As 2020 draws to a close and many of the year’s norms follow us into 2021, we take five minutes to chat about the world of hospitality with Emre Kirazci, Director of Sales and Marketing at Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea & Spa.

The pandemic is still dominating conversations worldwide. What can you tell us about how Sofitel Bahrain handled the situation?

Welcoming, safeguarding, and taking care of others is at the very heart of what we do and who we are. As part of Sofitel Bahrain’s mission to continue providing its guests with top-of-the-line services during these challenging times, we have fully adopted all safety measures directed by local authorities and integrated Accor’s ALL SAFE Cleanliness and Preventions Label procedures into all of our processes to ensure our guests’ safety. These safety processes were developed by the world leader in testing, inspections, and certifications: Bureau Veritas. Sofitel Bahrain was among the first hotels in Bahrain to receive the ALL SAFE certification after being audited by Bureau Veritas for the implementation of various safety measures. This allowed us to confidently welcome our guests back, and we are ready to take on any future challenges to ensure the safety of our valued guests and team members.

A surge in staycations and domestic tourism has emerged as a trend worldwide for obvious reasons. Are there any ongoing offers at the hotel that cater to Bahrain residents?

We’ve extended our popular Escapade de Luxe offers, providing all Bahraini residents a chance to experience true luxury and the pinnacle of prestige with their families, starting from only BD55 net for an exquisite Luxury Room with a glorious sea view. Alternatively, they can discover curated family retreats with Prestige Suite offers starting from BD85 net plus complimentary breakfast for two and direct access to our glittering private beach.

The recent resumption of indoor dining in Bahrain has given people something to look forward to. Are there any unique F&B offerings at Sofitel Bahrain that our readers should know about?

Remaining true to its chic gastronomic offerings, the hotel is packed with exciting promotions throughout December. We know how much our guests missed Bahrain’s favourite brunch scene, so we reintroduced our Grand Friday Brunch with its full glory! Furthermore, we’ve recently opened Japanese outlet Maison Sushi, which as the name implies, serves authentic Japanese cuisine with a wide range of sushi next to picturesque views of the Arabian Gulf. In December, we’re inviting all residents to embrace the celebratory vibes at Sofitel Bahrain on the Kingdom’s 49th National Day with a 25 percent discount on food and beverage. Take your palates on a wonderful international culinary journey at any one of our award-winning restaurants and discover flavour-packed dining experiences exclusively on December 16. Moreover, the hotel is packed with festive season promotions, from our Christmas Tree Lighting Brunch on December 10 to the hallmark Grand Christmas Day Brunch. And last but not the least, our New Year’s Eve celebration will delight everyone. Toast to 2021 with style at our supercharged beach dinner event – New Year’s Eve Fusion Bonfire Night – featuring an extraordinary line-up of live entertainment and decadent meals.

With Bahrain added to the UK’s quarantine-free corridor list, travel is slowly becoming a reality. How equipped is the property once international travel resumes?

Transparency had always been the key to our success and is more important than ever, so communicating directly with our guests has been critical in raising awareness about our new hygienic protocols and procedures. The tourism industry needs to gain back the trust of clients with transparency to ensure a smooth recovery over the upcoming period. This will also allow it to play its important role of developing collaborative opportunities and improve solidarity between nations around the world. Due to the pandemic, there has been an observable shift towards digital meetings and events. Touchless travel has become a norm, and the rise of contactless services is quite evident all around. There is a conscious shift at Sofitel Bahrain towards digital technologies as a tool for communication during this current crisis. Due to social distancing measures, we will continue to offer exceptional services with minimum contact whilst opting for digital communication tools as a means of having a constant connection. We’re ready to witness a prominent rise of digital meetings and events as travel, hotel stays, and business dealings undergo transformations in 2021. This has put contactless services in the forefront when it comes to an individual’s priorities while choosing between travel destinations, hotels, and other service-focused businesses. Therefore, our plans focus on these key points to ensure the peace of mind of our guests.

Lastly, what’s on the agenda this month and beyond?

Despite a challenging 2020, we’re keen to change its course and end the year on a high note. Throughout December, join us as we spread Christmas joy with the arrival of Sofitel Bahrain’s Art de Noël Festive Season, guaranteed to deliver memorable experiences that will uplift everyone’s holiday spirit. Immerse yourselves in festive cheer as we host spectacular celebrations from indulgent Christmas brunches to our iconic Tree Lighting ceremony. Come New Year’s Eve, our celebrations will ensure you welcome the new year with a grand beach dinner featuring fusion entertainment and plenty of surprises. As for 2021, we will continue to offer attractive staycation packages for all Bahraini residents with exciting food and beverage promotions. Stay tuned for alluring Valentine’s Day rooms and dinner offers, themed Grand Friday Brunches, award-winning Layali Al Zallaq Ramadan Tent experiences, Eid retreats, La Plage Beach Festivals, and hopefully the return of the hotel’s live concerts and gala dinners very soon. We also miss and hope to start hosting big fat Indian weddings as well! ✤