Abu Dhabi, Mar. 22, 2009 (WAM) -- The National Corporation for Tourism and Hotels (NCT&H), a key provider of hotel, catering and transportation services, is expecting a vibrant business during the spring and summer thanks to the early online reservations and contracts it recently signed with a number of local, Gulf and European tour operators.

The NCT&H said in a press release today that the inflow of European tourists, especially from Germany, to the Emirate of Abu Dhabi rose by 7% in the past three months compared with the corresponding period last year.

The NCT&H announced that it would maintain a strong presence at the Gulf Incentives, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) to be organized at the end of the current month at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). It is also upbeat about its participation at the Arab Travel Market (ATM) to be staged in Dubai next May and at the International Travel Exhibition (Moscow Leisure) next September 2009.

"Room occupancy in the past three months has beat all expectations," Said Rima Al Rawass, Marketing Manager, DANAT Hotels and Resorts, NCT&H.

She added that agreements struck with travel and tourism agencies in Germany, Switzerland and Britain during the NCT&Hs participation at the International Tourism Bourse in Berlin promise to deliver a busy, brisk tourism season next summer driven by strong reservations by European and other foreign tourists.

According to her, the company has signed contracts with the European tour operators to send groups to stay at the DANAT Hotels and Resorts.

The NCT&H owns and manages a group of hotels and resorts including the Raha Beach Hotel, Abu Dhabi, Danat Jebel Dhana, Ruwais, Liwa Hotel, Liwa, Mirfa Hotel, Mirfa, Dhafra Hotel, Dhafra, Intercontinental Abu Dhabi and Intercontinental Al Ain.

She explained that the NCT&H team had conducted over 200 business-to business meetings during the ITB-Berlin with general managers of hotels, managers of marketing and sales, public relations, heads of travel and tourism agencies and CEOs of e-reservations companies.

Talks were also held with European media and advertising companies.

"Online reservation to our hotels isrising substantially as the facility reduces costs, gives the visitor the opportunity to stay and enjoy entertainment services at lower prices," Al Rawass noted.

"Internet hotel booking is gaining increasing popularity in the region and the world at large and providing us with an ideal platform to launch our new products and reach out to the largest number of tourists at the most lowest costs, she indicated.

She announced that DANAT Hotels and Resorts have offered attractive spring and summer packages from 15 March to 15 June 2009 to promote inter-emirate tourism and lure families within the UAE and GCC countries to spend their vacations in Abu Dhabi.

The special packages include reduced room rates, and a vast range of out-door leisure activities like fishing trips, safaris, desert adventures through Dhafra sand dunes, excursions to Sir Bani Yas, tours to Liwa historic Fort and desert flowers gardens, in addition to games and entertainment programmes for children.

The Marketing Manager of DANAT Hotels and Resorts has categorically ruled out any slowdown in tourism in Abu Dhabi given the irresistible attractions offered by the industry players in terms of competitive prices, luxury servicesand exciting packages.

We lend greater attention to the European market as the European holidaymaker is eager to vacate in Abu Dhabi, benefiting from competitive prices and enjoying its natural charm and beauty, and top class services amidst an ambience of complete peace and stability.

She added that European tourists, mainly those from Germany, had shown interest during their visit to the NCT&Hs booth at the ITB to spend their holiday in Abu Dhabi.

At the ITB, we have signed several contracts with European travel and tourism companies to send in more tourists to Abu Dhabi in 2010.

We expect overwhelming occupancy rate next year especially from holidaymakers from Germany, Switzerland, China, Singapore and Greece, she added, noting that DANAT Hotels and Resorts welcome tourists around the year from majority of destinations served by Etihad Airways.

Elaborating on the companys new developments in Abu Dhabi, she said the company had recently signed an agreement with a French company for introduction of the Hotel Le Bristol Abu Dhabi in 2012.

The Dh 600 million ultra deluxe hotel is scheduled to open in the capital Abu Dhabi in 2012 and will definitely set new standards in the Abu Dhabi luxury tourism sector, she added .

The hotel will be the first of its kind in the Middle East and Gulf. It will be managed by Hotel Le Bristol Paris owned by one of the most prestigious European luxury hotel companies, the Oetker Hotel Collection,',Once operational, Le Bristol Abu Dhabi will feature 250 luxury guestrooms and suites with private fitness and amenities. Guest facilities and services will include various exciting and contemporary gastronomic choices with a high market Caf and a gourmet restaurant, a selection of banqueting rooms with daylight and stunning seaside views for up to 300 persons.

Al Ruwas paid tribute to the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority for supporting the company.

With the unstinted assistance and support from the ADTA, we have managed to achieve positive results at ITB, one of the worlds leading tourism trade shows.

We are extremely delighted with the support of the ADTA for its firm commitment to Develop the sector in Abu Dhabi and provide for the ultra-modern infrastructures and services that will contribute to promote Abu Dhabi as a genuine, attractive and sustainable world leisure destination and attract millions of tourists from across the world and Europe in particular," she said.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2009.