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Avsar Koc, Regional Director of Sales Middle East & Africa, Kempinski Hotels |
Kempinski have announced their results for the first quarter of 2012, and properties in Qatar, UAE, and Bahrain exceeded forecasted occupancy levels, especially on weekends, reflecting the growth of intra-regional travel.
According to Avsar Koc, Regional Director of Sales Middle East & Africa Kempinski Hotels, the Kempinski residence in Doha hit 90% occupancy throughout March, and sold out on several occasions. He said that the outlook for the next two to three months is good, which is a positive indication for future Kempinski projects in Qatar.
Koc said that Qatar’s hotel and residence market has a good future, not only with conference and corporate business but also with a rapidly developing leisure sector. Kempinksi is taking a long term view regarding its business in the counry, and is confident that Qatar will be a promising travel destination in the years to come.
Commenting on Kempinski’s success in the region, Koc, said: “In this region we’ve seen impressive growth already in the first quarter of 2012. Landmark properties such as Emirates Palace, Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates, and the newly opened Kempinski Hotel & Residences on Palm Jumeirah have been sold out most weekends since late 2011, and the majority of guests are coming from the GCC. ”
“Kempinski has maintained its position as the world’s leading European luxury hotel brand for more than a century. Operating in the Middle East since 1998, Kempinski properties strategically located across the region now bring in 38% of our company’s total revenues. With five new properties planned for the GCC alone, we are confident we will continue to see strong results from this region.”
The announcement was made during the Doha leg of Kempinski’s annual Middle East Road Show. Seventeen international properties, including the Hotel Vier Jaherszeiten Kempinski Munich, Kempinski Hotel Bahia in Marbella, the Stafford Hotel in London, and the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul, were showcased in Doha and presented special travel packages for the upcoming summer travel season.
Globally, the Kempinski Group operates 72 hotels, with the Middle East region as one of the prime revenue drivers for the European luxury brand. Koc added: “The Middle East remains one of the key feeder markets for our landmark hotels across Europe, Asia, and Africa, as well as within the region. Our annual Middle East road show is a proven success. By bringing Kempinski representatives from around the world to showcase properties such as Le Mirador Kempinski Lake Geneva, Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok, Kempinski Seychelles Resort, and Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates, we are able to directly engage our customers.”
Representatives from the properties, which enjoy strong visitor traffic from the region, presented several packages and services tailored to the needs of the Middle East guest – including large family-friendly room configurations, complimentary Kids Club activities, high-end spa packages and special halal menus.