Al Areen Palace and Spa by Accor has given residents and visitors to the Kingdom a truly luxurious setting to celebrate their special moments. This month, we speak to the woman at the helm of the spectacular property – General Manager of Al Areen Palace and Spa by Accor, Marie-Berengere Chapoton.
Being one of the Kingdom of Bahrain’s most unique properties, Al Areen Palace and Spa by Accor offers discerning guests of all nationalities a secluded safe-haven to relax. Leading the property’s dedicated team is Ms. Chapoton, who is no stranger to the hospitality industry and comes with a wealth knowledge and invaluable international experience.
What is the brand essence of your hotel?
Al Areen Palace and Spa by Accor’s brand essence prioritises an exclusive luxury hospitality experience, where tradition is paired with modernity to provide guests a memorable stay in a unique setting. Guests are guaranteed a beautiful escape from busy urban life where they can enjoy privacy and serenity.
Who is your target audience?
Our target audience are individuals of all nationalities who appreciate high standards in personalised luxury hospitality and are seeking a secluded stay in an opulent Arabian setting, to celebrate and create moments they can cherish for a lifetime.
Share with us some property statistics and the amenities that will be available to in-house and other guests.
Al Areen Palace and Spa by Accor features 78 luxuriously appointed villas, 40 of which are currently under renovation and are awaiting a transformation to an enhanced standard of luxury hospitality when we re-open our doors as Raffles Al Areen Palace. Every villa is appointed with a personal butler, private swimming pool and Jacuzzi. This makes us a truly unique and distinctive property, as the hospitality services we provide are personally tailored. In regard to dining, Al Areen Palace and Spa offers fine dining concepts created by a collection of international five-star chefs to tantalise your tastebuds, where our guests can either enjoy in the exquisitely designed venue of our restaurant or in the comfort of their own villas. With the re-opening of Raffles Al Areen Palace, we are also expected to release six entirely new restaurants with a creative flair of international flavours. Our property’s Spa spans across 10,000 square meters, providing guests with an extensive array of wellness services.
How does Al Areen stand out from the other hotel establishments in Bahrain?
Al Areen Palace and Spa lies within a distinct area and is a key property that boasts solely private villas. The historic area of Al Areen in the Kingdom of Bahrain is the key to providing a true feeling of Arabian hospitality in a desert oasis. The journey to our facility, whilst being close enough to main highways and access points also offers a transition into a peaceful and serene environment away from the city.
You joined the property around the time COVID-19 made its presence felt. How has the hotel evolved over the time you have taken over its reins, and how has the relationship between you and your team grown during this period?
The hotel has made long strides towards our goal of re-opening our doors as Raffles Al Areen Palace, during this period we have grown closer together as a tight knit team to deliver seamless service to all our customers even during the heights of the COVID-19 pandemic. I strongly believe that it is the hard times which bring the best out of people. I am happy to say we have passed the most difficult tests without sacrificing any quality in our service delivery.
How has your multi-national experience benefited your work at Al Areen?
Working internationally always adds value to one’s work life, by nature you always take the best practices from around the world and apply them to where you currently are. In terms of our workforce, we are a multinational team and are constantly striving to attract the best Bahraini professionals to our workforce and to the service industry as a whole. Our journey towards becoming a Raffles hotel has helped.
What is your vision, as the General Manager, for the hotel?
My vision is for this hotel to become the crown jewel of the Bahrain hospitality scene, and to give visitors to Bahrain another reason to visit this lovely island for a unique experience at what will be the Raffles Al Areen Palace.
Any new plans in the pipeline for the property?
In addition to becoming a Raffles hotel, we will be unveiling several unique and exquisite dining options for people which will create a new dimension of culinary flavours and experience for the Bahrain food connoisseurs.
