Karbala Rayhaan by Rotana, the first five-star hotel to open in Karbala, Iraq, has posted 64 per cent occupancy in the first quarter of the year.

The hotel, which is situated in one of Iraq’s largest touristic cities, opened in November 2013 and occupancy figures topped expectations during its first few months of operations, said Nader Mobader, general manager of the hotel.

“Occupancy has exceeded our initial projections, with our largest guest segment coming from domestic Iraqi guests and Kuwait. The healthy figures bode very well for the upcoming quarters which we anticipate to be busy, with key religious travel seasons such as Ramadan, Arafa, Eid Al Ghadeen and Arbeeneya,” said Mobader.

The hotel, Rotana’s second in Iraq following Erbil, has succeeded in quickly establishing itself as the superior hospitality option in a city lacking five-star accommodation.

Karbala is witnessing a boost in commercial activity driven by resilient religious tourism and a hike in property prices caused by expansion of the city’s religious sites. According to a report published recently by Iraqi news website Niqash, Karbala was named as having the highest property prices in Iraq.

“Our guest profile is a mix of tourists and pilgrims and we have had an encouraging start,” added Mobader. “We expect to further consolidate our performance as the year progresses with a focus on promoting out superior services and facilities.”

The 14-storey Karbala Rayhaan by Rotana features 185 rooms and suites, designed in a contemporary style, complete with high speed wireless Internet, in-room entertainment with multi-channel satellite television, complimentary coffee and tea facilities and IDD telephone and voicemail.

The hotel features three restaurants, a fully-equipped meeting room and a state-of-the-art Bodylines Leisure and Fitness Club with massage rooms, Turkish Bath, steam room, sauna and Jacuzzi. In addition, the hotel presents guests with excellent connectivity options, being accessible from both Najaf Airport (80km) and Baghdad Airport (130km).

Rotana currently manages a portfolio of over 85 properties throughout the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Eastern Europe with an aggressive expansion plan in place. – TradeArabia News Service