As many as 86 percent of domestic trips to Jeddah are by land, and the tourists tend to stay at apartments for a period of five to seven days. However, hotels are the preferred type of accommodation among inbound tourists, according to an Elaf Jeddah Hotel team comprising Commercial Manager Syed Mohammad Sabir, Food & Beverage Manager Samir Salah and Director of Sales & Marketing Faisal Al-Ghamdi. Elaf, the newly opened property at the Red Sea Mall, which styles itself as a boutique hotel, boasts 156 luxurious rooms consisting of deluxe and superior rooms, junior, business, executive and diplomatic suites. Its one other new property is under construction at Tahlia Street.

While Jeddah used to benefit from transit traffic during Haj, things have changed with recent legislation that requires pilgrims to stay at hotels in Makkah in order to fill the number of newly built hotel rooms. The split of inbound and domestic arrivals in Jeddah is thus significantly different as a result.

Jeddah currently has 22 five-star and four-star properties and new ones are under construction. Jeddah’s Red Sea coastline could be an advantage when promoting tourism in the city. About 1,000 rooms are planned to enter the market by 2013.

All across the Kingdom, hotels and restaurants have readied themselves to receive the guests for iftar and suhur. They include Hilton, Sheraton, Park Hyatt, InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Albilad, Le Meridien, Marriott and Radisson Blu.

Jeddah’s Red Sea landmark hotel, Rosewood Corniche, is ensuring its guests can make the most of their stay in the Kingdom by offering a special limousine service for Umrah trips to and from Makkah. The hotel’s Habsburg Restaurant provides the setting for iftar, offering beautiful views of the Red Sea. Executive Chef Richard Green and his well-trained culinary team are offering traditional Ramadan dishes from the Arab world along with international fare. Chinese dinners and Suhur will be offered at Noodles daily from 8 p.m. to 3 a.m. The hotel’s restaurants are also available exclusively for group gatherings. Guests staying in the premier hotel during the first 20 days of Ramadan can also take advantage of great promotions available on the hotel’s luxurious rooms. “Our close proximity to the holy city means we can offer our guests a comfortable way to perform their pilgrimage. We believe the flawless personalized service we provide allows guests to focus on inner purification and devoutness during the holy month,” said Hans-Peter Leitzke, MD, Rosewood Corniche. The hotel boasts 24-hour butler service for each of the 127 guest rooms and suites.

The Movenpick Resort Al Nawras Jeddah, located on the Corniche that offers Swiss hospitality, has renovated its restaurants in time for receiving Ramadan guests. Its Navras Wada Restaurant has been particularly decorated for iftar and suhur. “With the renovation, we have changed everything to suit the tastes of our guests, especially for the holy month. We offer oriental food in addition to other cuisine,” Ahmed Helmi Mesalam, sales manager of Movenpick Resort Al Nawras Jeddah, said. “We have made elaborate preparations to receive 310 Ramadan guests under one roof,” Hossam Al-Jamal, resident manager, said, adding that the restaurant’s menus include a vast array of appetizers, grilled food and dessert. Menus include Lebanese food, appetizers and grilled food. The restaurant is known for its dessert specialties including Arabic and French varieties. It has erected a special tent for iftar and suhur so that the guests enjoy the best sea view. The tent can accommodate up to 200 guests. The restaurant is also fully geared for hosting weddings and corporate events, aside from iftar and suhur parties. The resort also has a range of villas that offer full privacy with great Red Sea views and delicious food during the season.

The Movenpick Hotel Qassim is all set to celebrate the holy month as in the past. “Ramadan is always very special for us,” Prashant Sharma, its director of sales and marketing, said. The hotel has erected a special tent decorated in oriental lifestyle suiting the holy month. It offers authentic Arabic cuisine for iftar. Its buffet offers an array of Arabic dishes such as hot and cold mezze, Arabic soups, grills and traditional sweets. “Our venues are ideal for breaking the day-long fast with family and friends. It has elegant banquet halls for corporate iftar parties. Our executive chef and his seasoned team have prepared specially designed menus for the special occasion,” Sharma added. The hotel is also offering special discounted room rates for its iftar and suhur guests. Its main restaurant Al Massa, located at the lobby level, is showcasing Ramadan dishes and delicacies. In-house guests have the privilege of the hotel’s room service for suhur. The tent’s pillars and ceiling are decorated with small and large lanterns, and brass pots. The area also has stations serving Arabic coffee and dates, and juices. The restaurant also boasts live cooking stations.

The Trident Hotel Jeddah, managed by Saudi Oberoi Co., has announced its Ramadan promotions with a festival of food to match the spirit of the holy month. Its General Manager Chander Nain said the hotel, which is undergoing renovation floorwise to give best service to the guests, offers a magnificent range of iftar and suhur buffets offering sumptuous delights from the grills and tandoor. The buffet features over 100 items. “Our outside catering wing transports iftar and suhur dishes and delicacies to locations of the guests’ choice,” Nain said, adding that the hotel’s Al Rawdah and Kandahar restaurants are also ready to receive the Ramadan guests. The festival at the 216-room hotel is supported by a number of airlines and travel agents, aside from major corporate houses.

The Kinda restaurant, located at the new Elaf Jeddah Hotel in the Red Sea Mall, is fully prepared with its oriental and other cuisines for the season’s iftar and suhur needs. “Arabic soups and salads, aside from authentic Arabic and other oriental dishes, have been carefully selected for the holy month,” Mohammed Rasheed Khan, its executive chef, said. It’s a luxurious boutique style hotel overlooking the stunning blue waters of the Red Sea, blended with local and modern culture,” Khan said. The hotel also expects a large number of guests from the rest of the Kingdom and elsewhere in the Gulf to stay in its 156 luxurious rooms, especially during the holy month. “Health food rich in nutrition is our forte, which will be available in our special preparations for Ramadan,” Khan said.