TWO new hotels will open in Bahrain this year as part of plans by Thailand-based hospitality company Dusit International to foray into the GCC market.
Dusit Resort and Spa Lagoona Beach in Budaiya and dusitD2 City Centre Bahrain will add a total of 369 keys to the country’s existing four and five-star properties.
“The GCC is one of the most increasingly important markets for our portfolio, and we are delighted to introduce our unique brand of Thai-inspired, gracious hospitality in new destinations in this market,” said Europe, Middle East and Africa regional vice-president Prateek Kumar in Arabian Business yesterday.
“Our planned expansion is in line with Dusit’s three-pronged strategy for sustainable and profitable growth, which includes balance, expansion and diversification.
“We aim to have more than 14,000 keys in operation across more than 20 countries by 2021, and our planned expansion in the GCC is a step forward to achieving this goal.”
The GDN first reported about the Thai multinational hospitality company entering the Bahrain market in 2017 after it signed an agreement with a local company for a new hotel in Seef District.
DusitD2 City Centre is expected to open this year in Seef District offering 195 units, while the hospitality company also signed a hotel management agreement last year with Dar Al Huda Hotel Apartments to operate Dusit Resort and Spa Lagoona Beach in Bahrain.
Comprising 174 seafront apartments, each with a sea view, the upscale beachfront hotel resort and serviced residence will be located on Budaiya Highway.
The launch of the two hotels in Bahrain is expected to be attended by group chief executive Suphajee Suthumpun and other top officials.
Construction
In the Middle East and North African (Mena)region, Dusit currently operates six hotels, representing a total of 1,786 keys.
The hospitality provider plans to open nine hotels in the GCC by the end of this year.
A total of 21,465 hotel rooms were available in Bahrain last year, with 22 hotels under construction to be ready in three to four years.
Statistics for last year revealed 12 million tourists entered the country, a 5.9 per cent increase from 2017.
Over the same period, there has been a 44pc increase in the number of tourism nights spent in Bahrain at 13m last year when compared with 9m in 2015 and the 2022 target is 15.9m.
The average length of stay per tourist increased by 26pc, from 2.26 nights in 2015 to 2.85 last year.
Most tourists were from Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries.
According to Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority statistics, a daily average spend of BD80 per visitor was recorded during last year, growing 10pc from BD72.4 in 2015, and the 2022 target is to take it to BD97.9.
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