Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
One of the kingdom’s premier award-winning hotels has added another string to its bow as it announced its expansion into the residential sector with a hotel apartment complex in Juffair … ahead of its plans to open a five-star hotel.
Swiss-Belhotel International (SCI), which operates the Swiss-Belhotel Seef, voted the best four-star hotel in Bahrain for the past two years, has signed a management agreement with Hassan Lari Property Development & Management.
Laurent Voivenel, senior vice president of operations and development for the Middle East, Africa and India, said: “The GCC is a strategic growth market for us and we are delighted to announce this superb new property in Bahrain.
“It stands testament to the group’s growing footprint in the GCC and also marks the debut of the Swiss-Belresidences brand in Bahrain. We are truly grateful to the owning company for giving us this fantastic opportunity and are confident Swiss-Belresidences Juffair will appeal to both leisure and business travellers.”
Expected to open by the end of this year, Swiss-Belresidences Juffair will be an ‘upper-midscale complex’ featuring 129 two and three-bedroom serviced units each equipped with facilities including a full-fledged kitchen.
Enjoying a prime location in the city, in close proximity to popular shopping and dining attractions, the property will also boast recreation and dining facilities such as a swimming pool, a large spa connected with the health club, a mini theatre, a kids’ club, an all-day-dining restaurant and a deli corner in the lobby.
Gavin Faull, chairman and president of SCI, explained: “The growing demand for quality hotels across the Middle East is helping to fuel the rapid expansion of Swiss-Belhotel International in the region.
“This new signing reinforces our commitment to the Middle East, where we currently have more than 3,500 rooms under development. We are excited to expand our presence in the region and offer our guests more choice in this evolving market where we have been operating with great success for more than a decade.”
As reported in GulfWeekly, Swiss-Belhotel Seef scooped the 2016 and 2017 Food and Travel GCC Awards for Best Four-Star Hotel, and is a popular location serving the city centre under the stewardship of general manager Herve Peyre.
Mr Voivenel believes that with such a strong foundation, the Swiss-Belresidences project will be a huge success and distinguish itself from the plethora of other hotel groups who have pursued a similar path.
Speaking exclusively to GulfWeekly, he said: “We have big ambitions for the Middle East, and this is the first of many steps we are taking to further penetrate the market. Bahrain has a need for accommodation which is a little more budget-friendly and aimed at residents.
“That’s what we have done with the Hassan Lari Group, who have created a fantastic location which will be positioned as a four-star location. However, a five-star property will be following hopefully in the second quarter of next year and located at the Marina.
“I believe from our point of view, we are successful because we bring the European touch with Asian flair. What makes us different is our approach to the business. We try to be as simple and transparent as possible.
“Negotiations do take quite some time with us, but when we’re done, it’s a closed book and the trust is there. We don’t leave any strands untied.”
