Sharjah National Hotels has been promoting the emirate and its hotels as family friendly, according to a hotel spokesman.
The group owns three hotels in the emirate: The Hotel Holiday International, Sharjah, Marbella Resort, Sharjah and The Oceanic Hotel, Khorfakkan Beach.
“We are promoting the hotels to all our key market segments, in the GCC, the Far East and Europe. Our goal is going to focus on the family,” the spokesperson told TTN.
The group had earlier talked up a 60 per cent summer discount at its hotels for visitors from the GCC and Europe, in conjunction with the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Department.
Last year, the group posted occupancy levels of 90 per cent in the winter and 70 per cent in the summer, he said. “This year 2007 occupancy level will be similar to last year but average daily room rate increased by 15 per cent.”
Besides reaching out to existing source markets such as Germany, Russia, the Ukraine, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and the key Gulf countries of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar, as well as corporate clients from all over the world, he said the group would target the Far East, an emerging new source market for the region.
“The emirate of Sharjah has succeeded in marketing itself as the most Arabic tourist destination in the UAE. This success is based on a long-term tourist development strategy which was established by Sharjah Commerce, Tourism Development Authority that aims on the one hand to increase the number of tourists and revenues and on the other to maintain the Arab character of the emirates,” he said, stressing that it is the authentic Arabic appeal of the emirate that attracts leisure visitors in particular.
The biggest challenges, he said, now lie in developing other segments of the tourist mix, particularly the MICE market.
The Marbella Resort is a mere 20 minutes’ drive from the Sharjah and Dubai airports. Nestling quietly in the gentle curve of the Khalid Lagoon, it is five minutes’ walk from the Sharjah souk and the beautiful corniche. Its sprawling complex of 50 villas with its unique combination of master and junior suites, offers spacious, luxurious accommodation for a family of six sharing three bedrooms. Each suite is fully furnished and tastefully decorated with private garden and parking. The master suite has a well-appointed lounge and dining area and with its own full-fledged kitchen.
Caesar’s Palace, the hotel’s Italian restaurant, offers an elegant blend of classical and contemporary Roman design. Caffe Undici, the Italian café, offers the flavour of Italian cuisine with aroma of freshly baked bread.
The Oceanic Beach Resort nestles in the shadows of the majestic Hajjar mountains facing the Indian Ocean in Khorfakkan, Sharjah’s scenic resort town on the east coast of the UAE. The Oceanic is a deluxe hotel with 162 air-conditioned rooms and luxury suites. Almost every guest room and suite offers a panoramic ocean view. The Al Gargour Rooftop Restaurant features special theme nights on weekends and Fridays; the Al Murjan Restaurant, with a grand view of the pool and beach, serves international cuisine and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner; and Café’ Oceanic serves fruit juices, cocktails, ice cream, and a variety of coffee and tea. Recreation facilities include boat trips to nearby Coral Island, a wide range of water sports, including wind surfing, water skiing, banana boat rides, boat cruises, catamaran sailing and snorkelling trips.
The Hotel Holiday International, Sharjah, is billed the perfect blend of traditional Arabian Hospitality and modern luxury offering qualities synonymous to being a preferred choice. Located on the edge of Khalid Lagoon, it offers the convenience of a central location. It is located 20 minutes drive from the airports of Dubai and Sharjah, and is five minutes away from the shopping areas and exhibition centre.
Hotel Holiday International’s sprawling complex houses 253 luxurious rooms and suites and suites-offering the ultimate in comfort with balconies overlooking the picturesque Khalid Lagoon, with high quality furnishing and elegant décor to meet the comfort and requirements of business travellers. The Oasis Restaurant is an epicure’s paradise; overlooking the swimming pool with its à la carte and buffet menus, it offers the finest cuisine and live entertainment. The 24-hour Tea Garden is the ideal place to unwind with friends. Fishermen’s Wharf is a speciality seafood restaurant, while Pool Hut offers snacks, mocktails and beverages around the swimming pool.
The three hotels offer a wide variety of banqueting and conference facilities.