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The May Fair’s newly refurbished suites are luring the Arab market.

Despite events spanning security threats, floods and diseased cattle that have plagued the UK in recent months, the country's visitor numbers have remained robust.

According to VisitBritain statistics the country welcomed 443,000 visitors from the Middle East in 2006; a 15% increase on 384,000 in 2005, and their spend rocketed 21% totaling GBP 194 million (US $386 million).

The UAE is the biggest Middle East source market contributing 170,000 visitors last year, 28% more than 2005.

"However, with provisional figures for the first five months of this year available it is clear that we are set to see a much slower growth rate than has become the norm in the past few years," says VisitBritain's regional marketing manager, Carol Madisson.

"On a year-to-date basis, volume is up 2% with no change in the level of visitor spending. UKinbound (inbound tour operator association) figures for May show a modest 3.7% increase in visitor arrivals compared to May 2006, and forward bookings are 0.8% up year-on-year."

Airlines flying from the Middle East to the UK claim it was business as usual this summer and British Airways' commercial manager, Middle East, Paul Starrs, says the recent outbreak of foot and mouth had "no noticeable impact" on bookings.

BA operates two daily flights from Dubai to London, and also runs daily services to Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Doha, Kuwait and Muscat.

The carrier changed one of its Boeing 777 services to Dubai to a 747 this summer to reflect the growth in demand, and the same will happen on BA's flights from Bahrain and Doha for the summer and winter seasons.

Meanwhile Emirates Airlines launched a daily service from Dubai to Newcastle in North East England on September 1 - its sixth destination in the UK.

Home comforts

London remains the top UK destination for Arab nationals and hotels across the capital city, particularly in the West End, swell with Middle East guests over the busy summer months. Indeed, at hotels located near to the city's main shopping areas, such as Oxford Street, Knightsbridge, Piccadilly, and not forgetting Edgware Road and Marble Arch, otherwise known as ‘Little Arabia', around 90% of summer occupancy can be attributed to Arab guests.

This is the case at both The May Fair Hotel in Stratton Street, Piccadilly, operated by Radisson Edwardian, and the Hyatt Regency London - The Churchill, located in Portman Square, just behind busy Oxford Street.

Although the two properties offer a very different guest proposition and experience, both have recently been refurbished and hope to attract even more Arab guests as a result of their revamps.

"Everyone knows the May Fair, but not everyone knows about the refurbishment yet," explains Shahdad Jahanbani, regional director of sales - Middle East, for the May Fair Hotel. "However, the number of Middle East guests has increased since the refurbishment and this summer the hotel has been almost full with my clients." They included the Qatari royal family, he notes.

Formerly an InterContinental property, the May Fair was purchased for £115 million ($229 million) by Radisson Edwardian in 2005 and underwent a £85 million ($170) refurbishment that was completed in November 2006.

The new contemporary lobby has been furnished with creations from some of the world's top design houses; sofas and chairs are by Fendi and chandeliers by Baccarat, while artwork has been purchased from "up-and-coming artists". Other highlights include the Crystal ballroom that can accommodate 350 for a conference or 280 for dinner, while the May Fair theatre is noted as one of the largest private screening rooms in London. It seats 201 people and is ideal for meetings, theatrical performances, and product launches.

"Some Arab families have been known to call us at midnight and ask to watch a movie in there, and of course, we accommodate them," says Jahanbani.

There are also 12 meeting rooms, as well as additional function areas and a function suite, while for a more private affair, the 200m^² penthouse, offering views of London, can accommodate 100 guests.

However, the hotel's key selling point is its large rooms, many of which are inter-connecting, and its 10 luxury signature suites that combine old and new designs in contemporary splendour rarely witnessed at other London five-star properties where stuffy old-fashioned décor prevails. In-room facilities include Bang & Olufsen TV screens and multi-disc CD players, while original artwork, statues and relics adorn each individually designed suite.

Any guest staying in a suite is provided with 24-hour butler service that operates separately from the guest-relations team.

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