A tumultuous year for the global hospitality industry has coincided with the first year of operations of the Anantara Desert Islands Resort & Spa on Sir Bani Yas Island. But don't think for a moment that the challenges posed by the financial turmoil had the management of this boutique property, notable for its sumptuous safari lodge ambience and free roaming wildlife, running for cover.
Andre Erasmus, the resort's general manager, recalls the rousing start which coincided with the Eid holiday period last year. It was fully booked during the time, which he rates as an ‘unheard of response' for a brand new entrant. It was then the seismic nature of the global events started to unfold.
"Around 10 days after we opened, Lehman Brothers — and with that five-star hotel offerings — crashed and we had to change expectations very quickly." The hotel's original strategy was to target luxury-seeking European travellers, but since this group was hard-hit by the recession, this was changed to lobbying for guests from the Gulf markets instead. Around 60 per cent of the 17,000 guests staying at the boutique 64-room resort within the first 12 months were UAE residents. And this came about without the resort having to reduce room rates, though some special packages were put together as enticements.
Erasmus adds, "It's been a challenge to open a hotel in the niche market. But GCC residents stopped travelling to Europe and instead stayed in the region, we had to capitalise on that."
A year on, Erasmus looks back on a job well done, which has reinforced his belief in the future. "I am happy with the results, the GCC strategy [has] worked and now the wholesale leisure traveller market is definitely picking up, I reckon by 10 per cent next year. We already have guests from Europe booked to stay with us for two weeks and even one month."
While the management fine-tuned their approach, help was at hand from other quarters to put the property on the global stage. In this regard, it was voted one of the ‘hottest' 70 hotels worldwide by Conde Nast Traveller magazine and nominated for several other awards, including one for its Sambak seafood restaurant as the best in the Middle East. "Most of the seafood is prepared in under 24 hours from being caught; it comes from just across Dalma Island, to the dinner table," Erasmus enthuses.
The entity tasked with developing the island, Abu Dhabi's Tourism & Development Investment Company, has its work cut out in ensuring the environs gets more than its fair share of respect. "We may not have the legacy to the best beaches like the Maldives or African safaris, that is why we changed the name of our game drives to wildlife and nature drives," remarks George Chakar, communications manager at TDIC.
"We are about nature. For example, the importance of the mangrove experience cannot be underestimated."
Now on to the wildlife. The four cheetahs — after being trained to hunt for themselves again — help control the number of antelopes in the 41-square kilometre wildlife reserve which takes up half of the island. As many as 10,000 animals have been released by the government entity, Environment Agency, into Liwa within a year, some of them would soon be found at the newly opened Qasr Al Sarab's watering hole. "There are synergies between our hotel and Qasr Al Sarab and we already started packaging the two destinations — island and desert," says Erasmus.
After the successful opening of the resort — amplified by the 25,000 visitors and 800 seaplane flights which have made the trip to the destination — TDIC is on schedule to create more attractions. Activities already available include Thai massages, yoga and Arabic cooking classes, as well as archery.
The dive centre and equestrian club are to open next year when the hotel will also have a conference centre. "This will give us another market advantage [by] attracting MICE clientele," says Erasmus.
Other novelties opening next year include the two lodges — the Al Yamm, on the water's edge and surrounded by mangroves, and the Al Barari in the ‘savannah'. In 2011, there will be the Al Bahar, set on a sea cliff, and the Al Muntaha, located on a salt dome in the midst of the park.
Activities
Treks and drives through the wild are the preferred pursuits of guests who put up at the Anantara Desert Islands Resort & Spa. At number two in terms of preference is snorkelling in the unspoilt coral reefs and with it the chance to spot dolphins, dugongs and sea turtles.
