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The hotel and apartment construction frenzy in Hoora continues unabated with new structures growing upwards and onwards with signs appearing detailing further development in the months to come.
Wasteland once used for parking by residents, office workers and shoppers around Exhibitions Avenue is now being swallowed up as the demand for short-stay accommodation from weekend visitors appears insatiable.
VKL Holdings and Al Namal group of Companies, known for its real estate, property development and management, construction, health and hospitality services, are developing several new residential apartments and hotel blocks in the area.
Renjith VP, chief coordinator projects, would not go into detail but said that ‘progress’ was being made on all the ‘four star’ developments.
He added that one multi-storey complex will boast 90 apartments over 19 floors and 165 hotel rooms over 19 floors. There is also another hotel close by which will have 104 rooms on 14 floors with signs of Al Namal Contracting around its pink surround. It is located across the road next to a Ministry of Works pumping station.
They will follow in the footsteps of recently opened hotels such as the Frsan Palace Hotel and the Marco Polo Hotel.
The Frsan Palace has 96 rooms and suites boasting luxurious bathrooms with separate showers and bathtubs or Jacuzzis. There are also 10 restaurants. Across the road, the Marco Polo opened this year with 77 suites, a business centre, two restaurants, a coffee shop and a rooftop pool.
Competition is fierce with numerous longer-standing hotels and apartment blocks all fighting to retain regulars and win new custom, and Zouhair Farhat, the general manager of Frsan Palace Hotel, admitted that attracting business was often hampered by the area’s ‘bachelor magnet’ reputation as the newcomers attempt to woo more families and sporting teams to stay in the area.
Just a stone’s throw away, VK Universal Property Management has earmarked land for a hotel and apartment project although no starting date has been announced.
He said: “This area used to be Number One for business clientele and everyone used to stay here. Then hotels were constructed in Juffair and Seef along with malls and interest appears to have moved to those locations.”
The new-look and expanded Frsan Palace opened to much fanfare in January 2017 aiming to ‘redefine the four-star luxury experience’ for families as well as travelling business executives that needed to rest and relax after meetings before jetting back home. Its management declined to comment.
Although determined to make the property a success in the long-term, Zouhair said its owner was looking to open up another hotel in Juffair in the future with plots already purchased and plans were progressing. It’s an area which has recently itself witnessed a wave of new entries into the market with more to come.
