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A NEW upmarket hotel will shortly be joining the Bahrain hospitality sector, adding a sparkling ‘twist’ to the kingdom’s skyline as well as additional five-star quality and comfort.
The Wyndham Hotel Group, the world’s largest hotelier company, had signed an agreement in 2012 with Sharia-compliant real estate developer Cooperation Investment House to manage the building in Manama’s Bahrain Bay development, converting it into the first Wyndham Grand property to grace the island.
Now, the striking structure, which was originally projected to be completed by December 2013, is finally taking shape and is expected to open its doors next year.
The Wyndham Hotel Group’s regional vice president for the Middle East and Africa, Michael Zager, said: “Since signing the management agreement in 2012, the Wyndham Hotel Group team has been providing a wide range of technical services to ensure the efficiency of the hotel’s design as well as the best experience for our future customers.
“As the first Wyndham Grand in Bahrain, it is really important to us to make sure that the hotel is everything it should be; a true brand flagship and a great guest experience.
“Attention to detail has been a real focus for both us and the hotel owner. If we’re going to launch a brand in a new market, we really want to do it right.”
The hotel will occupy 14 floors of the 50-storey mixed-use development designed with a twist and will feature 260 guest rooms ranging from 46sq/m to 120sq/m. It will also include 500sq/m of meeting space and a 900sq/m ballroom on the top floor.
It will also boast indoor and outdoor infinity swimming pools along with separate health clubs for men and women. As for food and beverages, there will be five outlets to cater to guest and visitor cravings, although details of the styles and types of cuisines on offer have yet to be revealed.
Mr Zager believes that the property’s shape has already become a major talking point. He said: “With its striking twisted glass construction, it has already set a new standard in the city’s landscape and become a landmark in its own right.
“Once open, the hotel will also set new standards in the upscale segment, with its advantageous location in Bahrain Bay, room sizes which are above market average, thoughtful interior design conceived to address the needs of the most discerning guests and picturesque views over the city and sea from the spa and pools.
“The property will also participate in the newly-reimagined Wyndham Rewards guest loyalty programme, which dollar-for-dollar lets members earn more and redeem faster than any other programme in the industry.”
The 260-room upscale Wyndham Grand Manama will further broaden the company’s offering, says the Wyndham Hotel Group’s regional vice president for the Middle East and Africa, Michael Zager.
This is only the beginning for the hospitality giant as three more sister properties are expected to open this year.
Mr Zager said: “The Wyndham Grand will be the first hotel to fly the upscale Wyndham Grand Hotels and Resorts flag in Bahrain, complementing our existing economy and midscale presence in the city along with our other pipeline projects, which include two Ramada hotels and a Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham, all three of which are anticipated to open this year.
“In total, by the end of 2016, Wyndham Hotel Group is expected to be the leading international operator in the country with more than 1,000 rooms and four brands, spanning the economy, midscale, upscale and extended stay segments.”
The first property set to be opened by October is the 162-roomed Ramada Hotel & Suites, Amwaj Island. It will feature one, two and three bedroom suites and is within walking distance from Amwaj Marina and the Amwaj Lagoon.
It is expected to include several food and beverage outlets including an all-day-dining restaurant and lobby cafe, as well as the city’s first Moroccan fine dining restaurant which will be situated on a rooftop terrace.
There will also be flexible meeting space and leisure facilities such as a gymnasium, a spa, a swimming pool and an indoor jacuzzi with a sauna and steam rooms. The hotel is owned by Bahraini developer Mannai Holding, which also owns the soon-to-open Hawthorn Suites by Wyndham hotel.
The Hawthorn Suites is expected to open in Juffair by the end of this year comprising 450 spacious superior, one, two and three bedroom furnished suites with a choice of fine dining options such as a Brazilian restaurant, an Indian restaurant, an Italian specialty, a deli in addition to all-day-dining. As for leisure facilities, it will include spa treatments, a theatre, a gym and pool.
The group has also signed a franchise agreement to launch a 140-room Ramada Manama City Centre Hotel to join the current Ramada Hotel Bahrain, Ramada Palace Hotel Manama and the Days Hotel Manama.
The Ramada Manama City Centre is expected to open by the end of this year and will be located near the City Centre Bahrain mall.
Mr Zager added: “The Bahraini market will benefit from a healthy mix of corporate and leisure business. For the leisure market, we anticipate that Saudi Arabia will remain a key feeder market and we see additional demand being generated by events such as the Formula 1 Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.
“From a corporate demand perspective, we consider the location of Wyndham Grand Manama in the heart of Bahrain Bay as a key selling point and we are looking forward to further developments in the surrounding area which will ultimately create additional demand.”
