Courting the luxury halal traveller

RAB travellers are one of the biggest spenders when it comes to international travel these days. The halal travel market is one of the fastest-growing markets globally. Halal travel represents more than 10 per cent of global expenses in the leisure and luxury travel market, according to Thomson Reuters and DinarStandard.

We speak to Mundher Al Shikhani, founder and chief executive officer of Leading Vacations, one of the only locally owned luxury travel companies in the region, 'founded in the GCC for its sophisticated, polished clients.'

Having organised luxury trips for members of the royal family and VIP Muslim clients, Leading Vacations shares its insights on high-end halal travel in the region in an exclusive interview with TTN.

‘Halal’ is an Arabic term that means ‘lawful or permitted’, Al Shikhani explains at the outset.

HALAL CONSIDERATIONS

'Muslim travellers are just like any other travellers, in that they love to relax and explore new places. It may seem like halal travellers from the GCC are more into high-end experiences and can be really quite demanding, but, underneath it all, their primary concern is to feel comfortable and at ease with their environment.'

The luxury travel market is so dynamic that it has come to adapt and learn how to address the needs of this niche, but big revenue-generating, market through halal-friendly ways, adds Al Shikhani, a devout Muslim himself.

'Based on previous experiences, it’s unusual for some hotels to have Quran or Qibla compass in the room, therefore, we have to make special requests for our clients.

'In addition to that, mini-bars in these Western hotels are more likely filled with alcoholic beverages and most restaurant menus include non-halal meat such as pork, so we have to make sure that our clients have good options for halal-friendly places to go to.

'Simple and sincere gestures can make a real difference: from creating a separate menu with halal food options to making sure that a Quran and a Qibla compass is available for the guest’s prayer time, to assigning a special buffet section for halal food items and ensuring that no alcohol is served in the room. All these go a long way in building a loyal customer case.

'When our clients travel as a family, they are also particular about wanting connecting rooms. It is a big plus if the hotel can accommodate this request since Muslim families prefer to stay in rooms next to each other during their trips.

'Halal guests appreciate it when they can rely on staff who understand Islam, staff who can relate to them and can easily understand what their needs are.

'Also, they appreciate conservative swimming pools where Islamic dress codes are observed, having separate spa and leisure facilities for men and women, cafes or restaurants in the hotel that serve non-alcoholic beverages.

'It’s the small things that often matter – like when hiring a private car, halal travellers may prefer a driver who speaks the same language as them. It’s a very common request that women should have a woman driver and vice versa.

'On a destination level, they obviously prefer halal-friendly destinations, where it wouldn’t be strange or unusual to wear a burka or hijab, for instance.

'At the same time, unlike before, Muslim travellers are more open to explore new destinations, especially ones that have a historical relation with Islam. One good example is Andalusia in Spain.' Alhambra in Granada represents a beautiful example of ninth-century Moorish architecture in Andalusia, as does the great mosque-church of Cordoba, rebuilt by the Emir of the time in the eighth century to represent Moorish influences.

INSPIRATION

'As a dedicated luxury tour operator, Leading Vacations believes in creating one-of-a-kind holidays for its Muslim clients, allowing them to completely be themselves, while enjoying their luxury trip at its finest. Our aim is always to provide a personalised journey to our high-end clients by addressing their needs. As a company, we are confident that our international partners – which include some of the world-renowned hotels and travel destinations – provide the most comfortable and bespoke experience to our clients.'

The team is guided by the principle that luxury goes hand in hand with class and tranquillity.

'When it comes to traveling and business, my father has always been my favourite mentor. For him, travelling is about learning and understanding the country you’re visiting. It’s a great opportunity to learn about its culture, history and its people’s way of living.

'As much as possible, make friends with the locals, be one of them, share your own culture and history with them and most especially create a good impression about your religion and nationality.

'Travelling can make a really big impact in our lives. Knowing how important it is makes me want to love what I’m doing more.'