| A notable discount was visible in rates offered by | | | | Hilton Garden Inn Hotels across 45 countries. |
| hotels in Dubai to greet the Dubai Shopping Festival. | | | | Several other Dubai hotels like the Coral Group of |
| DTMC has called for plans to introduce a special rates | | | | Hotels (Coral Deira, Dubai, Coral Boutique Villas, Al |
| ranging from 40 to 60 per cent discount on room | | | | Barsha, Coral Boutique Hotel Apartments, Al Barsha) |
| rates. This discount is in addition to a 25% discount in | | | | and Radissions SAS also have announced price slash |
| the prices of F&B in these hotels. This reduction | | | | as DSF progresses. |
| will be mobile from January 10 until mid-February to | | | | In view of the current development in the hospitality |
| cater the staying needs of tons of visitors expected | | | | industry many of the hotel property developers have |
| to visit Dubai for the shopping festival. During the last | | | | showed signs of holding new projects in Dubai and |
| quarter of 2008, Dubai hotels revealed the bad shape | | | | other surrounding emirates like Sharjah and Abu |
| of its bookings following global economic turmoil and | | | | Dhabi. Hotel occupancy in Dubai has reported a fall by |
| few of them did not wait till mid January 2009 to | | | | 14% in the third quarter compared to the occupancy |
| announce the special offers. | | | | rates in 2007. The occupancy rate for hotel beds |
| Khaleej Times a leading daily of UAE reported that | | | | dropped to 75.2% from 83.1% a year earlier, while |
| Hamra Hotels & Resorts offered its exclusive | | | | the number of guests-nights in hotels fell 3.5%. |
| corporate room rates at a discounted 40 to 60 per | | | | Anticipating that a competitive demand will cause |
| cent now for all room types, from as low as Dh450 | | | | scarcity of rooms, new projects were launched in |
| to a high of Dh1,900 for single and between Dh450 | | | | 2006 an 2007 leading to the growth of number of |
| and Dh1,900 for double. The original room rates were | | | | available hotel rooms by 13.3% and the number of |
| between Dh1, 700 and Dh3, 000 per night for single | | | | beds 9.9%. Some property developers have not yet |
| and the price range was between Dh1,900 and | | | | stepped back and they believe that this crisis is a |
| Dh2,900 for double rooms. | | | | temporary crunch and they still hold a positive |
| Some other popular hotels offering discounts are: | | | | thought regarding the forecast. Michael Frances, |
| Al Hamra Village Golf Resort: Single room (Dh 250 up | | | | Marketing and Communication Manager, Dusit Dubai, |
| to Dh1,200 per night) | | | | expressed positive remarks about business picking up |
| Double room (Dh300 up to | | | | with the start of the New Year. |
| Dh1,250 per night) | | | | According to Niel Rumbaoa, Director Communication, |
| Khatt Springs Hotel and Spa: Single room (Dh350 and | | | | Shangri-La, Hotel Dubai, they have not yet finalised |
| Dh900 per night) | | | | the DSF promotional rates. But Shangri-La, Hotel |
| | | | | Dubai already running various promotions this |
| Double room (Dh400 and Dh950 | | | | season.” The Address Hotels and Resorts, which |
| per night) | | | | is a premium hotel brand of Emaar Hospitality Group |
| Hilton Hotels have announced 50 per cent discount | | | | plans to expand its portfolio by adding around 15 |
| for weekend breaks until the end of August 2009, | | | | hotels by 2011. According to CEO Marc Dardennes |
| for bookings made up to January 31, 2009. This offer | | | | only some of the hotels would be owned by the |
| is valid for 220 Hilton, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, | | | | group, branded as The Address, while other hotels |
| Waldorf-Astoria Collection, Doubletree by Hilton and | | | | would only be managed by the Emmar Group. |