Westin Confident of Business Upturn
Like most other hotels, the Westin Dragonara Resort Malta "has had a difficult year", says general manager Michael Camilleri Kamsky.
"We had a relatively good first quarter, but Q2 was weak in the business meetings, conferences and incentives segment", he continues.
Business picked up in summer "and in August we were close to last year's occupancy levels, although income was 1.5 per cent down for the month.
"Overall, revenue is down some 15 per cent this year compared to 2008", explains Camilleri Kamsky.
Although the Westin Dragonara Malta, claims it maintained its rates, tour operator business did slide this year and so did online bookings in early 2009; "these picked up dramatically in July and August following new strategies introduced regarding web-based sales".
Meantime, the Westin's local corporate business meetings segment remained "strong" this year, as did the domestic market generally.
"September", he says, "looks positive" and he thinks that it will perform a "little bit better" than the hotel did in June, whilst October's figures will mirror those of May 2009.
"The first quarter of 2010 is our biggest concern", admits Camilleri Kamsky. And the main reason for that is that conferences and incentive business - a major segment for the Westin Dragonara Malta - remains in the doldrums.
"In the past, Q1 has traditionally been strong in the business meetings, conferences, and incentives segment, then tour operator traffic would kick-in in the second quarter. Camilleri Kamsky says the first half of 2010 "will be tough", but expects July and August to perform as they did this year and for "business tourism, as a whole, to pick up again after summer".
Camilleri Kamsky is bullish that overall, business will pick up by 2011 - "that will be the comeback year".
The Westin's ability to weather the economic storm is down to not being overly alarmed. "We did not panic", says Camilleri Kamsky, who explains that downturns are cyclical and occur, on average, every seven years.
And to confirm his confidence in an upturn, he goes on to announce that the Westin will be refurbishing its rooms in the next six to 12 months.
"Everything will be changed except TV sets and beds", since these were recently replaced. The upgrading of the bathrooms, which started in February, will continue. Last winter the bathrooms in executive club rooms were made over.
Food and beverage outlets were refurbished at the end of last year.
The management of the five star Westin Dragonara Resort Malta, which celebrated its 12th birthday in June, is confident their product will come through this recession mostly unscathed, but it does call for support from third parties; such as more government assistance from the Malta Tourism Authority (MTA).
"The MTA is doing its best in promoting and marketing Malta, but I feel that the government should allocate more funds to help it do this", says Camilleri Kamsky.
"Besides more international marketing we should take another look at the US market. An American carrier should be enticed to operate to Malta from the US; I'm sure this would create a boom from the US".
For further information on booking this hotel please contact Business Meetings Malta, the free conference venue finding company.