Of the amount, QR 50 goes to administration fees, mainly for transportation, while the remaining QR 150 is for food expenses.
“If you consume food costing more than QR150, you will have to pay for it,” said El Khoury.
He noted that their ferries operate 24 hours a day to serve the local and international clients.
The resort currently employs 468 people but the number will increase to 655 by the end of this month or mid-March. Some employees stay at the resort while others come from Doha.
Asked about their expectations in the coming hot season, El Khoury expressed optimism on the potential of the resort.
“Let us see how the market will react,” he said.
