Dubai: Resorts along the battered east coast of the UAE have reportedly sustained damage, with at least one hotel relocating all guests and closing their premises for the coming few days.
Hotels located along the popular resort area north of Fujairah reported damages primarily to their beach front areas, with one hotel estimating that damages may top Dh3 million.
After issuing an advisory on Cyclone Gonu to guests Tuesday night advising on emergency measures, Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort went further yesterday and relocated its guests to another emirate.
According to Kiran Kumar, the resort's PR and marketing manager, the hotel also cancelled all bookings for this weekend.
"We have called all of our local customers who are coming and advised them to change their plans in light of the forecasts," he told Gulf News. "We have also relocated all hotel guests as a precautionary measure, to a hotel in Ras Al Khaimah to ensure their safety. This is our top priority." The hotel expects the situation to be resolved within the next week, he added.
Guests at the Fujairah Rotana Hotel and Spa were not evacuated, but those in ocean-front rooms were relocated to other rooms and the hotel has advised people booked to stay this weekend not to come.
"Our prime objective is to make sure our guests are safe," said general manager Jean Francois Laurent. "We did sustain some damage to the beach and the beach-side restaurant…I estimate that it will take around 10 to 15 days to clean everything up."
Located closer towards Fujairah, popular weekend haunt the Sandy Beach Motel yesterday had only five guests staying, according to front desk manager Satish Gujaran.
"We have had many cancellations for this weekend and we have sustained some damage, particularly at the beach front."
Estimated losses
Sandy Beach Motel: Estimated cost of damage at least Dh3 million. Repair to the beach estimated to cost US$100,000. Two breakwaters are broken, which will be fixed at a total cost of approximately Dh3 million. There is currently a five per cent occupancy rate at the hotel, according to Satish Gujaran, Front Desk Manager. Cost of daily overheads is Dh25, 000 per day.
Fujairah Rotana Hotel and Spa: Estimated losses of Dh1 million to repair the beach. Other losses were still being assessed at time of writing. 50 per cent of occupancy is expected to be lost over the next two weeks. As of yesterday, the hotel had a 30 per cent occupancy rate. A typical day brings in Dh300,000 in revenue.
Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, Fujairah: Estimated cost to repair the beach is Dh1.5 million. According to Patrick Antaki, General Manager, the hotel has lost at least two days of revenue totalling Dh1.8 million, including the cost of transporting hotel guests to other hotels .
— By Mariam M. Al Serkal, Staff Reporter
