The hospitality industry in Bahrain seems upbeat on the return of the Gulf Air Formula One Grand Prix to Bahrain, according to a report published by the Bahrain News Agency (BNA) on Friday.
The report maintains a positive sentiment prevails as the industry waits for the event to take off.
Michael Kuhn, Director of Sales and Marketing, The Diplomat Radisson Blu, himself a keen Formula One fan, said that he and the hotel were absolutely excited about the return of Formula One to Bahrain.
He said that the momentum for the event is building up. “With the return of Formula One to Bahrain and the way the government is building the event up, it is expected to help us much,” said Kuhn.
Raddison and Blu properties the world over are promoting the Bahrain Formula One and this is great news for the destination. “Other destinations where they hold the Formula One are seeing an overdose of fans and in properties in these destinations, Bahrain gets the adrenalin pumping,” he added. In Bahrain, the Diplomat Radisson is promoting the event with giving formula one names to the foods and beverages served during the season.
From the day the government announced the return of Formula One to Bahrain, confidence is gaining, with people now looking at this country as one conducive to holding the race and thus ready to do business.
“Occupancy rate in our property has been improving. We expect the week prior to the Grand Prix event to be absolutely good for us. However, I would not like to speculate on numbers,” he added. Asked for his comments on the Bahrain F1, he said, the Bahrain circuit is an absolute thriller this time around, with the new rules in place. “This is a very technical circuit with its stretch of longs.
The circuit offers quite a few chances for overtaking along the straight stretches, he said. This was expected to raise the pitch and bring about changes to the fortune.
“The guests staying with us will have transport and tickets arranged for them, if them haven’t already booked them,” said Kuhn.
Residence Inn Marriott Director of Sales and Marketing, Marwan Haddad said that the business sentiment was expected to improve with the return of the race. “The Formula One groups stay with us and this in itself is a huge bonus for us,” said Haddad.
The return of the races, he added, was expected to improve business sentiment and give a huge fillip to the nation’s economy. “With the Formula One returning to the Bahrain circuit, the nation is putting a firm foot in the business environment and this is expected to help other businesses. In turn this would benefit all business hotels,” said Haddad. The occupancy rates during the event are expected to leap. The Marriott is a business hotel with the long and short term clients – some staying a few days and some such as project heads staying a few weeks. “We are thus a business hotel offering five star services with homestay comfort,” said the director.
Kashif Siddique, Administration Manager at Landmark Bahrain, said that the return of F1 was pushing occupancy rates higher. “We have had calls for advanced bookings and over 30 per cent of these are already confirmed. “Of the three properties we have – in Sanabis, Seef Area and in Juffair, the focus this time is the Juffair property,” he said. Look at all the facilities there are, he said.
Asked about the facilities at the property for the race, he said, “We plan to introduce tickets availability for guests staying with us. In addition this event is also expected to boost the tourism flow into Bahrain and help a revival in this vital sector,” he added.
Shankar Bharadwaj, Marketing Head of Hotel Diva, said that the hotel had blocked about 50 per cent of the rooms for Formula One guests “and I am happy to say they are all sold out. As things stand there is no room vacancy in this sector.”
The administration is also looking at arranging some programmes to keep the guests entertained after the races are over, he added. The destination of Bahrain is to benefit from this, what with the international media turning its attention to the country and what it has to offer, added Bharadwaj.