THE newly opened Ramee Grand Hotel and Spa in Bahrain aims to position itself as a destination of choice among well-heeled travellers. Soaring 24 storeys over Bahrain’s Seef District, the hotel is the first five-star property of the Ramee Group, one of the fastest growing hospitality brands in the region.
The $53 million ‘Luxury by Ramee’ property which held its soft opening in August marks a new chapter in the two-decade history of Ramee Group. The hotel joins the regional group’s portfolio of more than 35 hotels and apartment hotels across the GCC and India.
Ramee Grand Hotel and Spa’s 166 suites and rooms, which offer panoramic sea or city views, are said to be the largest among any five-star property in Bahrain. “While the international standard is 35 sq m, our rooms start from 48 sq m,” says Group general manager Shantaram Shetty, adding that guests will enjoy a sense of space and a feeling that they are “close to nature” despite being in the midst of the bustling Seef district. Ramee Grand Hotel and Spa’s interiors are done by Design World Partners (DWP), a well-known name in the region, and the property features nature as its predominant theme.
There are 12 two-bedroom Ambassador suites elegantly furnished offering a separate living room, as well as a dining area and a fully equipped kitchenette. “The suites are the hotel’s largest and designed to provide utmost privacy and total relaxation to the guest,” says Shetty. The property also features 18 one-bedroom contemporary grand suites and 110 spacious deluxe rooms that are 54 sq m in size and feature floor-to-ceiling windows for unrestricted views.
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Shetty ... evolving to meed the changing needs of guests |
The hotel will house three club floors, 800 sq m of conference and banqueting facilities, and a floor of recreation facilities including a spa, swimming pool and gym. The 5,000 sq ft spa features 12-plus treatment rooms with a unique selection of facials, massages and treatments.
Among its dining options, Ramee Grand will have the all-day Lemon Tree restaurant, Italian restaurant Rialto, Indian restaurant Rasoi, Japanese restaurant Ruka, specialist tea lounge Tea Garden, and the Three Lions sports bar. The hotel is also poised to open the Ibrida Club, the biggest of its kind in Bahrain which will also feature live music.
Ramee Grand Hotel and Spa will target both leisure and corporate guests and is being promoted extensively on the international arena and major expos such as the World Travel Market (WTM) in London, ITB Berlin in Germany and the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai, UAE.
Ramee started its operations in Dubai and now has 18 properties in the UAE, four in Oman and seven in India, including shopping malls and office complexes. The group launched its Bahrain operations in 1996 with a 50-room property and increased its presence over the years. Shetty points out that the group is growing regionally and in the Sub-continent and is looking at moving into Europe and Asia as well. The group also plans to further grow in Bahrain with a second five-star property in Juffair, and expand its existing Ramee International Hotel.
Shetty says: “The Saudi market has changed. Families are now visiting Bahrain for longer periods of time. The footfall in Bahrain’s malls is an indication of the influx of leisure travellers to the kingdom over the weekend. The market is there and we have to tap into it. Travellers are looking for quality and we are in an ideal location to provide them a good stay.”
He is also confident of Bahrain’s tourism future, and that the kingdom will overcome its current difficulties. “I want to concentrate on my business and hope for success. Bahrain is our home and we have to be part of it and ready for challenges. If we evolve to meet the demands and changing needs of the guests, success will surely follow.”