MADINAH Movenpick Hotel in Saudi Arabia is trying to win the Indonesian market over through travel agents handling umrah and hajj pilgrimage tours.
Representatives from the boutique property, which is located five minutes from the Nabawi Mosque, held a presentation to agents in Jakarta. They offered promotional rates of 410 riyal (US$137) to 630 riyal during umrah season, and 510 riyal to 730 riyal during hajj season, for full board plus free use of meeting rooms for pilgrimage training.
Madinah Movenpick Hotel general manager Hassan Hassanein told the media: “This is the first time we are doing a presentation to travel agents here and offering our property to Indonesian travellers.”
He said Movenpick properties were not new to Indonesians, as its sister hotel Anwar Movenpick Madinah was popular with the market.
To cater to Indonesians, Madinah Movenpick Hotel has 18 Indonesians on staff and serves an Indonesian menu.
Hassanein is expecting to get at least 2,000 room-nights this year.
Paradiso Erabali Holiday managing director Danie Soesilo said: “The package price is reasonable. However, while it is close to Nabawi, the location is north of the mosque, while the favourite hotels for the Indonesian travellers are the ones in the south. This is because there are more female umrah pilgrims than men from here, and the gate for ladies is in the south.
“Having said that, with prices a little lower than others, the hotel has a fair chance to get business, especially when the umrah seasons are busy like this year.”
