Dubai: With less than two weeks to go before Eid Al Fitr starts, hoteliers are already gearing up for the holiday.
Hotels in the emirate are likely to see occupancy reach between 80 per cent and 95 per cent during the Eid period, which is expected to start on July 28. Eid is a time when families and friends come together in their countries, while some travel to regional destinations.
Enad Tannous, general manager of Amwaj Rotana at Jumeirah Beach, said he expects the hotel to be 90-95 per cent occupied, with an average room rate of Dh900-Dh1,200 — similar to last year. He expects the trend to continue until August 9.
Similarly, Andreas Jersabeck, general manager of Conrad Dubai, expects “occupancy to rise significantly during the first two days of Eid and over the weekend.”
Hoteliers said the holiday will contribute significantly to their properties’ overall revenue. The demand generated during Eid is expected to contribute 10-15 per cent of Amwaj Rotana’s total revenue for the month, Tannous said.
Echoing similar views, George Anastasakos, revenue director of the Radisson Blu Hotel Dubai Deira Creek, expects the “Eid business to contribute to around 20 per cent of the total room revenues for the month of July.”
Restaurant booking
As many people eat at restaurants during the holiday, hotels expect food and beverage (F&B) to contribute hugely to their total revenue for the month.
“We are anticipating a significant rise in restaurant booking during Eid, especially when compared to previous months. F&B is always a main area of focus, making up 60 per cent of the hotel’s revenue,” Jersabeck said.
Amwaj Rotana’s Tannous said he expects the hotel’s “lunch and dinner period [during Eid] to be busy”, adding that F&B is likely to contribute up to 40 per cent of the hotel’s total revenue for the month.
Anastasakos, too, said F&B, as well as banqueting, is likely to contribute 51 per cent of revenue for the month.
However, Habib Khan, general manager of Arabian Courtyard Hotel & Spa, said “normally F&B outlets are not busy as people would like to celebrate with family and friends, and outlets in malls do well during the Eid holidays. It can make up to 7 to 10 per cent of F&B revenue.”
Hoteliers expect travellers from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries to account for the majority of their guests during Eid, followed by the UK and Germany.
Tannous said that visitors from Saudi Arabia normally make up 20-25 per cent of his property’s guests during Eid.
Hoteliers said bookings for Eid have already started and they expect this to increase in the week before the holiday.
Eid offers
Conrad Dubai is offering a couple’s package, which includes a deluxe room and complimentary breakfast for Dh1,350. The package also includes free access for one child (up to 12 years old) to The Dubai Mall Aquarium, free access to the Underwater Zoo, 20 per cent off of Conrad’s F&B offerings, in addition to a complimentary shuttle service to the Mall of the Emirates.
At the Radisson Royal Hotel Dubai, guests can buy a package called Shop & Stay with room rates starting from Dh750 per person. It includes breakfast, dinner and a Dh100 worth of shopping vouchers from The Dubai Mall.
Also, guests staying at the Arabian Courtyard Hotel & Spa can book a family suite starting from $164.
