Received a mail from a friend that reads as follows:-
“The Grand Hyatt Hotel in Cairo has banned the sale of alcohol from the beginning of May, earlier this week. Though discussions are continuing between the Hotel chain and the owner, no drinks are served at any of the hotel’s restaurants or bars.”
I found it very strange because Cairo is the most liberal of all Muslim cities and alcohol is served in most hotel establishments in the city. The owner of Grand Hyatt is a sheikh from Saudi Arabia and he has banned the sale of alcohol on the hotel premises on the grounds that consumption of alcohol is forbidden under Islam.
Read on http://www.metimes.com/Politics/2008/05/02/saudi_sheikh_bans_alcohol_at_cairo_grand_hyatt_hotel/afp/
I have stayed in Khobar, Saudi Arabia for three years and all the five star hotel chains there have to adhere to the diktat of “no sale” of alcohol. In fact, sale or consumption of alcohol in Saudi Arabia is a punishable offence. However, to find a similar ban in a luxury restaurant in a city like Cairo is surprising and definitely puts Grand Hyatt at a disadvantage vis-à-vis the other luxury hotels.
It remains to be seen whether the ban will continue in the face of reduced business to the Grand Hyatt or whether the luxury chain is able to prevail over the owner to lift the ban.
3 comments:
Dear Sankalita,
This is riham from office, i saw your blog it's very nice and interesting about the Grand Hayat issue i think this was a strategic decision the Hayat is targeting all Saudian rich people who sees that serving Alcohol in the hotel they are staying in is taken as offence, and this is something all saudian will like to brag about when going back home that they have insisted on staying in an alcolic free place.
he will gain also all the support of egyptian people who believes that serving alcohol is forbiden.
i think this way he will make more money.
Thanks. Good to know you liked the posts. Regarding this issue, you have an interesting viewpoint-as you said, the move seems to be definitely pre-meditated and targeted at increasing the clientele-whether it be the Saudis or the egyptians.
Thanks. Good to know you liked the posts. Regarding this issue, you have an interesting viewpoint-as you said, the move seems to be definitely pre-meditated and targeted at increasing the clientele-whether it be the Saudis or the egyptians.
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