The five-star Al Diar Siji Hotel in Fujairah is gearing up to strengthen its online strategies following a 32 per cent increase in online booking in 2010.

“Online booking is fast becoming the biggest trend in the region and global travel sector and it will be the focus of Al Diar Siji hotel’s marketing strategy this year,” said Fouad Melhem, the hotel’s general manager, who also heads the Siji Hotel Apartments, a luxury serviced property.

“With the burgeoning online travel market and Web booking portals that are expected to flood the market in 2011, online booking is indeed a fast growing channel of the tourism industry.  With this, increase in internet booking is inevitable and we want to get a share of that,” he added.

Managed by Abu Dhabi National Hotels (ADNH) under its Al Diar Hotel Division, Al Diar Siji Hotel is in the process of revamping its website which is expected to be operational by first week of April, a statement said.

“In order to remain competitive, especially now that competitor hotels have recently opened here in Fujairah, we must continue to invest in technology to sell through the web.  Our new website will have more user-friendly features and will allow direct bookings,” Melhem continued.

Together with the Al Diar Hotel Division, Al Diar Siji Hotel will also be present in all four global distribution systems (GDS) and will be accessible in more websites with booking portals, the statement added.

Al Diar Siji Hotel will also maximize social media including Facebook and Twitter as avenues for presenting the hotel’s facilities and services, as well as establishing contact with previous and potential clients.

Online marketing initiatives including activity campaigns with Yahoo and Google, email marketing, and online advertising are also lined up.

Although the online booking has increased by more than 30 per cent in 2010 compared to 2009, the figure only comprised less than 5 per cent of the total hotel booking, Melhem pointed out.

“Our goal is to increase this figure by 15 per cent to 20 per cent by yearend. Considering the increase in our room production through internet booking month by month, the rise in internet booking globally, and our online marketing strategies, this would be attainable,” said Melhem. – TradeArabia News Service