LIMASSOL, THE DESTINATIONS STILL HAS ROOM TO GROW.
TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: For the 10th consecutive year, Londa Beach Hotel was once again recognised at the World Travel Awards. What does it mean to you, your team as well as to your guests to be listed among the leading luminaries in the European tourism sector?
JOCHEN NIEMANN: This is a wonderful achievement for Londa and our guests.
As a team, we strive to offer our guests unique moments, ensuring that their experience with us will be one of the highest quality.
These awards attest our commitment to ensuring we achieve that aim.
Londa is proud to have been honoured by the industry in this way.
TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: Besides the award, what accomplishments have made you proud this year? How has business been at the hotel compared to previous years?
JOCHEN NIEMANN: We are having a fantastic year so far. Although 2015 was already a great year, to date we have been able to increase our occupancy by five percent and total hotel revenues by eight percent compared to 2015.
All of our main markets, the UK, Russia and Greece have marked an increase with Russian guests exhibiting the highest growth.
TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: As a lifestyle boutique hotel, Londa Beach Hotel clearly set itself apart from its peers in Limassol.
How would you describe the profile of your clientele? What kind of tools and initiatives are you relying on in order to better engage with these existing and potential guests?
JOCHEN NIEMANN: As a lifestyle, contemporary boutique hotel we mainly attract couples and the new generation of travellers.
These are urban, sophisticated guests looking for a relaxed, personal service.
We provide them with the mediums they need, which helps us stay in touch with them.
An easy-to-navigate website, updated and attractive social media content, in-house concierge application and the smile on our faces [are crucial].
TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: In recent years, Limassol has witnessed major improvements in infrastructure. In your opinion, what else could be done in order to enhance the destination’s profile and attract a broader pool of visitors? What can hoteliers like yourself do in order to support this development?
JOCHEN NIEMANN: […] Limassol could benefit from a landmark attraction like the London Eye or the Ferrari World [Abu Dhabi].
The opening of the new marina, the revamp of the old harbour and the anticipated arrival of a casino in Limassol are all outstanding attractions which have contributed favourably to the tourism sector.
In my opinion, Limassol’s tourist area has room for improvement.
Alongside the seafront road, there are plenty of tacky or run-down developments, which do not blend well with the rest of the city image and are not aesthetically pleasing.
As hoteliers, we should constantly enhance our services and keep providing exceptional Cypriot hospitality to turn as many guests as possible into loyal visitors.
TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: Londa Beach Hotel has gained quite a recognition for its culinary offering as well as for its unique jazz nights. What are your plans for the coming months in order to continuously surprise guests and ensure a memorable experience at the hotel?
JOCHEN NIEMANN: [We have recently launched] our new dessert menu, including sugar-free dishes.
Towards the end of November we will once again change our à la carte menu, using inspiration from the colder months ahead of us.
And then of course Christmas season is on its way, a time when the festive dessert du chef acquires an extra flair.
