Hilton opens $4m beach club in RAK

With the inauguration of its $4 million beach club in Ras Al Khaimah, the Hilton presents tourists one more tantalising incentive to visit the emirate. Located on a 100-meter beachfront, the club was officially launched on Thursday by Sheikh Faisal bin Saqr Al Qasimi, chairman of the General Accounts Department, RAK.

Speaking at the event, Sheikh Faisal said the club takes Ras Al Khaimah one more step ahead in the bid to tap tourism potential.

In this connection, he drew attention to plans for a fully-lit 18-hole grass golf course and golf academy, the first of its kind in the Northern Emirates. He said the government was determined to invest in such projects to boost tourism.

Franck Sebire, general manager of the Hilton Ras Al Khaimah, referred to the launch of the 214-room hotel last October, the latest addition to the chain's family of 13 hotels in the Gulf, and hinted at plans to set up a diving and fishing centre to cater to sports enthusiasts.

He revealed that the club had received good response with 50 families already signing up for membership.

Facilities include a multi-level swimming pool, a shaded children's pool with fun slide, and, at the beach, water skiing, jet skiing and windsurfing. The wide beach has been made safer with wavebreakers.

Hotel guests have complementary access to the club while members can use discounted room rates and the hotel leisure facilities such as the gymnasium.

Sebire said summer packages were on offer including a Dh190 weekend special with a double room, buffet dinner, breakfast and lunch barbecue.

"My goal is to show people the delights of Ras Al Khaimah," he said. "We are selling Hilton as well as the destination."

He intends to target the European market to get 60 per cent of Hilton's guests from the Continent. Domestic tourists and regional business visitors would make up for the rest.

At the last ITB, several tour operators showed interest in Sebire's proposals, one of which envisages a flow of 120 tourists every day.