In light of the resort’s third birthday, general manager, Salalah Rotana Resort, Hossam Kamal reflects on the luxury property’s success since its launch in 2014, and speaks exclusively to Tatiana Tsierkezou about Salalah’s charm.
TTG: How has the Salalah Rotana Resort changed and evolved since its opening? What’s new at the resort?
Salalah Rotana Resort has evolved in many ways since commencing operations in 2014. We operate in a very dynamic and fast-paced industry, and one must keep up to remain in business.
One of the most notable milestones is the continuous increase in guest’s arrivals to the resort translating to positive financial performance with a 20 per cent increase in 2016 versus 2015 and recording the highest occupancy YTD since commencing operations in 2014.
Over the past three years, we have maintained the highest standard of service quality to ensure our guests enjoy a memorable time spent staying true to our corporate brand promise.
Our resort has witnessed different phases of product enhancement in an effort to offer our guests value for money. We identified that the majority of our guests are families and took the initiative to introduce a new room category called ‘the family room’. These rooms range from family classic, family premium and family deluxe. We convert the already spacious rooms to comfortably accommodate a family of two adults and two kids with amenities to meet occupancy needs.
Similarly, we introduced the premium concept which is an upscale holiday package granting guests a premium stay at our five-star waterfront resort with exclusive benefits. We carefully designed this to target clientele seeking exclusivity and comfort who are willing to pay more. Our package can be likened to the services of business class on a flight
Our contribution and effort has been duly recognised by industry peers as we have been conferred a number of awards. We were named ‘Oman’s leading beach resort’ at the World Travel Awards for two consecutive years. We were also awarded the ‘Luxury Beach Resort’ and ‘Luxury Honeymoon Hotel’ awards at the 2015 and 2016 World Luxury Hotel Awards respectively. This humbling recognition is a true testament to the hard work and dedication of our colleagues at the resort.
TTG: How do you predict Salalah’s tourism product and industry will develop over the next five years?
With the growth trend we are witnessing in Salalah, we anticipate a steady stream of tourist arrivals to the destination from the GCC as well Europe. To cater to the influx of tourists, more hotel chains are coming into the market. This not only enhances the infrastructure but provides ample job opportunities for the local community.
Oman is truly blessed with abundant natural resources which provide unique and authentic experiences for travellers, making it a very attractive destination for all types of tourists. Moreover, the Sultanate is a very safe and peaceful country maintaining peaceful relations with neighbouring countries.
All these factors play a crucial role as Oman’s tourism industry will continue to grow and gain popularity on a regional and international scale.
TTG: Why is Salalah an ideal option for holidaymakers and which markets are visiting the most? Why is your resort ideal for these visitors?
Salalah boasts near perfect weather all year round, rarely going above 30 C°, but the most popular months are July–September following the monsoon season locally known as Khareef. The landscape blooms with the lush green vegetation add to an already spectacular view. The climate is cooler than surrounding countries serving as a welcome retreat for travellers from the neighbouring GCC countries. Salalah offers the best of both worlds with warm beaches, mountain tops, desert terrain and natural greenery.
Salalah Rotana Resort is located along the shores of the beautiful Indian Ocean. With ample facilities to meet the needs of both business and leisure guests, the resort features various dining venues, Bodylines Fitness and Wellness Club, Zen the spa at Rotana, Flipper’s Kids Club, four meeting rooms and a ballroom.
TTG: Finally, why is hospitality so important to you? Please tell our readers a bit about your hospitality journey.
I started my journey in the industry over 23 years ago with Intercontinental Hotels Group, where I worked for 10 years. After that, I worked with Rotana Hotel Management for 13 years in various positions across resorts in different cities including Sharm El Sheikh, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah.
Hospitality is important to me because I see myself as a people person and treat every day as an opportunity to put a smile on someone’s face. It is not just a job but one I am very passionate about.
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