Hilton Dubai Creek has good summer

The Hilton Dubai Creek fared well during its first summer season with occupancy levels just below the industry average, revealed a senior source.

With an average occupancy rate just above 60 per cent, the hotel's general manager, Jan Monkedieck, said the result was pleasing.

But he admits there is still work to be done to catch up with the level the other city hotels enjoyed.

"I think the city hotels were running on a mid-70s occupancy rate and we had 62 per cent. We know that we have some market share to catch up on.

"But for the first year of operation, with very little advertising, it was a great achievement." Overall, the summer season was a lot stronger than first anticipated, said Monkedieck.

The GCC market - specifically Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar - contributed to the hotel's and industry's success.

"We did well out of travel coming from GCC countries - many people were probably not so happy about going to the U.S. or Europe at that time."

The modern building, which has views of the older parts of Dubai's city and creek, also attracts many UK and German visitors.

The hotel aims to have a 50-50 split for leisure and business travellers. "In the high season, about 80 per cent of our guests are business travellers, but in the low season about 80 per cent are leisure travellers.

"It alternates, and this is the real challenge for us - how to handle the corporate traveller and then to change and look after people on holiday."