A luxury player

Paddock magazine visits Al Areen Palace & Spa, and Cristina Fulgencio, Senior PR & Marketing Manager, shows us around this magnificent resort.

Business card

Developed by the Al Areen Holding Company, Al Areen Palace & Spa is located on a massive spread of land; this world-class property features the most exclusive 78 Pool Villas in a one-story setting. Guests are offered the freedom of space and privacy where they can choose from two types of luxuriously appointed villa-style accommodation. Both types of villas come with separate living areas and modern amenities. In the courtyard, an inviting oasis comprising of a private swimming pool, jet-pool & steam room awaits the guests.

Currently the resort boasts of signature fine dining restaurants. Rimal – international cuisine, all day dining restaurant offering a selection of gastronomic delights from international buffet to a la carte menu. Saffron – Bahraini Khaleeji fusion cuisine. Located around majestic arabesque interiors, this signature dining venue features locally flavoured dishes fusioned with delectable regional tastes. Keizo is Far Eastern. Savor the very best of Japanese, Chinese & Thai fine dining dishes with a creative flair of exquisite Far Eastern flavours. Senses – guests may indulge in delicious pastries, freshly baked cakes, or high-class tea – a perfect place to relax and re-charge your senses. Finally, AL AREEN FOOD VILLAGE – COMING SOON! A string of chic yet casual dining areas, featuring 5 different outlets from American, Lebanese and Italian, alongside Tikkas & grills plus an open area cafe & sheesha area.

Locally owned but fit for a global market, it has introduced new initiatives through which the destination was able to broaden its scope and reach out new markets.

Royal Spa’s Organic Healing Cafe – is also coming soon. Located in the midst of Royal Spa’s lush gardens a new and healthier cafe catering to our health-conscious guests who opt for a refreshing and organic food offering.

The Spa

The Royal Spa is designed with inspiration from the gardens of the Royal Arabian palaces. A key feature is a 10,000 square-metre spa, the largest in the Middle East and a world first in terms of size, design and treatments. Spa features, twelve Spa pavilions, each one with twin rainmist shower beds, infinity bathtubs and a private garden, Hydrothermal Garden and Garden Hammam, Ladies’ Beauty Garden, Gentleman’s Salon and extensive fitness and wellness facilities.

Challenges

We use to see the location as the main challenge, as it is around 30 minutes away from the main city, but then with the booming leisure and tourism aspects of our surrounding areas plus the constant improvements that the hotel undergoes, the place has now become a must destination not only by tourists but even the residents here and around the region.

We don’t really consider any other hotels as competition. Al Areen Palace & Spa offers a totally different experience from other hotels in the Kingdom. A Single Desert Pool Villa is 400 sqm in size and a Royal Pool Villa is 740 sqm in space with 2 full scale villa type bedrooms, each having their own sitting room, large space bedroom, fully equipped bathroom, steam room, Jacuzzi with an oversize swimming pool sprawled in between the villas.

Having said that, the property continues to create promotional activities and serves itself as a platform in showcasing Bahrain’s tourism and leisure sector, targeting mainly local guests and neighboring countries.

Impacts

Since it’s establishment 7 years ago, Al Areen Palace & Spa has been a valuable player in Bahrain’s hospitality industry. Locally owned but fit for a global market, it has introduced new initiatives through which the destination was able to broaden its scope and reach out new markets.

The Formula 1 Industry has come a long way since then, with their 10 years of existence here in Bahrain – the event has had a major impact on the local economy most especially in the hospitality industry. Since it’s establishment, it has seen rapid developments over the last few years with huge efforts made by the government to place Bahrain on the world tourism map. The momentum continues to build as more and more hotels and establishments are being built to cater to this growing industry.

A definite advantage due to the proximity of the circuit, we do have regular Formula 1 guests – we recently had the Mercedes team during the testing period and will hopefully have more teams coming in as the season gets on the way.