Hotel ultimatum

By MOHAMMED AL A'ALI,  Posted on » Friday, October 30, 2009

A NEW hotel to be built in Hidd must be alcohol-free, or it will be run out of business, councillors declared yesterday.

They issued an ultimatum to the investor to agree in writing that the hotel would be alcohol-free, or face the community's wrath.

Councillors said they would help drum up trade for the hotel if it did not serve alcohol - but would drive it out of business if it did.

The ultimatum came as plans for the hotel, on land at the Bahrain Investment Wharf, were discussed yesterday at a special Muharraq Municipal Council meeting.

Councillors cannot stop the hotel being built, since permits have already been granted as part of the BIW development, but warned that they could force it out of business if the investor defied their demand.

Tameer is running the BIW under lease from the Industry and Commerce Ministry and had already announced that it would include a hotel to serve visiting investors coming to do business and also for official functions and meetings.

Councillors, who have already called for Muharraq to be declared an alcohol-free zone, stressed yesterday that they didn't want to halt the project. But if the investor doesn't co-operate, they will be forced to act, they said.

They now want the investor to attend a meeting next week at the Muharraq Municipality's premises in Busaiteen, for an understanding to be reached.

Council chairman Mohammed Hammada said that the investor had already agreed with him that the hotel would be alcohol-free and would abide to the Sharia. "The investor can't be stopped, since he has already taken authorisation from all those concerned, yet he came to me saying that the hotel would be alcohol-free," he said.

"I know that there are worries from councillors that since it would be a four-star hotel and under international hotel requirements would be obliged to serve alcohol. But there are exceptions, such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, where top hotel chains do not."

But area councillor Sameer Khadim said Bahrain's circumstances were different.

"We are different than Saudi Arabia or Kuwait and here four- and five-star hotels have to provide alcohol under Information Ministry requirements, or else be classed as residential suites," he said.

"Bahrain doesn't criminalise alcohol like those two countries, so the investor can't be stopped, if he decides to serve it."

Mr Khadim said that the hotel would be surrounded by industries and is far away from civilisation, so having no alcohol would mean it could face major loses.

But he said the council could help promote it if the investor abides by the no-alcohol demand. "Off course, no family would want to stay there because there is no family entertainment nearby and visiting businessmen would prefer staying in Manama, if there is no alcohol or dance floors," said Mr Khadim.

"But, if the investor agrees to our demands and makes the place alcohol-free, then we promise that we will do our best to promote it amongst families looking for peace and would even encourage Hidd residents hold functions there.

Mr Khadim said a major example of an Islamic hotel was the Elite Suites, Sanabis.

"It is fully booked throughout the year," he said. "Bahrainis book it for their weddings and functions and this shows that places that have taken the alcohol-free approach have gained success and also respect from people."

Mr Khadim said that a meeting was scheduled next week with the investor, hoping that an agreement would be reached in writing.

"If the investor agrees to our demands, which also include giving money for charity, then we will be happy to work hand-in-hand with him until his hotel gains fame," he said.

"But, if no agreement is reached, we will do our best to run it out of business."

A demand for a ban on all alcohol sales in Muharraq went out from its municipal councillors two weeks ago.

The only places selling alcohol within the governorate are Bahrain International Airport, Bahrain Duty Free (within the airport) and the nearby Mšvenpick Hotel.

Their licences to sell alcohol should be cancelled and no new licences issued within the governorate, said councillors.

Councillors voted in favour of the total ban, including existing outlets, in a closed meeting.

The demand is now with the Municipalities and Agriculture Affairs Minister Dr Juma Al Ka'abi, who has the power to veto the decision.

MPs voted during a session in May for a blanket ban on public sales of alcohol at Bahrain's hotels, restaurants, clubs and off-licences.

But they agreed to allow consumption in private homes, with suppliers providing home delivery.

Hotel guests would be allowed alcohol only in their rooms under the proposal.

MPs had already voted earlier to ban alcohol sales at Bahrain International Airport, including in the duty free shops and on Gulf Air flights.

The proposal is now being studied by the Cabinet, which has the power to reject it.