“It’s important because these locals have their roots in Bahrain and will be able to share the beauty of their country with visitors.”

Accor, like most companies expanding their operations into the country, supports the various government initiatives aimed at nurturing young talent for Bahrain’s hospitality industry and working to represent hospitality as a credible career option for Bahraini nationals. These innovations are currently being led by training organisations like the Bahrain Institute for Hospitality and Retail and the Bahrain Training Institute.

Bahrain’s government is working hard to support and foster a mature hospitality industry with a clear strategic direction.

In November, it was announced that Bahrain is to commission a new tourism body tasked with overseeing the country’s tourism strategy and centralising the decision-making process. Although the Bahrain Tourism Authority (BTA) has ministerial approval, it is still awaiting a formal approval from parliament which is expected within the next four months.

The BTA aims to work in partnership with the private sector to create a fair and transparent business environment for hospitality operators wanting to enter Bahrain. For example, the BTA is working with the World Trade Organisation to create a new hotel classification system with international parity.

This new certification system will be implemented over the next three years alongside a supporting staff training programme.

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New Destinations

With such a thriving business community, Bahrain has emerged as a major MICE destination and most hotels have positioned their products accordingly.

To secure visitors, Bahrain is currently developing Expo@Bahrain, the second largest convention centre in the GCC.

Located next to the world famous Formula 1 track, Expo@Bahrain is sure to get maximum exposure when it opens in 2013.

With new developments springing up across the country, many of the major operators have new properties in the pipeline.

As expected in the current economic climate, construction has slowed, but most projects remain on target with few delays.

In 2011, a Four Seasons Hotel will become the flagship property on Bahrain Bay, a US $2.5 billion mixed-use development on the north eastern coast of Manama. Overall, the development has performed well during the economic slowdown, despite unexpected breaks in construction during 2009.

The new Four Seasons property was redesigned accordingly during this period and was significantly scaled back from an 85-storey building to 65 storeys. It is expected that construction will resume mid-way through 2010 and that the property is still on course to complete in 2011 as planned.

According to Bahrain Bay CEO Bob Vincent, all third party developers are still on board and construction for many projects is due to restart this year.

Elsewhere, Marriott is opening its second project in Bahrain — a Renaissance Hotel on Amwaj Islands.

The 30 million square feet that comprise this group of man-made islands hosts leisure resorts, commercial districts and residential neighbourhoods. In addition, Amwaj Islands is supplying waterfront properties, which are in short supply in Bahrain.

Economic woes aside, Marriott has found that the development process for new properties in Bahrain is well supported. “Construction of our Renaissance Amwaj Island Hotel is proceeding well,” comments Strachan. “In fact, when we recently opened our Marriott Executive Apartments in Manama, we found that Bahrain has a very progressive system. Everyone has been extremely helpful in the build up to the opening of our properties and our development team will continue to search for additional opportunities moving forwards.”

Rotana, in preparing for its first Bahrain opening in 2011, has also discovered the ease of doing business in the country.

“We’re making our first entry into Bahrain with a five-star property opposite the financial harbour and so far there have been no specific challenges,” explains Rotana area vice president for Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait Joseph Coubat.

“We have been involved in this project since its very inception and have built a strong relationship with the property developers. This has ensured the quality of the final physical product.”