London's calling for jet-setting Middle Eastern travellers this summer - as the British capital prepares for an invasion of Arab tourists ahead of its Olympic celebrations.
That's the message from the top man of one of the city's swankiest hotels - as he revealed
business from Middle Eastern visitors has become "absolutely fundamental" to the success of his plush pad.
The boss of the London Hilton on Park Lane yesterday revealed one in four of the guests staying at the global brand's flagship London hotel now hail from the Middle East - and a third of those have flown in from the UAE.
"They are exceptionally important," the hotel's general manager Michael Shepherd told 7DAYS.
"That market has grown significantly year-on-year over the past five years." Summer, when Gulf temperatures are at unbearable highs and London bustles with international tourists - especially this year with its hosting of the 2012 Olympics, is a popular time to visit for many wealthy Emiratis.
Shepherd, however, revealed his hotel is now seeing visitors from the UAE descending on London in their droves throughout the year.
"Traditionally they used to come during the summer months but it's now a year-round customer base. I think that's a demonstration of the complexity of interests they're involved in - it's not just leisure; it's business interests, investments, summer schools for the children."
Guests from the Gulf account for some of the most outlandish and extravagant demands the hotel manager has ever heard in his career.
"We've been asked to ship pets back out to the Middle East, prepare special foods, buy real estate," revealed Shepherd.
"It's common practice for some to bring over a number of cars. One or two families will bring half a dozen or a dozen cars - from a stretch limo for the family to a Ferrari or a McLaren or even a Smart car for getting around town."
One mega-rich Middle Eastern guest even asked him to arrange the purchase of a McLaren Mercedes supercar.
"He came back the following year and bought two," Shepherd revealed.
© 7Days 2012
