Some of Bahrain's most popular hotels are expecting room occupancy rates to exceed 90 per cent during this month's Formula One weekend.

The Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea and Spa, nearest to Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) at Sakhir, confirmed to the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication, it had no rooms left for the Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix weekend from April 17 to April 19.

'There are no rooms available for the F1 weekend,' said a Sofitel official.

Others such as the Ritz-Carlton Bahrain Hotel and Spa expected a 'very positive' response from customers, based on previous bookings.

'As we have enjoyed high occupancy levels in the past we are looking forward to repeat the same success this year,' said general manager Christian Zandonella.

Bahrain Five Star Hotels Committee head Abdulnabi Al Daylami told the GDN hotels across the country expected to be up to 90 per cent booked.

'We expect some of the hotels, especially the ones closer to the circuit, will be 90 per cent or 95 per cent full,' he said.

'(As for the rest) we expect 80 per cent and more for most, if not all, the five-star hotels.

'We expect the conditions to be better than any other year.

'Firstly, because last year was the first time (the race) happened at night, so it was something new. Now people know that something different happens, they're used to it.

'This year's weather is also better at the moment and looks like it will be good.

'There's two weeks left to the race, but the bookings have started.

'Some people even booked from last year '“ they book a year in advance.

'However, most come in the last week before the race.'

Al Daylami said the newly-opened Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay would have a positive impact on the hospitality industry during the race weekend.

'Of course it's more competition, but having a five-star plus hotel gives an even better impression of the Bahrain market,' he added.

He revealed that, unlike previous years, there was no agreement between five-star hotels on room prices.

'Last year, we had an agreement on prices not to go below or above a certain number,' he said.

'However, now we have an open market and everyone can pick what they want.'

The country's four-star hotels expected occupancy rates to be between 70pc and 80pc.

'It won't all be for the Formula One, but it will be between 70pc to 80pc on that weekend,' said Bahrain Four Star Hotels Committee chairman Hameed Al Halwachi.

'Average room rates will be a little higher, but only slightly '“ It won't be like it was in the past.

'In the past, we used to have it between BD90 to BD120, but we know now that people don't want to pay more than BD50 to BD70 per night for a four-star hotel.

'A lot of people also choose to go to furnished apartments, unfortunately.'

However, he said occupancy rates during the Formula One were lower than during public holidays in Saudi Arabia.

'Last week, there was a public holiday in Saudi, so we had two weekends where we were 90 per cent to 100 per cent full,' he said.

'This weekend will be quiet, between 65 per cent to 70 per cent, because there aren't any activities.'-TradeArabia News Service