Abu Dhabi, 9th March 2009 (WAM) -- Bookings at the Emirates Palace Hotel for March 2009 were higher as compared with the corresponding month in 2008, a senior hotel official has disclosed.

''The Emirates Palace expects to be fully occupied for the Easter period and already has some dates in March sold out in the run up to the April Easter break, traditionally a peak leisure booking period for guests from around the globe,'' Director of Sales and Marketing at Emirates Palace Hotel, Janet Abrahams, has affirmed.

''The Emirates Palace has posted high occupancy thanks to a line-up of international exhibitions, events and music concerts in March. With Emirati Expressions at Gallery One, Andreas Bocelli and Cold Play live at the Palace Park and the Bolshoi Ballet performing in the Auditorium, it is a busy period,''she said.

The five-day event is a prime marketplace that's regarded as a driving force behind the world's tourism industry.

The Emirates Palace will showcase its indisputable strengths as part of the pavilion of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority. Representing the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the ADTA will participate in the event with a huge pavilion consisting of stands allocated to major tourist companies and agencies and for key tourist players in the city or their associates.

''The Hotel has not reduced rates, rather it has offered a series of promotional packages to provide added value to attract guests to enjoy a longer break like the one which offers a stay of ten days at the price of eight days. Another offer targets the GCC holidaymakers for a Suite stay and an impressive tour of Abu Dhabi's landmarks including The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque,''she affirmed.

Striking an optimistic note about potential growth, she expected the new destinations to be served by Etihad Airways network like Melbourne in Australia and Milan in Italy would bring in more guests to the Emirates Palace.

''Likewise, the planned Etihad routes such as Shanghai will contribute to doubling the flow of Chinese luxury tourism to the Emirates Palace. China's tourism market is of crucial importance to the Emirates Palace in particular and Abu Dhabi in general as it holds huge growth potential and develops another new market and opportunities for our city.

Abraham emphasised that '' The hotels focus for our team is to enhance all service levels through training and development to support our vision to be the best hotel in the world. There is absolutely no intention to trim staff levels. On the contrary, we are focused on executing all plans that contribute to the growing standards and reputation that Emirates Palace holds to provide one of the most luxurious resorts in the world and the venue for world class meetings and events.

According to her, the current boom in the real estate and other development projects underlines that Abu Dhabi ''is still luring more investment opportunities and steaming ahead with dynamic economic drive unfazed by the international financial crisis.

''The global financial crunch has no clear impact on tourism in Abu Dhabi thanks to the ever expanding and active calendar of events delivered by our partners in Abu Dhabi as compared with those of last year,''she remarked.

At Berlin, the Emirates Palace will use the world travel and tourism platform to interact and network with other world industry leaders from Russia, Germany and Britain and other travel and tourism agencies to forge business partnerships.

''Deals will be struck with major tour operators in these countries for sending groups to stay in the Emirates Palace Hotel in 2010,''she indicated.

''Buoyed by its powerful and reputed trademark worldwide,and far-reaching marketing and promotional road shows, we expect the hotel to maintain a record occupancy rate next year,''she said.

''Our calendar for the next months will see a raft of major, breath-taking musical, cultural and sports events. The iconic property will host the leaders of FIFA for three weeks.

''The hotel will be fully reserved during the Final Race of the 2009 Formula One Grand Prix Championship which will be hosted by Abu Dhabi at the brand new purpose-built Yas Island circuit.

The world sport extravaganza, she added, would provide an excellent window to promote Abu Dhabi's tourism potentials to the world.

''The hotel saw full room occupancy during the recently International Defence Exhibition (IDEX 2009) and we expect this trend to continue over every peak trade fair, international corporate meetings and events and world sporting events.

She added that the Emirates Palace will have extensive presence in the Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (GIBTM)exhibition kicks off in the capital at end of the current month and promises to attract the worlds leading incentive and meeting planners and in Dubai in May to participate at Arab Travel Mart (ATM) as the leading leisure showcase for the region,'she concluded.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2009.