Arabian Breaks introduces home rental concept

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Turner: a home rental advocate.

Arabian Breaks, a new division of RCI Global Vacation Network, is bringing the holiday home rental concept to the Middle East for the first time.

The company will give property owners in the GCC the chance to rent their villas or apartments to holidaymakers as an alternative to hotel accommodation.

"We think that this alternative form of accommodation could revolutionise travel in this part of the world," commented Nick Turner, managing director, RCI Middle East.

Company research suggested private rented accommodation could account for around 20% of overnight stays in Dubai within the next five years, he added.

Arabian Breaks will primarily target short stay leisure visitors coming to the region for seven- to 14-day breaks and families looking for privacy and independence, but according to Turner, even business travellers and the meetings industry sector are potential customers.

"We have seen from our European companies that source markets tend to mirror those of the destination, so for Dubai we are looking primarily at the UK and Europe, Saudi Arabia, Russia and the CIS, Kuwait and India," he said.

The company will initially look for properties in the greater Dubai area, specifically high-profile developments such as The Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina.

RCI Global Vacation Network's distribution strategy will be two-pronged; customers will be able to book directly through the company web site, www.arabianbreaks.com , which will come online by the end of April, and through the local travel trade.

"For customers booking from this part of the world we expect bookings to be geared directly through travel agents," said Turner.

"We are already in discussion with some of the major travel agent groups throughout the Middle East, and by mid-June we hope to have secured some key distributors in the GCC, Egypt and the Levant."

A dedicated brochure showcasing properties should also be available later this year, he added.

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