“Oman also has the new airport and plenty of new investments attracting tourists and business travellers alike. The hospitality market is in a thriving state with new openings complimenting one another, creating a space for hotels to set themselves apart,” Symes explains.
Colliers also notes that part of the 2040 vision includes developing Oman as a ‘one-stop-shop’ destination that can cater to a diverse range of visitors and also aims to please younger travellers who are looking for experiential travel.
However, Christopher Hewett points out that different markets in Oman will face diverse challenges: “Each market in Oman has its own characteristics which presents challenges for hoteliers in the Sultanate. In Muscat, the market continues to face pressure on average rates and with a number of key hotels opening in 2018, the market is expected to face further pressure.”
With the growing trend of experiential travel, Symes says hotel operators want to offer what is in demand and this is reflected in the new hotel openings each quarter.
Anantara Al Jabal Al Akhdar Resort has fully embraced the millennial travel trend of experiential travel as part of Anantara’s new travel campaign launched at all its hotels worldwide. Anantara Hotels and Resorts says these experiences are off the beaten path but thoroughly curated. The company says its goal is to inspire, guide and operate as an integral part of the guests’ journey discovering cultures and wildlife.
“We pride ourselves in offering guests personalised and fulfilling travel experiences. Guests can book our ‘Mountain Escape’ package, which takes them on an experience journey offering the chance to explore the landscape and experience the mountain culture,” Symes adds.
According to Wiegandt, "As Kempinski is a founding member of the Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands, we aim to provide our discerning guests with ‘Local Experiences’. Thes are authentic activities that help our guests connect to the culture and local traditions of each destination."
When asked why more hotel operators are looking to open experiential 5-star hotels in Oman, Hewitson said: “Salalah’s hospitality market is showing a growth in RevPAR of 30% in the luxury segment year on year. Anantara has been growing at 45% year on year so far, very encouraging indeed. Muscat is showing a similar RevPAR growth in the luxury segment with 22% growth year on year. When the analysts see numbers like these, then you will have a surge in interest as people want to know more and check if there are untapped opportunities to develop further.”
According to Hewitson, “the strong RevPAR growth across the luxury segment in 2018 shows we are doing something right as a tourism segment. If we continue to open new properties and maintain our aggressive marketing and PR spend then there is no reason why this sort of growth cannot continue for years to come.”
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