Middle East hotels brace for Ramadan (page 2 of 2)

Prices for these after-dark meals can be high. For example, the Park Hyatt Dubai is offering two Sohour set menus starting at $50 per person.

Hotels spend a lot of money on their Ramadan tents, but not all of them make money, D'Souza contends. There is so much variety on offer from hotels in Dubai that customers are spoiled for choice, he says, plus some guests view it as just another gimmick by hotels to get them to spend money.

Tents are not the only 'gimmick' that hotels use during Ramadan. The Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza has created two new spa treatments especially for the Ramadan season to help cope with the demands that Ramadan 'places on the physical body'.

Not to be outdone, the Hyatt Regency Dubai is keeping its spa open until midnight every Friday and Saturday during the Holy month.

JBH expects strong month

The head of the Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai says his hotel sees little slowdown during Ramadan. 'Dubai has become a year-round destination that offers something for everyone, and Ramadan is no exception,' says Frederic Picard, manager of the hotel.

The hotel experiences 'great levels of occupancy' during Ramadan, says Picard, and it is anticipating another successful month this year as it has more offerings for people to enjoy.

JBH's Ramadan tent, Diwan Al Khayal, attracts a large number of guests to the hotel during the month. 'Ramadan is a time when families enjoy Iftar together and our Iftar is very popular with families,' he said.

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