Perhaps in gesture to the inquisitive nature of 14th century Arabian explorer, Ibn Battuta, the new kid on the hotel block, the Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel, is describing its locale as ‘New Dubai’.
The management team of the 396-room Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel suggest that ‘New Dubai’ is the area that heads south along the emirate’s west coast, embracing the specialist zones of Dubai’s Media City, Internet City, Knowledge Village (TECOM), Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZ) and more. The TECOM zones are said to house more than 80,000 companies – mainly SMEs, and JAFZ occupancy is pegged at around 5,000 firms, most in the industrial and manufacturing segment.
This widespread landmass is also an upcoming residential area positioned to be home to more than 100,000 families within 24 months. Such developments include Jumeirah Lake Towers, Jumeirah Islands, Discovery Gardens and The Gardens. Indeed, it is estimated that Discovery Gardens presently has in excess of 20,000 people in residence.
Moving deeper desert side, almost in a straight line with the Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel is Dubai World Central and Al Maktoum International Airport located in the company of numerous gated communities, such as the Green Community and Arabian Ranches, plus investment parks, sporting venues and leisure complexes.
In example, notable motorsports venues-of-difference include Motor City and the Autodrome. Sports City is a short drive, and Abu Dhabi’s Ferrari World at the world-class YAS Marina Circuit will be less than 45 minutes away when it opens later in 2010. Abu Dhabi’s International Airport can be reached in under an hour, and Dubai’s new horse-racing and entertainment venue, Meydan is 20-minutes by car along crafty back roads. Dubai’s new metro system stops just three minutes walk away from the hotel’s front door, meaning that Dubai International Airport can be reached in 20 minutes.
Good for business
This is all ‘milk and honey’ to the hotel’s director of business development, Guy Epsom. Epsom is showing bullish enthusiasm in what some pundits describe as a bear market for the global hospitality sector.
Indeed, as the global hospitality industry continues to ponder the pace of business, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, in partnership with real estate developer, Seven Tides, prepares for the opening of more than 1,000 rooms over four properties in the next ten months. Epsom has to fill them.
“Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel is a hotel with a difference, indeed differences that are conducive to today’s mobile business traveller and the ever-roving inquisitive nature of the real tourist - someone who wants to get to the core of a destination.”
The iconic hotel boasts a ‘grand hall’
He went on to say that in testament to the stature of the neighbouring Ibn Battuta Gate – larger than the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the lobby at the Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel spans 90x30 metres in length and height, respectively.
According to the hotel’s general manager, Jan Kaiser, in a desire to create an interactive ambiance the lobby provides numerous seating areas geared to meetings and rendezvous.
“We call the hotel lobby Al Bahou or Grand Hall. It is huge yet inviting and has numerous signature photo opportunities for visitors, including 88 mammoth, eastern-style lanterns dangling elegantly into the wonderful lobby that is best described as ‘the hub on the house’.
“Al Bahou is a perfect place to watch the world go by, meet friends, kick off your shoes after a shopping trip or even hold a business meeting – as we have created numerous nooks and crannies.” He said that it is also the ‘gateway’ to six of eight equally iconic restaurants and bars.
Interiors and menus take in the world
“In a dance between the hotel’s interiors and restaurants, the Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel offers a true ‘design and taste journey’ that spans the Near East, Far East, Middle East and Arab African radius of the journeyman’s era,” Kaiser enthused.
The journey embraces the jewelled palettes and spice palate of India, honours the swags and stuffing of the Ottoman Empire, the hieroglyphics and the pulses of Ancient Egypt, the mosaics and dates of the Moors, and reflects the curves and caviar of the Russian empire, and more.
Kaiser said the 29 guest suites from the 396-room inventory at the Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel are indeed decked in one of ten interior themes to reflect the somewhat glamorous travel log of Ibn Battuta himself.
The Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel is part of the multi-faceted ‘Ibn Battuta Square’ and sits alongside the famed Ibn Battuta Mall and Cineplex, a double-block, 12-story upscale office and apartment facility. The hotel is earmarked to welcome first guests in mid September.
EXTRA Overview
As the global hospitality industry continues to ponder the pace of business, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, in partnership with real estate developer, Seven Tides, prepares for the opening of more than 1,000 rooms over four properties in Dubai, UAE.
Within the pack of four is the 396-room Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel, a property of iconic stature both inside and out, which is cleverly inspired by the journeys of the 14th century Arabian explorer, Ibn Battuta himself. The hotel is located in ‘New Dubai’ and set to open its doors to business travellers and seasoned tourists on September 10 2010.
Next to open, is the 216-roomed Mövenpick Deira Hotel which has its sights set on offering an efficient welcome to visiting business executives, small meeting groups and lunch & dinner time diners in Dubai’s ‘old’ locale of Deira on the north-side of the Creek.
In Q4, the Asian-inspired Royal Amwaj Resort & Spa on Palm Jumeirah will open. At first glance, the 293-room retreat-like resort seems to be playing a credible tune as it blows its own trumpet by announcing some ‘industry firsts’, including an upscale all-inclusive package.
The first quarter of 2011 will see the pack complete with opening of the contemporary Oceana Hotel & Spa. Seven Tides second property located on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah will open 324 rooms fast on the heels of the Oceana Beach Club and restaurant-bar venue, West 14th, the New-York Grill and Bar. Both will be open for business during the summer of 2010 and like the hotel are set to deliver great family entertainment.
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts is an upscale hotel management company with 12,000 employees, represented through over 28 hotels existing or under construction in 26 countries in the upscale segment. The hotel group stands for uncompromising product and service quality and is owned by Mövenpick Holding (66.7%) and the Kingdom Group (33.3%).
Meanwhile, established in Dubai in 2004, Seven Tides is an international-oriented holding company currently focusing on hospitality and real estate sectors.
www.movenpick-hotels.com
www.seventides.com |