Cooled tents and huge iftar buffets prove a big draw for hotels during Islamic month of fasting
Hotels and outlets across the Middle East are hailing Ramadan 2010 as one of the busiest ever.
Innovative Ramadan iftar and suhour initiatives, including the pitching of huge air-conditioned buffet tents paid-off for F&B outlets in the region.
Properties made extra efforts this year to lure customers through the doors during the traditional Islamic month of fasting.
Iftars – the communal breaking of the fast at sunset during Ramadan – boasted more variety in 2010 than in previous years and are credited with a healthy rise in trade.
Christian Muhr, general manager of Hilton Dubai Jumeirah said that the hotel enjoyed one of its busiest ever Ramadan periods and would develop the concept.
“Celebrations took place at the Almas suite which overlooks the Arabian Gulf.
“We recreated a truly authentic Arabic experience for our guests, iftar was served inside while suhour was served around the swimming pool under the night sky.
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“Ramadan at the Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Resort was a great success this year and we are confident that we will make the next few years of Ramadan an even greater success than ever before,” Muhr said.
It was a similar story in Abu Dhabi’s Fairmont Bab al Bahr Hotel, which organised a full programme of iftar events and erected a temporary 360m² Ramadan tent for the elaborate buffets and events.
A spokesperson said that a new emphasis on the buffets proved to be a hit with diners.
“All our activities were hugely successful, as this was the first Ramadan for the hotel since its opening in late 2009. Our Barajeel ballroom hosted around 55 events and was sold out every evening during Ramadan.”
In Abu Dhabi, the Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri widened the variety of food on offer in its Sofra building, chalking up a 20% rise in trade when compared with last year’s Ramadan period.
Ahmed Issa, director of food and beverage at the hotel said: “The approach was very successful when we compared business to Ramadan 2009 and we operated at 100% capacity every night. It was very successful for us and we have more plans for next year.”
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