In preparation to welcome tourists for the holy month of Ramadan, M?venpick Hotel & Residence Hajar Tower Makkah announced on Monday a number of offers and activities. These offers are targeted at the growing number of religious tourists. Omar Boujlid, general manager of M?venpick Hotel & Residence Hajar Tower Makkah, said: “Starting from August this year, we have introduced many offers, services and special menus. The aim of these special offers is to cash in on the growing number of tourists to Saudi Arabia and increase the overall length of stay at our property.” The hotel will offer special food for both Iftar and Sohour during Ramadan. Guests can choose from a sumptuous spread which includes a choice of three buffets that offers international cuisine to suit all nationalities. The buffet also offers choices for vegetarians and health-conscious individuals. For the convenience of guests, “we offer over 400 rooms and suites with a direct Haram view and over 200 rooms and suites with a direct Kaaba view,” Boujlid said. Special Ramadan packages are on offer which includes a three night's week-end package and a package for the last 10 nights of Ramadan. To ease the reservation process, the hotel has launched a 24x7 toll free number 8001203000 within Saudi Arabia. A guest service centerhas been introduced to serve as a one-point service call for any guests requirements. To specifically cater to women and children, the hotel will soon bring on a female guest relation's operator. For the convenience of guests, the hotel's 36 elevators will be fully operational as well as a ‘one-touch' button for the guest service center. Guests can take advantage of the existing dedicated prayer halls within the Abraj El Bait complex, in the hotel premises. These are separate prayer halls for women and men - one floor each - with a capacity of 10,000 people per floor. Both the prayer halls face the Haram, thereby facilitating guests to conduct their prayers within the hotel complex. The hotel is also offering summer packages from Sept. 10 until Oct. 25, 2010. Guests availing this package (if booked, directly from the hotel) will be given a voucher, for 50 percent of the room rate, to be used at any Movenpick property across the Middle East. The National Committee for Haj and Umrah expects around four million Umrah pilgrims in 2010. A recent research report said the number of religious travelers (Umrah and Haj) in Saudi Arabia is expected to increase to 13.95 million by 2019 from the current 7.8 million per year.
