A growing destination

Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas is set for rapid expansion in the Middle East next year, as it prepares to open its first city hotel, Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa in Abu Dhabi, and Al Yamm Lodge and Al Sahel Lodge on Sir Bani Yas Island, just 250 kilometres west of the city.

The new properties will bring Anantara’s total to five in Abu Dhabi by 2012, reflecting the rapid expansion of the city itself, which has to date seen six per cent growth in revenue year-on-year compared with 2010, and nine per cent growth in occupancy.

David Garner, regional director of sales and marketing for Anantara UAE, said:  “The expansion in capacity of hotel rooms in Abu Dhabi is required to keep pace with the growth of the city as a destination. 

“By providing three new and diverse offerings to the market, each with its own appeal to both local and international travellers, there is a real opportunity for us to build market share in the region, placing Anantara in pole position to become the market leader in 2012.”

The majority of the demand for Abu Dhabi hotel rooms continues to be driven by the domestic market, with eight per cent growth year-on-year in guest numbers, compared with 2010, whilst the UK continues to be the second largest source market for the city, with a huge 18 per cent growth year-on-year.

“The UK market will be pivotal to the success of our new properties. The aim is for Eastern Mangroves to become the preferred choice for UK customers and all our key source markets, as an exclusive corporate and urban leisure destination experience in Abu Dhabi, whilst Al Yamm Lodge and Al Sahel Lodge will offer something truly unique to the leisure market,” added Mr Garner.

The latest offering is a new luxury five-star hotel in Abu Dhabi city, occupying a prime position along a 1.2-kilometre stretch of the protected Eastern Mangroves District, situated just 15 minutes from the airport and 10 minutes away from downtown Abu Dhabi. 

Anantara’s current Abu Dhabi portfolio includes the award-winning Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort, located in the legendary Liwa Desert’s Empty Quarter, and Desert Islands Resort & Spa on Sir Bani Yas Island.

The company’s name originates from Thailand where for hundreds of years people would leave a jar of water outside their house to provide refreshment and extend a welcome to the passing traveller. Anantara is taken from an ancient Sanskrit word that means ‘without end’, symbolising this ‘sharing of water and the heartfelt hospitality’.

It currently boasts 15 properties located in Thailand, Vietnam, the Maldives, Bali, the UAE, China and Abu Dhabi.

The new hotel, which is expected to open next summer, consists of 222 rooms and suites, five food and beverage outlets including a Thai restaurant, an all-day dining restaurant with live kitchens serving seafood, Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine, a pool bar, a lobby lounge and a rooftop lounge providing views of the mangroves.

The two Lodges, Al Yamm and Al Sahel, are set to open around the same time, bringing two new experiences to Sir Bani Yas Island. Each comprising of 30 luxury villas, Al Yamm Lodge is situated on the eastern sandy white shores of the island, while Al Sahel Lodge can be found in the heart of the Arabian wildlife park.

In addition to the three new properties, Sir Bani Yas Island will also see the opening of Desert Islands Conference Centre, a Watersports Centre and Stables, in early 2012.

“Anantara is in an enviable position, as the only hotel operator able to offer guests three unique experiences including city, desert and island.” said Mr Garner.