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A NEW four-star setting will officially open its doors tonight in a glitzy ceremony with the aim of adding a touch of extra ‘cosiness and comfort’ to the island’s growing hospitality scene, with plenty of room in the inn for visitors and locals.
The Asdal Gulf Inn, owned by Asdal Hotels and operated by the Gulf Hotel Group (GHG), aims to be a welcoming new addition to the bustling Seef district and according to general manager Hans Joachim Radek, will offer guests ‘good food, good cheer and good times’.
He said: “We are a completely different product than the other properties in Bahrain. We are more of a ‘boutique-style’ hotel – an inn which means resting place – a concept that’s probably not as well known to many people as an ordinary hotel.
“We aim to stand out with our spacious rooms – our smallest being 31sq/m and our largest being 99sq/m – our competitive pricing and excellent food. Our breakfast, for example, is more cost effective in my opinion than other hotels around here.
“Also, I truly believe that everyone working in this inn is an expert regardless of what post they hold. They all started from the bottom and worked their way up so they have the knowledge. I’m a true believer that you should know your hotel first so that if anyone asks a question, whether the individual works in housekeeping or at the front desk, they can all give a proper answer and be helpful.
“We want to provide the sort of service that you would expect from a four-star boutique hotel. It’s a team effort after all and when people leave the inn, we want them to talk about us, share their experiences and have a reason to come back. I am confident that this inn will work out.”
The 60-year-old German who had launched several hotels around the world, is thrilled to be given the opportunity to resurrect the venue formerly known as L’Hotel Bahrain, which closed down suddenly in 2012.
He is also excited to be back in the kingdom, having lived here for 11 years during a stint as general manager of the Ramada Hotel Bahrain. After being contacted by GHG to take up the challenge of bringing life to the inn, he packed up his belongings and touched down in the island with his philanthropist wife, Emebet, in July, from their quaint home in Ethiopia, to prepare for tonight’s big event.
The official inauguration and opening ceremony of the inn is being held under the patronage of Minister of Industry & Commerce Zayed Alzayani, alongside Asdal Group owners Shaikh Abdulaziz and Nasser Al Jammaz with Farouk Almoayyed, chairman of Gulf Hotels Group.
While he lived in several countries in the GCC working with other major hotel chains, Mr Radek says that Bahrain has always been good to him and his wife who used to take in ailing cancer patients to help them during their treatment in their home in Adliya. Now the happy couple live in an apartment in Seef.
He also believes that after a lot of elbow grease and in-house renovations, the 89-roomed inn which houses four large suites, is ready to make a positive impression. Although the hard work has only just started, it appears.
Mr Radek said: “Some people believe that once you are open that everything will be up-and-running smoothly. Au contraire, there are still so many things to be done. Don’t forget we have taken over a hotel that has been left standing empty for three-and-a-half years.
“We had a soft opening in December and now that the grand opening is here, we can concentrate on the operation of the hotel.
“Being a small hotel is a challenge. People may think it would be easy to fill up but it’s a new name and a new product. We are working on making people aware of our services and location as well as making sure that people have a reason to come back here time and time again.
“Bahrain is not very big and with all the existing hotels and new hotels coming up we have to be on our toes and at the top of our game.”
Initial feedback has been positive so far with the destination receiving a 9.1 rating from customers on one travel website. The inn currently has a team of around 80 which is likely to increase in the coming months to 130.
It features an Italian restaurant called Il Gondoliere which Mr Radek is confident will prove popular with the many office workers in the district thanks to its traditional built-in oven offering ‘an authentic pizza’.
“Lunch time is a more casual setting that will probably attract business people in their 20s and 30s. The evening time will be a bit more posh with candles and, hopefully, in the future, musical entertainment. I have two different menus, one for lunch and one for dinner.
“I think the renovations we have carried out will make it a very cosy place to visit. There is also a separate entrance so people do not necessarily have to come in through the hotel and our outside terrace will be a lovely place for diners to sit when the weather is good,” he added.
There is also a Lebanese restaurant called The Sultan, The Gallery all-day dining venue and a new 1664 lounge.
Mr Radek added: “The Sultan will hopefully be a frontrunner at the end of the day. Our new chef has put together a beautiful menu. I believe it will primarily be busy in the evenings when people like to take their time to eat and relax after a busy day with some mezze and other delights.”
Aside from food, the inn also has a gym with a sauna and a swimming pool. There is also a conference area accommodating 80 to 100 people for cocktail receptions or 60 for seated functions. The inn also boasts an underground parking facility with valet service.
