Bahrain is seeing a lot of international and regional tourists, thereby boosting the hospitality sector as well. Reports suggest that the restaurants and hotels segment is the quickest growing one in the Kingdom. There are plenty of hotels in Bahrain to suit all pockets, and luxury hotels are a major draw here, especially among foreigners.
In 2015, the hospitality sector in Bahrain saw a growth of 13.6 per cent from the year before. The region has some big hospitality brands that leave no stone untouched as far as luxury goes. Over 10 four-star and five-star hotels are being developed to add to the long list of hotels in Bahrain.
Defining luxury
Want to understand how hotels in the region are defining luxury? You surely must check out one of the suites at a top-notch hotel in Manama. The amenities in that suite include three LED television screens, a couple of bathrooms, one master bedroom, a seating space, a Jacuzzi, among others. There is also a spa, a beachfront and sports facilities. If this is not luxury, what is!
Another hotel in the Amwaj Islands is also defining luxury in its unique way. The idea of luxury in a region like Bahrain almost always includes a private beach, and this hotel has it too. Rooms and suites that overlook the marina offer stunning views. When it comes to fine dining, imagine sitting in a round hall with a spectacular fountain right in the middle! Yes, a high-end hotel offers this luxury.
What else do luxury hotels offer?
Most luxury hotels in Bahrain are examples of fine architecture. The hotels also display great art. Lounges, Jacuzzis, ornate bath tubs are all par for the course. Middle-East opulence, international standards and a deep respect for local heritage and culture are all blended into the hotels in the Kingdom. Hotels also offer water sports facilities, sightseeing trips and schedule a range of activities for international tourists.
Fine dining
Luxury also means offering fine dining and lounge options of the highest international standards. Imagine sitting on the 50th floor of a high-end luxury hotel and sipping your favourite sun-downer as you watch the skyline of Manama! Luxury would also mean Bahrain hotels bringing in the most renowned chefs, celebrities in their own rights, to their restaurants. The cuisines in these hotels range from Asian and Bahraini to continental and Western.
What tourists want
A conference organized by the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority in April 2016 has offered key insights into what tourists and travellers to Bahrain seek. Most of them want hotels that offer a se-view. This has encouraged construction of at least six such hotels. The Middle-East has always been known for offering opulence, and drawing international tourists to the glitz and glamour.
Martin Wynn
