OT: SDV is closing
Jul 3, 2019, 9:02 am
#31
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Paris, France
Programs: El Al Matmid, Air France Flying Blue Silver
Posts: 2,294
I agree with you
Jul 3, 2019, 9:09 am
#33
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: Virgin Atlantic Silver, IHG Diamond, Bonvoy Gold, Hilton Diamond, AA Platinum Pro
Posts: 1,386
I think what ruins Eilat is the corporate package tour machines that drive low-mid level employees of Israeli corporates to 3-4 day family vacations there. I have been a guest for some of them and they can be quite eye-opening in terms of the guests and their behavior. There are hotels in Eilat I would not return to because of this.
Jul 3, 2019, 9:34 am
#34
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: *A
Posts: 1,390
One of the reasons is that they do not cook on Friday nights and Saturdays. So you get heated and not fresh food. For the same price of course. I am not an expert but there is some kind of regulation that requires major hotels in Israel to keep kosher. I think the only exceptions are a few boutique hotels in Tel Aviv and Arab owned and operated hotels such as the American Colony in Jerusalem (which is an amazing hotel, speaking of).
Now Eilat being a dump does not draw significant non-Jewish tourism, hence there is a large demand for kosher. It is a closed circle.
Now Eilat being a dump does not draw significant non-Jewish tourism, hence there is a large demand for kosher. It is a closed circle.
I agree with you that Eilat has a tourism issue, but I do not think it is due to the kosher status of the hotels.
Last edited by sds1493; Jul 3, 2019 at 10:28 am
Jul 3, 2019, 9:46 am
#35
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Paris, France
Programs: El Al Matmid, Air France Flying Blue Silver
Posts: 2,294
Jul 3, 2019, 11:17 am
#36
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Zichron Yakov, Israel
Programs: SPG Gold
Posts: 808
I agree with you for a different reason. These corporate deals allow the hotels in Eilat to sell rooms at lower prices off the market, then to the public booking engines they show high room occupancy rates and therefore higher prices than would be justified in low seasons. These hotels would rather let the rooms be empty than lower their prices in the public booking engines.
Jul 3, 2019, 12:46 pm
#38
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 461
The new W in Jaffa is not kosher. The hotels in Eilat are kosher for commercial reasons; there are evidently more people who wouldn't choose a specific hotel if it wasn't kosher, than those who would only go if it was not kosher.
I agree with you that Eilat has a tourism issue, but I do not think it is due to the kosher status of the hotels.
I agree with you that Eilat has a tourism issue, but I do not think it is due to the kosher status of the hotels.
Jul 3, 2019, 1:19 pm
#39
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Paris, France
Programs: El Al Matmid, Air France Flying Blue Silver
Posts: 2,294
Jul 4, 2019, 12:25 am
#40
Join Date: Jul 2008
Programs: *A
Posts: 1,390
IHG have a CP. But I think that the lack of chain hotels is a sign of the hotel's success (likely due to the aforementioned corporate packages), since they do not feel the need to pay the chains a franchise fee.
Jul 4, 2019, 2:55 am
#41
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: TLV
Programs: UA Platinum, Avis Chairman, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold, GA Pilot
Posts: 3,225
I'm no expert on this but my understanding of many of the "Branded" Properties like the Sheraton City Center that became the Leonardo (Ramat Gan) did so because the global brands told the property owners they had to renovate the properties in order to keep the brands and they were too cheap to do so, therefore turning them into "Leonardo" and other less-known brands with lower standards. I know when I stayed at the Sheraton City Center before the changeover it was one of the worst Sheratons I had ever stayed in.
Jul 4, 2019, 5:23 am
#42
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 461
The desert, magnificent as it is, does not contribute to Eilat's economy. People who want it stop at the Bereshit hotel in Mitzpe Ramon and do not continue south.
Jul 4, 2019, 5:27 am
#43
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 461
Right, I forgot CP Eilat. I would have agreed on the second statement but it works both ways. Lack of brand names also indicates the lack of willingness to promote a brand in a place that does not contribute to the strength of the brand. When there is a strong business case the franchise fees can be surprisingly low.
Jul 4, 2019, 12:05 pm
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: San Francisco/Tel Aviv/YYZ
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Posts: 10,762
Teh "W" in jaffa isn't now just the Jaffa, not flagged a "W"; its a fantastic property with an excellent restaurant.
And there did used to be a hilton there but it probably got deflagged years ago.
And there did used to be a hilton there but it probably got deflagged years ago.
Jul 4, 2019, 9:32 pm
#45
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 461
I think you had another Jaffa property in mind , the one in the old police station building