Mafraq Hotel to hire after expansion

Abu Dhabi-based Mafraq Hotel, which is owned by The National Investor, is recruiting 60 hoteliers following the completion of its Dh180 million expansion this month.

The newly-expanded hotel will be recruiting staff for administrative, and foods and beverages and general purposes through online recruitment agencies.

“We are going to online recruitment agencies to recruit people from around the world. Our HR department is in touch with them. We need maximum 60 more people. We have recruited 60 per cent of staff and the rest of 40 per cent will be onboard within the next couple of months. Total will be 270 people onboard,” said Ghassan Fares, General Manager of Mafraq Hotel.

A new meeting and banquet facilities have been built in a dedicated wing of the property, including a private entrance to the 250-person Baniyas Ballroom, two additional meeting rooms and an executive lounge. The expanded hotel also houses a fully equipped fitness zone including a gymnasium, adult and children's swimming pool, massage facilities, children's playground and a racket club.

“We started the development in September 2009. The hotel had 120 rooms and has been expanded to 250. We added restaurants, bars and conference facilities which will help tap the local functions and events,” Fares said.

He expects the hotel occupancy to improve following the expansion and high-profile sports events such as Formula One, tennis and golf tournaments set to take place in the emirate.

“Our average occupancy rate never dropped below 60 per cent and that was during construction. During 2008-09 the occupancy was in the 80s and 90s. We are aiming at not less than 70 per cent for the coming years. Most – 60 per cent – of our clients are corporate and the rest is mix. We have around 60-65 per cent of our clientele from Europe,” Fares added.

Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority has said that hotels and hotel apartments in the emirate received 1.7 million guests in the first 10 months of 2011, which is 15 per cent above the same period last year.

STR Global said earlier this week that hotel occupancy in Abu Dhabi rose 10.5-per cent to 76 per cent in October 2011, boosted by Formula 1 Grand Prix.

A recent MENA Chain Hotels Market Review by TRI Hospitality Consulting, which studied hotels in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharm Al Shaikh, Cairo, Riyadh and Jeddah, showed that Abu Dhabi’s occupancy topped 67.2 per cent.

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