Trying to woo more Muslim travelers to Russia, a Moscow hotel is launching a new halal service - right down to the Quran on the nightstand.
AFP says the Aerostar Hotel has set up 20 rooms with prayer mats, and qibla indicators so faithful travelers can know the direction of Mecca. The shampoo is certified halal, and there are men's and women's prayer rooms on hand.
There's a separate kitchen with special waiters, and all-new dishes, says the news service.
Russia only has a handful of other officially halal hotels - two in Tatarstan, and one in Sochi that is applying for the status.
The Aerostar says 13 percent of its clientele comes from Muslim countries, and its reservations are up after starting the service. AFP says that Russia's tourist industry has been suffering a decline in Western visitors, causing businesses to market themselves elsewhere to pick up the slack.
