Five minutes with…
Will Blake, director of sales & marketing for Millennium Resort – Mussanah, Oman
Blake tells meetoman what the new business resort, located outside of Muscat, has to offer the meetings industry
When did the property open its doors? February 2011.
Where is the property located and what are the benefits of this location for meeting clients?
We are located in the Batinah region, one-hour north of Muscat heading towards Sohar. We are able to offer a new product out of town for companies who are now looking for different types of programmes so they don't repeat themselves.
What are the property's main USPs? We have a lot of space to utilise for outdoor events; a marina with on-site water sport facilities; plus a room product with state of the art technology.
How important is the meetings market to your business mix? Very important; it represents about 40% of our business mix.
What facilities and experiences do you offer the meetings market?
The wow factor! Our meeting rooms overlook the marina and have fabulous views.
What do you offer the meetings market that other properties in Oman don't?
Flexibility, affordability and above all we are able to adapt to each client's requirements.
Do you have any special meetings packages you can outline?
We have a 24-hour delegate package that takes care of your accommodation, dinner, breakfast and an all-day meeting with coffee breaks, lunches and equipment hire (both AV and audio included).
What steps are you taking to lure the meetings industry to your property?
We have adopted an aggressive campaign both locally and regionally with a targeted sales blitz focusing on the respective incentive houses. We are also attending all the major regional and international exhibitions to raise awareness of the resort.
What trends are you noticing in Oman's hotel and meetings industries right now?
There is huge interest in the country because of what it has to offerÐ you can come to Oman and experience the true essence of Arabia. More large firms from across the region, particularly Abu Dhabi and Dubai, are utilising Oman because it is close by. What helps us is that we are the first major super hotel brand you reach [when travelling from the UAE] before you get to Muscat, which is a further one-hour by car.
What are your projected growth targets for meetings business to your property?
We see growth as a general upward trend; the difficult part lies ahead when we try to maximise the various market segments.
How fast can you turn around RFPs?
We have an internal policy that all Request For Proposals will be turned around within 24 hours.
www.millenniumhotels.com
Natural History Museum at Masirah Island Resort The Natural History Museum recently opened at Masirah Island Resort. The centre gives visitors the chance to learn more about the unique wildlife and marine environment surrounding Oman's largest island. It also highlights the fact that Masirah is home to the world's largest population of nesting turtles and hosts all four of Oman's nesting species - Loggerhead, Green, Olive Ridley and Hawksbill.
New management for Al Bustan Palace
Muscat's iconic hotel, Al Bustan Palace, changed management in mid-2011. The property, which regularly hosts world leaders and VIPs and was originally built to host the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit in 1985, is now managed by The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. Al Bustan Palace, A Ritz-Carlton Hotel, as it is now known, features 200 rooms and 50 suites; top-end meetings rooms; five specialty restaurants; and extensive leisure facilities including an expansive private beach, five outdoor swimming pools, a tennis village and a fitness centre. A stand-alone Six Senses spa is also being built, located in the landscaped gardens.
Upcoming projects
Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre
The new Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) is currently under con- struction. The two-million-square-metre venue will be located four kilometres from Muscat International Airport and feature a 10,000-seat auditorium as well as four hotels offering a total of 1,000 rooms. See page 64 for further details.
The food court at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre
The Wave The Wave
The Wave, Muscat, is a brand new mega mixed-use development, located on the coast just north of Muscat International Airport. It combines more than 4,000 proper- ties, a 400-berth marina, a Greg Norman signature golf course, four hotels, including five-star resorts managed by Kempinski and Fairmont, and new retail, leisure and dining facilities in a prime seafront location. This is the first integrated resort and residential develop- ment to be undertaken in the greater Muscat region.
Fairmont The Wave, Muscat, will
boast 300 rooms and suites, gourmet restaurants, meeting and leisure facili- ties, a Willow Stream Spa as well as Fairmont branded residences and Fairmont Heritage Place.
Scheduled to open its doors in 2013, Kempinski The Wave will boast 280 rooms and suites as well as state-of-the-art business and leisure facilities. Visit
www.thewavemuscat.com
Al Bustan Palace
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