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ONE of the kingdom’s top hotels made a smashing start to a BD3.5m renovation project by staging a crash, bang, wallop ‘demolition party’ to mark the start of work.
Donning hard hats, members of the management team and special guests set about a wall with enthusiasm. Those getting into the swing of things included Crowne Plaza Bahrain’s general manager Gilles Nicolas, senior executives from the owning company, hospitality industry friends, staff members and media representatives.
“We had a smashing time! We hoteliers are usually known to charge our guests for the slightest bit of damage but at our party they could tear off the wallpaper and bang on the walls without a squeak from us. Some of our guests really had a go at it - I guess it was a real stress buster,” said Gilles, who believes there are ‘exciting times ahead’ for the property.
The foundations of the Crowne Plaza Bahrain, one of the business brands in Intercontinental Hotel Group’s (IGH) portfolio, date back to the 1970s when the diplomatic area looked a lot different than it does today, as the ‘before and after’ photographs on display clearly show.
In 2017, the hospitality sector in the kingdom has never been more competitive, with more hotels set to open soon.
The start of the ‘comprehensive renovation’ of its rooms and the creation of a club lounge in the lobby area started over the weekend.
Gilles, a French father-of-two, boasts 22 years’ experience in the hospitality industry. He has worked across six different countries in three continents, holds a degree in hotel management from the Hospitality School in Paris and a MBA from the University of Liverpool and was heavily involved in a similar renovation project during a spell at the Intercontinental Doha.
He stressed that the aim of the project was to keep pace with the market in the face of strong competition, adding that the management had always strived to maintain IHG and the hotel’s status as one of the leading five-star hotels in Bahrain.
Renovating rooms with the latest designs, technologies and services to provide more convenience to customers was all part of the challenge.
“Today’s modern business traveller in particular craves a hotel experience that blends work and restoration,” he explained. “They want to boost their productivity and feel inspired in the process.”
Gilles joined the Bahrain operation in 2014 and added: ‘I’m glad the renovation of our rooms is taking place as this will make the Crowne Plaza Bahrain the perfect destination for business travellers and will give us the opportunity to better serve family and leisure visitors too.”
The renovation project will continue until December and will include a refreshed look for 138 rooms. The new Executive Club Lounge will be a new addition to the facilities bringing ‘a sense of personality, quality and energy’, believes Gilles.
During the renovation, guests will still be able to enjoy the hotel’s range of facilities, including its award-winning restaurants, health club, swimming pool and the Bahrain Conference Centre. The work will not affect the other fully operational rooms on the south wing.
Marc Reissinger, director of operations of Gulf Hotel Group, and Abdulla Al Awadi, general manager of Bahrain Tourism Company, joined in the demolition party, alongside Jan Ific, general manager of the Intercontinental Regency Bahrain. GulfWeekly was represented by Jalal Muradi, marketing sales manager and fashion writer, who didn’t mind getting his trendy attire dusty in the call of duty.
The group had fun ripping the wallpaper in the rooms and posing with helmets and feeling a part of the hotel’s ‘future plans’.
