As the Banyan Tree Al Areen, Bahrain, prepares to celebrate its 18-month birthday, LTN finds the resort is shaping up to be the region's leading destination spa, as well as a top corporate retreat.
Banyan Tree Desert Spa and Resort Al Areen opened its doors in April 2007 marking the first time the Bangkok-based company had planted its routes in the Middle East market.
Since then, the property, which is situated in the heart of the Al Areen leisure development and close to the Bahrain International Circuit has received many international awards and accolades including the Gala Spa Award for Best Luxury Hotel City/Resort 2008, Conde Nast Traveller's list of Hot Spas, Tatler UK magazine's 101 Best Spas and 101 Best Hotels 2008, Elite Traveler's 101 Top Suites in the World and MENA (Middle East and North Africa) Travel Award's Gold Award for the Best New Resort Hotel 2007, setting a benchmark for Bahrain, while the property was recently acquired by a savvy Singaporean investor.
Banyan Tree Desert Spa and Resort Al Areen boasts 78 villas comprising 56 one-bedroom Desert Pool Villas and 22 two-bedroom Royal Pool Villas, each featuring private open-air swimming and jet pools, over-sized infinity bath tubs and large master bedrooms.
In addition to facilitating the region's largest spa and hydrotherapy areas, three international restaurants, a complete body wellness centre, the resort features Banyan Tree's Gallery showcasing crafts, gifts and beauty products.
Director of marketing communications Catherine Bolton says the resort caters to up-market leisure individual travelers as well as to small- and medium-sized incentive groups: "Most of our guests are GCC locals, but we are also witnessing a definite increase in the amount of expatriates and other international visitors," she explains. "The top three markets for the resort are Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait respectively."
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Typically, corporate and incentive bookings dominate the week days while leisure guests stay at the weekend, while the average length of stay is four days, she adds.
Bolton notes that one of the resort's key selling points is the "utmost privacy" offered by each of the pool villas.
All villas are completely protected from view, self-enclosed behind a two-metre-high wall, while each of the spa's treatment pavilions are completely self-enclosed.
There are also many separate spa, wellness and fitness facilities for men and women. In addition private dining options are on offer - suitable for couples, families and corporate gatherings. Dining options range from an in-villa barbeque to a romantic dinner for two on Saffron's private dining island.
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