New Abu Dhabi hotel eyes 40% occupancy

A new hotel in Abu Dhabi is set to open for business this week, providing further boost to the capital’s rapidly growing tourism industry. The Eastern Mangroves Hotel and Spa, operated by Anantara, will begin operations on Friday, according to Michel Koopman, Director of Operations Middle East for Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas and General Manager, Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara. The hotel will be in a trial phase for the next three weeks after which an official opening will be held, according to the company.The hotel will primarily serve as a corporate, government and business hotel, its management expects 20 per cent of its business to still come from the leisure market. For the next seven months, the hotel is hoping to run at an occupancy rate of 40 per cent, Koopman said. “Our main target market is the UAE, where 60 to 70 per cent of our business would be from the local market,” he added. While Koopman said that he is confident about the hotel’s performance, he told reporters in Abu Dhabi that there will be a need for more concerts, MICE events and sporting events for the hospitality market.  Key selling point “The market is tough. We know the numbers and you know the numbers, but I think we have a very different and unique product,” he said, adding that the hotel’s key selling point is its location. Located on Salam Street, Eastern Mangroves is a five-minute drive from downtown Abu Dhabi and faces 8.5km of mangroves. The hotel said it will run an opening promotion of Dh1,200 per room until the end of September, and guests would be able to get a the same amount in credit to spend at the hotel’s facilities.from gulf news.