Muscat - Oman

Mercure Muscat Hotel achieved a new achievement at the level of the international Accor group, after winning the Global Local Stories Challenge for its initiative “My Oman Passport”, which presented a different model for integrating local culture into the hotel stay experience.

Hospitality starts from the identity of the place

The initiative relies on transforming the guest's stay into a trip to learn about the Sultanate of Oman through details inspired by its cultural and social identity, giving the visitor an opportunity to discover the destination in a way that goes beyond the traditional stay inside the hotel.

The project reflects a growing trend in the global hospitality sector towards providing experiences linked to the local community, so that the hotel becomes part of the destination’s story, not just a place to stay.

An Omani story within the guest experience

The “My Omani Passport” initiative was chosen in appreciation of its ability to present elements of Omani culture in an interactive manner that brings the visitor closer to the place and enhances his connection to the destination through local stories and experiences.
The project also highlights the importance of benefiting from heritage, customs and traditions in developing more personalized hospitality products, especially with the increasing interest of travelers in authentic experiences that reflect the character of the cities and countries they visit.

The win goes beyond the hotel

The win represents an additional value to the tourism sector in the Sultanate of Oman, as it highlights the ability of local hotel establishments to transform cultural identity into a competitive element within the international hospitality experience.

This type of initiative also gives destinations the opportunity to increase visitors' spending outside the hotel, by encouraging them to discover markets, cultural sites, crafts and local cuisine.

An experience of interest to Arab tourists

For the Arab tourist, the initiative reflects an advanced trend in hospitality based on making the stay a gateway to understanding the culture of the destination, which increases the value of the trip and gives the visitor an experience more connected to the place, especially in a destination like Oman, which has a rich wealth of heritage, nature, and local customs.