destination reports: bahrain: Bahrain means business
Bahrain means business
From ancient forts and archaeological sites to five-star facilities and a Formula One race track, Bahrain is a small island with a lot to offer. Mairead Walsh reports
The Kingdom of Bahrain is an enchanting archipelago of 33 islands sitting in the Arabian Gulf off the coast of Saudi Arabia. Often referred to as the ‘Pearl of the Gulf’ because of its tranquil islands and rich pearl diving heritage, Bahrain offers pristine beaches, five-star amenities, unique meeting and incentive offerings, and a history that reaches beyond millennia.
Today, visitors can go pearl diving in the morning and race Formula One cars in the afternoon - a rare juxtaposition of age-old tradition and modern-day action. While Bahrain has an impressive modern cityscape, old Arabic culture is pervasive and well integrated into contemporary society.
Bahraini culture is all the more accessible by the large number of nationals working in the tourism sector. The Kingdom is one of the few Gulf countries where nationals comprise the majority of the population. Maintaining true Arabian hospitality, Bahrainis are warm, friendly and unassuming people with a deep national pride and keenness to help their nation attract visitors.
In fact, Bahrain is forecasting international visitors to exceed eight million in 2010 with an expectation that this will increase to over 10 million visitors by 2014, according to forecasts by World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC).
MEETING DEMAND
Mid year results for the meetings and exhibition industry indicate continued growth for the Kingdom despite a challenging global financial climate. The Bahrain Exhibition and Convention Authority (BECA) has already confirmed more events in the first half of 2010 in compared to 2009 and expects to exceed 2009’s year-end figures. In fact, the Kingdom is already working on expanding its facilities in order to cope with increased future demand.
“Bahrain is in a strong position and ideally situated to attract global exhibitions and conventions wishing to do business in the kingdom,” said Hassan A. Fakhro, minister of industry and commerce, chairman of BECA. “The steady growth in the number of exhibitions taking place here in the last five years is a testament to the government’s vision for the success of the exhibitions industry and we are proud to be part of this inspired strategy.” BECA hosts most of its key trade and B2B events at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Authority (BIECC), currently the largest exhibition centre in the country with state-of-the-art convention facilities. BIECC has two pillar-free exhibition halls catering to 7,000 and 5,500 reception style. There are nine meeting rooms, two VIP majlis, two VIP meeting rooms and five conference halls.
BECA recently showcased Bahrain’s facilities by hosting the UFI, The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, Middle East and Africa Regional Open Seminar, which was attended by delegates from more than 32 countries.
In addition to participation in China Aluminium 2010 and 8th Aluminium 2010, in Germany, BECA has organised an inaugural Health and Wellness Expo 2011 and the 3rd Annual Food and Hospitality Expo 2011, which doubled in size last year and is looking likely to do the same again this year.
In a recent development, BECA has estab-lished a three-shareholder company, Bahrain Exhi-bitions & Conventions Company, jointly with Bahrain Mumtalakat Holdings Company and the private sector through Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which will oversee the construction and development of the new expo@bahrain project planned to be built at Sakhir near the Bahrain International Circuit (BIC).
As expo@bahrain takes shape, the neigh-bouring meetings facilities at the BIC will be heavily promoted. “The facilities at BIC offer a multitude of creativity and choice that will complement the new venue and help drive increased meetings traffic to Bahrain,” says Debbie Stanford-Kristiansen, CEO expo@bahrain. “For meeting planners looking for an exciting, innovative venue for their next event -whether it’s a meeting and incentive, association congress,exhibition, conference, productlaunch, or team
building event. BIC is not only home to the world of Formula 1 and V8s, it is a special venue offering an inspiring and innovative environment.
“BIC was most recently venue of choice for the inaugural Cisco Networkers Middle East Exhibition & Conference, which attracted over 3,000 international delegates,” says Stanford-Kristiansen. “We will be utilising the BIC both before and after the new Expo City (expo@bahrain) venue is completed.”
EXPO CITY
A world-class US$1.1 billion venture, expo@bahrain will include commercial, educational and entertainment facilities. Phase one of this pioneering venture will cost US$350 million.
“It represents a cornerstone in achieving Bahrain’s presence on the map of regional and international exhibitions and conferences and attracting big events and more international, distinguished and specialised participation in conferences and exhibition programmes,” said Talal Alzain, Mumtalakat Holdings chief executive. “It will also boost Bahrain’s status globally, presenting a favourable environment for exhibitions and conferences and attracting investments through an integrated economic system.”
The city will be designed using the latest technology, with the high standards adopted to manage meetings, exhibitions and conferences. Scheduled for completion by 2013, expo@bahrain will include hotels in the three, four and five-star categories for a combined capacity of 1,200 rooms.
“As outlined in the Kingdom’s Bahrain Economic Vision 2030, meetings, conference and incentive tourism is a key sector outlined for major development,” says Stanford-Kristiansen. This tourism sector has the full support and backing of the government in ensuring Bahrain achieves its goal of becoming a major hub for meetings in the Middle East.”
ACCOMMODATION
Bahrain already boasts a great range of world-class hotels managed by international hotel chains including The Ritz-Carlton, Sheraton, Movenpick, Marriott, Ramada, InterContinental, Radisson SAS, and the Accor Group.
“We did not cut any corners to be competitive in 2010, in fact we went into overdrive to listen to the guests’ voices and implement their recommendations and suggestions,” said Ramada Bahrain general manager Hans Radek. “There is no secret to being successful, it is all about doing the basics right to each guest - every time.” The 123-room property underwent renovations in 2009 and will be adding further upgrades in 2011.
The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa has some of the finest catering and conference facilities available in the Gulf and is capable of hosting up to 1,000 guests at any one time. The 245-room resort offers over 3,500 square metres of meeting, conference and banqueting facilities including a 940-square-metre ballroom, a second 858-square-metre ballroom, and four additional individual meeting rooms, all equipped with the latest technology.
The Al Areen Palace & Spa, built at a cost of US$170 million, boasts the world’s most extensive spa and hydrotherapy garden. Spanning 131,000 square metres, the charmingly serene resort features 78 luxury villas and best caters to small sized meetings groups for up to 30 delegates.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts is set to open its first Bahrain property in 2011. The 300-room St. Regis Hotel will be located on a reclaimed island facing Manama City. Also scheduled to open in 2011 is a 400-room Bahrain Rotana.
INFRASTRUCTURE GROWTH
Bahrain is investing heavily in improved transport links to encourage visitors from the GCC, as well as further afield, to visit Bahrain. A US$300 million upgrade to the Bahrain International Airport (BIA) will increase capacity to 15 million passengers by 2015, with provision for a second phase expansion increasing capacity to 22 million by 2020. BIA is the hub for national airline Gulf Air, which operates scheduled services to 45 destinations in 28 countries across Africa, Asia, and Europe. Also a member of the Oneworld alliance, the airline has codeshare agreements that extend its reach even further across the globe.
Bahrain also has impressive inter-country road links. The iconic King Fahd Causeway links Bahrain to Saudi Arabia and additional road links, including the Sheikh Khalifa Causeway and the recent advancement of the Bahrain-Qatar Friendship Causeway, will further improve Bahrain’s transportation links and connectivity to its neighbouring Gulf States.
Bahrain is also encouraging cruise tourism by building a dedicated cruise liner terminal at the Khalifa bin Salman Port. In fact, the Kingdom hosted the 1st Middle East Cruise Forum at Al Areen Palace & Spa in May 2010.
Meanwhile, work is continuing on the Bahrain Financial Harbour (BFH), a US$3 billion master planned development aiming to create a complete financial city in the centre of the capital, Manama, spread over 380,000 square metres of seafront.
INCENTIVE ATTRACTIONS
For tour operators Bahrain offers a variety of incentive options from historical sites to watersports and desert adventures to Formula One racing.
The Bahrain International Circuit, home of the Bahrain Formula One Championships, offers a host of motorised incentives opportunities. Delegates can attend to business in the morning and then enjoy a half-day corporate driving package to ‘release the stress’ and finish their work day on the track.
As an island destination, Bahrain has a variety of water attractions. Warm sea temperatures, calm waves and abundant aquatic life ensure a relaxing marine experience featuring leisure cruises, swimming with dolphins, deep sea fishing, or an afternoon at the Bahrain Yacht Club. Located 20 kilometres southeast of the mainland of Bahrain, a cluster of 16 pristine islands comprises the Hawar islands. The Hawar Resort offers a range of watersport activities including jet skis, paddle boats and snorkelling.
Bab Al Bahrain is a marketplace that steps from the 21st century into an old world where traditional business values still hold true. When the sun goes down, the souk livens up as shoppers shuffle along the alleys lined with brightly coloured textiles, spices, carpets, silver and gold.
The Pearl and Diving Heritage Museum inhabits one of Bahrain’s most historic buildings and the Bahrain National Museum showcases the history of Bahrain from the Stone Age, through ancient civilisations and up to the pre-oil period.
Bahrain has also converted several of its formerly prominent homes into visitor experiences. Local houses worth a visit are Al-Jasra House, birthplace of the present Amir, Bait Siyadi, a renowned pearl trader’s home, and Shaikh Isa’s house, once the home of the Amir’s great grandfather.
There are many archaeological and heritage sites too. The Qalaat Al Bahrain (or Bahrain Fort), which has been traced back to as far as the third millennium BC, has been gradually restored to its former glory.
Outside of Manama, a large settlement at Saar, estimated to be 4,000 years old, is being excavated by international archaeologists. Artefacts numbering 170,000 make the site the largest-known prehistoric cemetery in the world.
Bahrain’s islands may be small, but its attractions are on a truly global scale offering event planners a licence to be creative and come up with an imaginative and memorable corporate itinerary.
