February the 14th is known the world over as a day to treat that special someone to roses, chocolates, champagne, a romantic meal for two, and for those that are lucky, a weekend away at an exclusive resort.
As it is the one occasion where love truly is measured by how much you spend, hotels and restaurants are able to use this day as a chance to display their restaurants, offer great promotions and at the same time try and ensure repeat business.
As more people are aiming to go that one step further for Valentine’s Day, hotels in the region are responding to this by offering more exclusive and extravagant deals. For example, The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai, is offering secluded venues for a romantic meal, including its ‘table of two’ on the Spa pool, dinner in the gardens, or even on a private balcony.
“There is definitely an increased demand on Valentine’s Day, especially by younger couples asking for a special experience. And, they are willing to spend more money than usual for something truly unique,” commented Philip Fingerle, food and beverage promotions coordinator, The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai.
“Our special packages, including venues at the Spa pool and on our private terraces are usually fully committed at least two to three weeks prior to Valentine’s Day,” he added.
The InterContinental, Dubai is also promoting its outlets during the Valentine’s period, offering special romantic set menus, as well as a dinner cruise aboard the Al Mansour Dhow. However, preparations for Valentine’s Day have to be well organised to ensure the outlets make the most of the occasion.
“The trend of Valentine’s Day here in Dubai is becoming more and more popular, and it is being celebrated almost everywhere now. Because of this, all service providers have to focus on adhering to the demands of the preparations of the event, and specifically target promotions to Valentiners,” said Stephanie Abou Jaoude, PR and communications executive, InterContinental, Dubai.
Preparations for Valentine’s Day can make all the difference to a successful evening for food and beverage outlets, and as such, with a higher than usual number of covers, restaurants are offering set menus guaranteeing higher revenue, as well as providing a ‘unique’ menu for that evening.
For example, the Radisson SAS Diplomat Hotel, Bahrain, is offering a six-course dinner in its Italian restaurant, and a four-course exotic dinner in Kontiki, its Latin restaurant. La Baie, at The Ritz-Carlton, Dubai, is also focusing on a themed menu, and its special menu incorporates roses into every course, as well as offering rose champagne by the glass.
With so many offers, and exclusive deals, hotels and restaurants need to target and promote their offerings carefully, and with the right amount of ambience and the feeling of exclusivity, a hotel can almost certainly guarantee repeat business.
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