BULLETINHOTELIER MIDDLE EAST | August 2019 | Volume 18 Issue 08 9
Bahrain tourism sector to grow says the CEO of H Hospitality
Marriott and Emirates relaunch Your World Rewards
The island country also recorded a rise in the average length of stay at hotels
Emirates Skywards and Marriott Bonvoy members will earn points and benefi ts through the partnership
BAHRAIN’S tourism sector, which currently makes up
6.3% of the country’s GDP, is set to grow signifi-
cantly, Claudio Capaccioli, CEO of H Hospitality
Collection told Hotelier Middle East in an exclu-
sive interview.
According to Capaccioli, “Bahrain continues
to reaffirm its good position as a great tourism
destination every month with a growing num-
ber of hotels, retail and leisure developments
like ours that are currently underway.”
H Hospitality Collection is soon making
its debut in the island country with the Har-
bour Row Hotel. Speaking more about why
the country’s tourism sector is bound to grow,
Capaccioli said: “The statistics released at the
beginning of the year by Bahrain Economic
Development Board (EDB) show that the
tourism sector certified a steady growth,
due to tourism infrastructure that
reached over BD 4.9 billion
(US$13 billion).
“The EDB statistics covered
14 projects that will further boost
growth in Bahrain’s tourism and
leisure sector, facing further en-
hancement to its tourism infrastruc-
ture,” he added.
Data released also re-
vealed that the number of
tourist nights has shown a
22% increase from 2017 to
2018 with a growth of 19%in the average length of stay, Capaccioli said
when talking about why the group decided to
debut in Bahrain.
In addition to new tourism projects, Bah-
rain International Airport is undergoing a
$1.1 billion modernisation plan, and is aim-
ing to increase yearly passenger capacity
from 9 to 14 million by next year.
Other good references of positive
trends in the Bahrain, market in-
clude infrastructure develop-
ments including a number
of shopping malls and Bah-
rain’s medical-tourism pro-
jects through King Abdullah
Medical City,” he said.MARRIOTT International has announced the re-
launch of Your World Rewards, a partnership
benefiting Marriott Bonvoy and Emirates Sky-
wards members.
The partnership, which originally
launched in 2014, allows Marriott Bon-
voy and Emirates Skywards members to
elevate their earnings and benefits when
they fly with Emirates or stay at Marriott
International Hotels.
Your World Rewards enables members
to reap benefits, personalised services and
extensive access around the world while
flying or staying at a Marriott property.
“Marriott Bonvoy is built on the belief
that travel enriches us all and has the pow-er to enrich the world. We continue to look
for opportunities that enrich travel experi-
ence and provide endless inspiration for
our members to keep traveling with pas-
sion and purpose,” said Neal Jones chief
sales and marketing officer Middle East
and Africa, Marriott International.
Dr. Nejib ben Khedher, senior vice presi-
dent, Emirates Skywards, said: “Knowing
your customers well, anticipating their
needs and wowing them with inspirational
experiences every time are critical to the
success of any service-oriented business.
“With this partnership, we have pooled
our knowledge, hospitality mindsets and
service expertise to carefully craft YourWorld Rewards. This programme will cater
to the specific travel needs and aspirations
of our customers.”
Additionally, members of Emir-
ates and Fly Dubai’s loyalty pro-
gramme Emirates Skywards can use trav-
el and shopping spends to earn Skywards
Miles. According to the new offer, miles
earned can be redeemed for flights on
Emirates, flydubai and partner airlines.
Members who shop at 1,300 boutiques
across the Bicester Village Shopping
Collection in Europe and China, will earn
1 Skywards mile for every EUR 1 ($1.11),
GBP 1 ($1.22) or RMB 10 ($1.45) spent at
any of the villages.