By 2010/2011 the number of available rooms is expected to double, with 2300 due to come online in 2009 alone. Serviced apartment numbers are also doubling to 4000 by 2010.

Hotel developments to watch include the Missoni Hotel Kuwait (a Rezidor brand) scheduled to open during the first half of 2009.

This luxury property will be located in a new hotel/entertainment/shopping complex set on the waterfront and dubbed as Kuwait's first major lifestyle hotel.

The Rezidor Group also has strong ties with Kuwait having opened the Radisson SAS there 27 years ago.

The company's regional director sales and marketing, Craig Senior, says sales generated into Kuwait are on the whole, business travel related - either individual travel or groups for regional meetings.

"Leisure business is driven by the GCC markets, primarily Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain, but this segment is currently limited," he says.
 

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"Average room rates are US $235, an increase of 17% on the previous year, with occupancy stable at around 63%; this trend is expected to continue into 2010."

Pressure will be exerted on existing properties to maintain average rates and occupancy when hotels under construction such as the Jumeirah Messila, Four Seasons, InterContinental, Ramada, Hilton and Novotel come online.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is also focussing on the business travel market with the unveiling of the new InterContinental Kuwait Downtown set to open early 2010 located in close proximity to the government and business district in central Kuwait City.

"Kuwait is one of the region's most important business markets and there is significant need for more lavish and elegant hotel rooms coupled with modern business facilities; having the InterContinental brand present [in Kuwait] will cater to this demand," says John Bamsey, COO IHG Middle East & Africa.

"IHG's growth in Kuwait is testament to the confidence IHG as in the country and its thriving corporate travel industry".

With few of the planned hotels focussing on the intra-regional leisure traveller, city resort hotels like The Moevenpick Hotel & Resort Al Bida'a, which is set on a private beach and offers four swimming pools, a kids' club, comprehensive water sports facilities and a spa, as well as business, meetings and convention facilities, are set to lure the regional family market.

Moevenpick Al Bida'a director of sales and marketing Ali Haddad says the Government is trying to encourage domestic tourists to remain in Kuwait for their weekend and holiday breaks through the development of attractive resorts.

He adds: "We opened our spa earlier this year, which is already proving popular for the local market and we expect to see an increase in intra-regional travel particularly families from Saudi Arabia and Qatar."