The firm behind a mountain retreat in Dubai announced its grand re-opening at World Travel Market and a new Sri Lankan resort with potentially the biggest pool in Asia.
JA Hatta Fort Hotel first opened in 1981 on the hills overlooking the Emirate city. It now has 48 chalet-style rooms, two suites and two villas set within 80 acres in the Hajar Mountains and will re-open in January.
Chief operating officer David Thomson said the hotel’s revamp was partly timed to coincide with the launch of Dubai Parks’ new attractions, the first of which – Legoland – opened last week.
And its parent company JA Hotels and Resorts is reaching out to the UK travel trade, which accounts for 70% of its Dubai sales.
Thomson said: “We’ve got a strong client base who are very loyal – in fact more than 35% of our bookings is repeat business – but now we add a new dimension and can appeal to a new market.
“The UK travel trade is extremely important to us, and continues to be despite the rise in online travel agents.”
The refurbished hotel has a calmness theme with colours chosen to reflect a relaxed state of mind. Every bedroom or suite has a private balcony overlooking the estate.
JA also announced details of its new Sri Lankan resort, JA Eclipse, which planned for late 2018 with 120 units on 45 acres.
Half the rooms will be junior suites while there will be 60 one, two and three-bed villas – many with their own private pools.
The resort will feature a five-acre meandering pool, which the resort believes will be the biggest in Asia when it opens.
Six treetop villas will also have suspended pools 15 metres in the air.A fam trip for some of JA’s top sellers is taking place from November 25 for three nights in the Maldives and two nights in Dubai, a multi-trip package it offers.Thomson said there will be a fam to the new resort in Sri Lanka after it opens, which is scheduled to open by Q3 2018.