Hotel promotes East Coast for business and leisure

This is despite the traditional lull in business experienced by most hotels following the festivities in December, said hotel manager, Patrick Antaki. He continued: "Many UAE residents took the opportunity to explore the country's newest hotel over the Eid holiday break, and we were 100 per cent full.

"But things have not slowed down: we are now busy hosting company meetings and team-building events as well as welcoming European tourists who continue to seek winter sunshine, but in a new setting."

The East Coast hotel, which opened at the beginning of December, has provided a new impetus for tourism on the Indian Ocean coast, he said, with Le Méridien name and marketing expertise tempting a new audience to the destination.

"There has never been a global brand name dedicated to the tourism and MICE sector on the East Coast before, and our initial results prove there is indeed a buoyant market for this 'new' destination," said Antaki.

He added that while the uncrowded beach and mountain scenery are a major attraction, businesses are also keen to make use of the new conference facilities, bringing their staff and management to a quiet environment that is conducive to conducting successful meetings.

Le Méridien Al Aqah Beach Resort, a joint venture between Emirates airline and the Hotel & Resort Investment, is located on the two kilometre Al Aqah beach near Dibba, and offers 218 rooms and suites plus a host of recreation facilities including the UAE's largest free-form pool, a dive centre, watersports centre, spa treatment rooms, health and beauty club, plus both indoor and outdoor restaurants and bars.

In addition, the hotel has three Royal Club executive floors, business centre, 400-capacity ballroom, three meeting rooms and a travel centre, as well as capacity for up to 1,000 guests at outdoor events in the landscaped gardens.

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