JEDDAH, 2 June 2006 — Hotels and properties in the super luxury segment hope to increase their share of visitors from Saudi Arabia during the upcoming holiday season and onward. “We’ve been regularly getting visitors from this part of the world, but we expect them to come in large numbers, “the leader of a delegation from the UK’s Maybourne Hotel Group told Arab News as it ended its tour of Saudi Arabia yesterday.
The group owns The Berkeley, Claridge’s and The Connaught, described as three of the world’s most renowned hotels in London. It has officially marked its presence in the Middle East market with the appointment of a dedicated GCC sales and marketing representative, Mohamed Al Geziry Consultancy, in Dubai.
“The Middle East, especially the Kingdom, is a very important market and we’re very confident that our appointment of a representative in the region will strengthen our relationships in this fast developing market and assist us to increase our market share,” Paul Reynolds, vice president, sales and marketing, Maybourne Hotel Group, said.
The group’s team, comprising Director of Marketing Antonio Mazzafera and Aly El-Zayat, chairman of the Jeddah-based El-Zayat Tourism and Hospitality Consultancy, met with key travel trade and luxury brand partners in Jeddah and Riyadh. Earlier, the team visited Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
“The Berkeley, Claridge’s and The Connaught have always greatly valued the large number of distinguished guests who stay with them from the Kingdom and elsewhere in the region. “We’re able to accommodate the needs of all our discerning guests and we’ve unique facilities for our Arab guests and families with specially designed Middle Eastern menus, Arabic speaking staff, a dedicated team of butlers and female staff, Arabic newspapers and TV channels, many combinations of connecting rooms and suites, prayer mats and signs in the rooms,” Reynolds said. The properties are close to the exclusive shops on Bond Street and Knightsbridge,” he added.
The Berkeley offers a rooftop pool with a retracting roof and views over Hyde Park. The addition of restaurants such as Gordon Ramsay’s Boxwood Café and Marcus Wareing’s Petrus have secured the Berkeley the place of one of the world’s leading gastronomic hotels, Reynolds said.
