Big name hotels reveal all at WTM

Business was busy at WTM 2007.

Both regional and international hotel companies were out in force at last month's instalment of World Travel Market (WTM), which took place at London's ExCeL from November 12 to 15.

Many took the opportunity to make launch announcements and reveal expansion strategy plans, as well as increase brand awareness in the international arena.

Hilton revealed plans to renovate The Luxor Hilton and reopen the property in October 2008 as the Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa, which it claims will be the group's most luxurious hotel in Egypt.

The 236-room property, located on the banks of the Nile, will feature water villas and infinity pools, six spa rooms and will be pitched as a "retreat destination spa", said Hilton Hotels vice president of operations Egypt, Lebanon, Jordan & North Africa Simon Hasdell.

Hilton also used WTM as an opportunity to stress its expansion strategy that will see 15 new openings in the MENA region in the next three years. Jordan, Libya, Algeria and Egypt were ones to watch, hinted Hasdell.

Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts took the chance to outline its aggressive expansion policy. Having just opened the Shangri-La Hotel Qaryat Al Beri Abu Dhabi, taking the Asian hotel group's UAE property total to two, the company's newly appointed senior vice president sales and marketing Barbara Pang said the company was now looking forward to opening its third GCC property in Doha in Q3, 2008.

"We are looking to operate 10 properties in the Middle East - obviously the Gulf, along with India, are two of the biggest emerging markets," she said.

Since its August 12 soft opening, occupancy at the Shangri-La Hotel Qaryat Al Beri Abu has averaged 72% but hit 100% mid-November, Pang revealed.

Hotel representation at the very top end of the scale was also strong with new Sheikh Zayed Road property The Monarch Dubai stressing the "unrivalled personal service" it offers guests thanks to a staff to guest ratio of 3.5:1, and services such as personal butlers for every room and a VIP meet-and-greet for every customer arriving at Dubai International Airport.

Tiara Hotels & Resorts also emphasised the service element that it will offer at its property on The Palm Jumeirah when it opens late next year.

Chief executive Danny Haddad has been keeping the details of his luxury concept under wraps, but has said the resort will feature 309 keys and promise understated luxury and democracy - "the luxury of choice".

He might have been teasing at WTM, but has promised to reveal all at this month's International Luxury Travel Market (December 3-6) in Cannes.

"The timing is perfect for us to introduce our high voltage hospitality approach to a wider audience," said Haddad.

And last but not least, Emirates Hotels & Resorts announced at WTM that it has dropped the ‘Emirates' tag from its resort titles in a bid to enhance the individuality of each property in its growing portfolio.

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