Dubai hotels are trying to attract more visitors from neighboring emirates to boost occupancy by extending summer and weekend packages through Ramadan. Naseem Darkazally with Rotana Dubai explained “Rotana normally has two different campaigns for summer and Ramadan. The advantage for us this year is that Ramadan falls during the summer, so the aggressive campaign will cover most of Ramadan.” Darkazally is the company’s Area Director of Sales and Marketing. He said domestic travel form the wider GCC increased 50% from last year.
Special packages include gift vouchers, free limousine transfers, discounts at select restaurants, and complimentary wireless and broadband internet. Northern Emirates and Rotana just began a new marketing campaign focused on the GCC market. Darkazally said he expects domestics travel will be boost occupancy levels and marketing activities have been planned accordingly.