Just 30 years ago, Kuwait was set for a rush of infrastructure development that would shape the region’s tourism landscape and redefine its appeal for both business and leisure visitors. Unfortunately its ambitions were dealt a painful blow when Iraq occupied the country in the 1990s, infamously sparking the first Gulf War.
Once the country was reclaimed, efforts were understandably focused on rebuilding and repairing the fabric of Kuwait’s society, as well as its major industries (oil and gas), rather than building hotels and tourism attractions. But fast-forward to 2013 and the country is starting again on the tourism trail. Efforts to attract tourists are being coordinated as part of an ambitious five-year development plan that aims to develop the country as a commercial and financial centre, boosting visitor arrivals from 554,000 in 2010 to one million by 2015.
Kuwait has the potential to become a major tourism hub. By facilitating the access of foreign investors into the market and creating a free zone area, as well as making infrastructural developments and other efforts, it will soon surely be where it aspires to be. It certainly has the national workforce to achieve this; Kuwaitis are well educated, which is a huge selling point in itself. The state has historically cultivated its educational system, making it a top priority. That’s why it is not surprising to find savvy Kuwaitis all over the world, who speak a minimum of two languages fluently. These are smart, enterprising people. Finally, and importantly, the country is not short of money.
The vision
One such enterprising Kuwaiti is Jawad Bukhamseen, who envisioned building a grand hotel in the middle of a desert. At the time, many people were surprised to learn about the project and many more were sceptical. Yet, in 1982 Bukhamseen’s vision became a reality, and the hotel that was built is now one of the most reputed in the country – the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The hotel began life as Holiday Inn Kuwait – one of the first Holiday Inn hotels in the Middle East. A testament to Bukhamseen’s pioneering spirit, the signing of the contract in 1977 with Kemmons Wilson, founder of Holiday Inn, helped to kick-start the overall growth of the brand in the region.
Since then, the hotel has been through a tumultuous journey, from the unforgettable damages caused during Saddam Hussein’s invasion, to an inspiring, resolute effort to get back on its feet. From its humble beginnings as a Holiday Inn, to being rebranded as the renowned Crowne Plaza. It is a legacy that the hotel is proud to have and one that has proved incredibly successful. The hotel has achieved many recognitions and various awards – starting with the torchbearer award in 1982 to being named the Best Business Hotel in Kuwait by the Business Traveller Middle East in 2011, as well as receiving the Quality Excellence Award from the Intercontinental Hotel Group for two years in a row, in 2009 and 2010.
Becoming an icon
Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, the iconic hotel is now considered a destination in itself, offering both leisure and business travellers an unmatched experience in Kuwait. It is part of the Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the major hotel chains in the world and the one with the greatest number of rooms. The amenities at the Crowne Plaza are internationally recognised for all-round excellence and unparalleled levels of service, with a new impressive sense of arrival, large parking facilities, state-of-the art meeting rooms, eight specialty restaurants, newly refurbished rooms, and it is situated just seven kilometres from the Kuwait International Airport.
Business travellers acknowledge the Crowne Plaza as among the finest hotels in Kuwait and unlike any other in the country. The latest addition to its inventory will be the spa rooms. These are 40sq m rooms with large bathrooms, showers and a space for spa beds, bringing mini-spa treatments to the comfort of a guest’s room. This is unique in the country and will suit leisure guests, as well as guests seeking recovery from medical operations.
The Crowne Plaza is the leader in the dining and catering sector in Kuwait, with restaurants that offer a medley of flavours from all corners of the globe. Guests can eat their way through eight different specialty restaurants, all under one roof. They can enjoy extraordinary gastronomic delights as they taste the authentic Japanese cuisine at the award-winning Sakura Japanese Restaurant, experience traditional Lebanese dining in Ayam Zaman or feast on delicious steaks at the Rib-eye restaurant. The guests can indulge themselves with ocean flavours at the Al Noukhaza Seafood restaurant and let the lavish buffet spread at the Al-Ahmadi international buffet restaurant tantalise their taste buds.
Staples of Kuwait’s tourism income include regional conferences and events that are drawn to the country due to its strength and position as a regional powerhouse in the oil and gas industries. These have recently made room for events relating to the financial and banking sectors, as well as healthcare and medical events.
Already a leading meeting venue for industries linked to the oil and gas sectors, Kuwait is expanding its horizons and positioning itself as a contender for regional tourism in both business and leisure. Its vision is being realised with a number of exciting new hotels and state-of-the-art meeting venues.
Pièce de résistance
The unparalleled meetings and conference facilities in the hotel make it the most desired venue for meetings, high-level events and conferences alike. To facilitate the growing opportunities, Bukhamseen, who currently owns five hotels under the group’s hospitality arm, Al Houda Hotels and Tourism, initiated a major expansion at the Crowne Plaza. The hotel now offers a vast convention centre complete with state-of-the-art meeting rooms and conference facilities, 240 new guest suites, including five presidential suites and, the pièce de résistance, the stunning new banqueting hall, Al Baraka.
“Al Baraka is the largest banqueting hall in the country and, I think, will remain so for some time. As a whole, the new convention centre will provide added value for the whole Kuwaiti market, as well as the hotel itself,” said Bukhamseen in a recent interview.
Al Baraka has been created to satisfy the desires of those wanting lavish weddings, corporate affairs and social soirées, by focusing on each facet of event creation, covering settings, décor, theme, food and myriad other details. The aim of the Al Baraka team is to create events that leave wonderful and lasting memories. Guests even have the option of the world-renowned Fauchon gourmet food company catering and managing their events.
Therapeutic health
To add to these unrivalled facilities is the newly extended Edge 24-hour fitness centre, which occupies a total of 10,000sq m, with its stunning outdoor pool and the impressive 3,500sq m Spa Aquatonic, which includes a 650sq m aquatonic pool and offers the very best in therapeutic health. It also includes 17 exclusive treatment rooms and over 50 signature treatments. Inspired by the original aquatonic pool in France by Thermes Marins de Saint Malo, it is unique to Kuwait and one of only 13 in the world. It has been acknowledged by the Middle East Spa Awards, winning Best Spa Design 2012.
“Crowne Plaza is a hotel comprised of employees who value integrity and community,” says Ramy Haykal, General Manager. “We are dedicated to delivering all our guests an impeccable service in a safe, responsible and cost-effective manner. In the process, we protect the environment, recognise and reward the individual efforts of those who work with us, and contribute positively to the community where we live and work.”
