Benchmark Middle East, March 2014 edition by Benchmark Middle East

benchmark middle east

MARCH 2015 / VOL. 4 NO. 3

Published from Dubai Media City

MARCH 2015

BRIDE Abu Dhabi

Interview with Daphne Cota, the Exhibition Director of BRIDE Abu Dhabi

Aghareed

Offers the world’s first and only unique wedding concierge service

Bridezilla

Not many women freely admit to being a ‘bridezilla’ — but for Zainab Alsalih, it’s a point of pride

Dubai - Dubai Mall - 1st Floor â&#x20AC;˘ Abu Dhabi - World Trade Center Mall - Ground Floor Kuwait - The Avenues Mall - Al Hamra Luxury Center Lebanon - Beirut Souks - ABC Dbayeh - ABC Achrafieh

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inside MARCH 2015

MARCH 2015 / VOL. 4 NO. 3

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BRIDE Abu Dhabi

Interview with Daphne Cota, the Exhibition Director of BRIDE Abu Dhabi

Saraya Bandar Jissah: Is this the most beautiful building site in the world?

Aghareed

Offers the world’s first and only unique wedding concierge service

Bridezilla

Not many women freely admit to being a ‘bridezilla’ — but for Zainab Alsalih, it’s a point of pride

Cover design: Geri Batara Sonny

Dubai Food Festival Rewind: No sooner have the knives and forks have been put down, and the plates licked clean, that plans for next year's Dubai Food Festival are underway.

Industry Focus: Interviews & analysis

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Published from Dubai Media City

MARCH 2015

GCC Update

Here's Come The Bride: Interview with Daphne Cota, the Exhibition Director of BRIDE Abu Dhabi. The Wedding Planner: There aren’t many women who freely admit to being a ‘bridezilla’ — but for Zainab Alsalih, it’s a point of pride. Giorgia Matteucci, founder of 'i tuoi sogni più belli' — the internationally renowned wedding and event planners, talks about what it takes to plan a bride and groom’s perfect day. Mohammed Al Rais, deputy managing director of Al Rais Travel Agency, talks to Benchmark about top honeymoon destinations, current trends and what is the biggest budget he has ever encountered for a perfect honeymoon getaway. Mariage Fashion: Interview with designer Dana Mardini about what it takes to conceptualize and create the perfect wedding gown. Meydan Race course: Global economies may fluctuate, but weddings are ever-growing multibillion dollar industry worldwide and this month at Benchmark, it’s all about ‘the big day’. Aghareed occupies a distinct place in the UAE’s wedding planning industry as the world’s first and only full wedding concierge service.

Lifestyle

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Fashion

SalvatoreFerragamo women's spring/summer 2015 collections. Watch lovers will be in seventh heaven with this line up of some of the wrist 'must haves' on the market.

Motoring

The Volkswagen Beetle and Golf... Well they are related

Tourism

Jumeirah Beach Hotel, one of the oldest (though recently revamped) in Dubai but one with a loyal following, who come back year after year. Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea Resort: Have you ever seen three suns set at once? It may sound like science fiction but there is a place on earth where you can witness this breathtaking spectacle.

Eating Out

Health

Delphine Restaurant & Bar, a favorite hangout among the who’s who of Hollywood has opened its doors for the first time in the UAE on the ground floor at The H Hotel Dubai. Wedding Nutrition Tips: Not only do you want to look your best on your wedding day, but you also want to feel your best to accomplish all the pre-wedding tasks and then have energy leftover for the special day!

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EDITOR's NOTE

ou only get married once or twice in your life," my dear old dad said on my first wedding day — wise man my father. Despite that, or maybe even because of it, the wedding industry is booming and here in the UAE it's no different, ok it's a little different in that generally the big day is often really big, huge even. So for you lovebirds out there, welcome to Benchmark's Big Fat Wedding Edition which should have plenty of the elements that make up the marriage UAE-style. And when we say style, we mean 'in style' taking you into the heart of the Bride Dubai and Bride Abu Dhabi shows, the region’s largest and most luxurious bridal and consumer lifestyle events.

The shows offer a one-stop shop for everyone from wedding organisers to couples, and their families, who want every detail of the occasion to be perfect. We speak to Bride Abu Dhabi exhibition director, Daphne Cota a woman who knows a thing about making a huge event go smoothly. We also meet Giorgia Matteucci who says she is in love with love. She is in the right career it seems as the founder of 'i tuoi sogni più belli' — the internationally renowned wedding and event planner. Plus we catch up with another wedding planner who freely admits to being a ‘bridezilla’ — but for Zainab Alsalih, it’s a point of pride. We discover how the Meydan Racecourse says it can put your marriage on the right track.

If you need honeymoon options we have couple, one close to home checking into the Jumeirah Beach Hotel and travelling to Jordan's Dead to the uber-luxurious Kempinski Ishtar resort at the lowest point on Earth. And with glamour being the name of the game this month we look across the border to the Sultanate of Oman, which may just have the most beautiful building site in the world. No seriously, it's gorgeous. Hungry for more? Well check out how the Dubai Food Festival went down, and discover if it will be back next year. So let's close with a word from the Bard. William Shakespeare, “Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind. And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.” Scott Armstrong Chief Executive Editor

benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

Galeries Lafayette - The Dubai Mall | Opening Soon in Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi www.weill.com www.weill.com

GCC UPDATE

E x c l u s i v e S t o r i e s A N D A N A LY SIS F r o m A r o u nd T h e G u l f

benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

GCC UPDATE

Is this the most beautiful building site in the world

t is a $600 million vision, but the view is priceless. Amid all the construction in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, Benchmark casts a glance across the border to the Sultanate of Oman where something pretty special is taking shape. Up to 1,000 workers are currently on site in the Al Hajar Mountains on the outskirts of Muscat, turning the dream into a reality that will become 398 exclusive residential units including spacious hilltop villas, townhouses and luxury apartments. Scheduled for a grand opening in 2017, the development also incorporates two luxury hotels operated by Jumeirah Hotels and Resorts. Work on the main resort hotel is well under way, and now officials at the project have revealed, during a tour of the site yesterday, that construction of the boutique hotel is also due to begin ‘any day’. “The contract for the boutique hotel has been awarded and the construction work will begin any day,” said Lee O’Donoghue, Vice President — Marketing & Sales of Saraya Bandar Jissah. The first hotel is set to be a boutique fivestar hotel, occupying 61,000 sq m and comprising 112 rooms. The second hotel, the larger of the two, will occupy a plot area of 74,000 sq m and will comprise of rooms and individual villas. benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

GCC UPDATE

The project also includes a beach-front ballroom for weddings and events, international cuisine restaurants and sports activities. “Work for the resort is evolving at a very high speed. The resort sees itself in the structure phase as the ballroom structure’s columns and shear walls are being completed, while the car park has achieved 80 percent completion. "In parallel, the contractor for the staff accommodation is setting up their site facilities and progressing with excavation works,” said Mr O'Donoghue. There are five main contractors working on the Integrated Tourism Complex (ITC), namely Nagarjuna Construction Company International, Carillion Alawi, Leighton Middle East, Towell Construction and Ghantout Transportation and General Contracting. Four consultants oversee the work 10

on the contractors, namely Halcrow Middle East, WS Atkins International & Co., DSA Architects International and KEO International Consultants. Other than the two five star hotels, the project will deliver 398 exclusive residential units in five distinct residential zones — Zaha, Nameer, Na’eem, Safa and Wajd, the last featuring grand exclusive cliff-top residents set to be 'the most desirable locations in the region'. Saraya Bandar Jissah was recently awarded the ‘best international mixed-use development' at the International Property Awards. “We are 50 per cent ahead of target of what we had set in 2015,” Mr O’Donoghue said on sales. Regarding the buyers, officials said they are a mix of Omani, GCC nationals, including the UAE, and international buyers.

GCC UPDATE

The project is going to be a “unique” one in every respect and is different from other projects not only in Oman but also in the entire region Lee O’Donoghue Vice President — Marketing & Sales, Saraya Bandar Jissah

“Last year we had 80 per cent Omani buyers but this year we have buyers from all over the world,” said Mr O'Donoghue. Zaha, the first residential zone introduced to the market in 2014, is now at an advanced stage with concreting for 21 of the four bedroom villas foundations ready, along with columns’ concreting finished on the ground floor for 10 units of the 21, and seven of them are casted with first floor columns. “Foundations of all three bedroom villas have been laid. Reinforcing, concreting and shuttering work has been prepared for the ground floor and first floor. Additionally, the foundations of five units of the 21 apartment/duplex buildings were casted,” Mr O’Donoghue added. Mohammed Al Hadeethi, Senior Construction Manager of Saraya Bandar Jissah, said that advanced earthworks within the residential zones Zaha and Nameer, the two hotels, the staff accommodation, technical zone and a majority of roads have been completed. “In January 2015, a contractor conducted the last blast operation, marking 139 safe rock blast operations that generated around 900,000 cubic metres of excavated material. Other structural works including the lagoon surrounding Nameer, weirs, retaining walls, culverts and wadi channels are now complete,” he said. Saraya Bandar Jissah offers freehold ownership of properties to foreign investors who also have the right to apply for residency in Oman for themselves and direct family members. “The prices are 'competitive' considering the quality that is offered and more over buyers can pay 50 per cent after the project is completed,” said Mr O’Donoghue. “The project is going to be a “unique” one in every respect and is different from other projects not only in Oman but also in the entire region." benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

GCC UPDATE

Dubai Festival Rewind

o sooner have the knives and forks have been put down, and the plates licked clean, that plans for next year's Dubai Food Festival are underway. The festival ran throughout February for only its second time, but organisers are hailing it a success and have already announced it will return in 2016 (during the same month). Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of the Depart-

ment of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), says it will be “even more delicious and diverse”. Aimed at both residents and visitors, this year’s festival showcased the Emirate’s diverse gastronomic offering, with cuisines on offer inspired by the 6,000 restaurants operating in the city, and the 200 plus nationalities who call Dubai home. H.E. Laila Mohammed Suhail, Chief Executive Officer at Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), said: “Already look-

ing ahead to next year’s Festival, we look forward to welcoming more international visitors from outside of the region. "The Food Festival provides a platform to communicate Dubai’s compelling food offer and its rise as a culinary destination, and attracting more international food tourists during the period of the festival will be part of a broader strategy to promote Dubai as a food tourism destination.” So if you somehow missed it, here's a look back in pictures at some of the highlights.

GCC UPDATE

Food Truck Convoy

Street Nights

Mystery Dining Tours

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GCC UPDATE

Gulf food

Already looking ahead to next yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Festival, we look forward to welcoming more international visitors from outside of the region H.E. Laila Mohammed Suhail Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE)

Ripe Food & Craft Market

benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

GCC UPDATE

Dine On The Creek - Sanjeev Kapoor

Beach Canteen

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COVER FEATURE

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COVER FEATURE

Interview with Daphne Cota, the Exhibition Director of BRIDE Abu Dhabi

t is hardly surprising that brides devote so much attention to what they will wear at their wedding â&#x20AC;&#x201D; after all, it is one day in their life when they can be absolutely certain that all eyes will be on them. Celebration goes hand-in-hand with style, which has made bridal exhibitions a regular, popular, and useful fixture on wedding-preparation calendars everywhere. And, in terms of size, scope and sartorial excellence, those in the UAE rival anything else in the world. Brides-to-be in the Middle East have the perfect platform to plan for their big day through the BRIDE shows, the regionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest and most luxurious bridal and consumer lifestyle events. They offer a one-stop shop for everyone from wedding organisers to couples, and their families, who want every detail of the occasion to be perfect. Celebrating its 18th anniversary this year, BRIDE 2015 has recently completed another successful showcase in Abu Dhabi, and Dubai is its next destination. BRIDE Dubai will take place from March 25-28 at Dubai World Trade Center, and such is the allure of the emirate, and of the event itself, that visitors are expected from throughout the world. This is wedding planning, on a global scale. benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

COVER FEATURE

In 2014, BRIDE Dubai and BRIDE

Abu Dhabi attracted a combined audience of more than 28,000 consumers and attendees. This figure confirms that the BRIDE brand now has genuine international appeal, achieved through expansion, and driven by imagination. Reflecting on BRIDE Abu Dhabi, held from 28-31 January, its exhibition director, Daphne Cota says: “We had more international participation this year — this generally used to only be the case in in Dubai, while Abu Dhabi was a regional event. “Besides all the regional exhibitors, we also have international exhibitors from Romania France, UK, Italy, Spain. We are really glad about that. I think exhibitors are really realising that while Dubai is the fashion capital of the UAE, Abu Dhabi has more spending power; and it is good for them to test the market if they are going to come here and set up shop. The BRIDE events have become a launching platform.” The benefit to the exhibitors is more than matched by the benefit for the brides, according to Ms Cota. “What we have done for the show is add new features, such as the Abaya Awards and the Lucky Bride competition, where one bride gets the opportunity to win almost everything they would need to organise a wedding,” she explained. “We have expanded it from simply weddings, which can become a niche market; we have made it a lifestyle event as well. So when brides come to shop, and to find services and supplies, they can also also bring their friends and relatives — such as the mother of the bride and their sisters — because there are so many other things they can shop here for: clothes, accessories, beauty, stationary, cupcakes.” Between 14,000-15,000 visitors are estimated to have attended BRIDE Abu Dhabi, with its popularity increasing year-on-year. The expectation is that this pattern will also be seen at BRIDE Dubai. Popular features will include the flagship Fashion Catwalk, a major draw for visitors that provides international and regional designers an opportunity to showcase their haute couture, bridal and evening dresses, as well as traditional wear.

benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

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The VIP Tea Garden offers a tranquil, floral setting where guests will be offered a pot of Earl Grey to go with a selection of sweet and savoury snacks, as well as visually delightful cakes, while the Fitness Zone — open to brides, non-brides, and bridesmaids — gives tips on how to banish bridal flab and get fit for the big day. At the Bridal and Beauty Theatre, guests are invited to take a seat and enjoy expert talks from the who’s who of the wedding and beauty industry, offering a unique opportunity to see the city’s top ambassadors in action and gain inspiration and enlightenment from demonstrations, tutorials and Q&A sessions. Meanwhile, competitions celebrate the brides themselves, while also recognizing both established and up-andcoming designers and dressmakers who work across the spectrum of fashion. One of the key attractions is the opportunity for guests at BRIDE shows to get exclusive sneak-peaks at bridal collections for the next season, with Ms Cota saying: “Most of our designers in the fashion show will be showcasing a collection for the first time.” She believes the popularity of the BRIDE shows stems from the fact that wedding planning can be stressful without assistance; and the events help a bride plan the day with none of the pressure, but all of the fun. “We have so many exhibitors under one roof,” she said. “The bride and groom can come together and see the product, choose and customise. “Customer feedback is a huge part of the success of the BRIDE shows. We do a customer survey every year. One year, we found they wanted to see more Turkishstyle dresses, and that is what we do. We try and interact with exhibitors and visitors, to see how we can make it bigger and better next time.” Cultural awareness, and responding to local and regional trends and demands, is also an important factor, Ms Cota says. “In the past, we heard that it was not really necessary to have too many abayas in the show, but in this culture, we must cater to that,” she said. 20

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“An abaya has become a fashion statement. When an Arab bride is getting married, they have a wedding abaya, a honeymoon abaya, a party abaya. We try to get feedback to make sure we are providing what people want to see in the show.” The Dubai and Abu Dhabi events have their distinct elements, Ms Cota says. “BRIDE Dubai is similar to BRIDE Abu Dhabi, but it is also different,” she outlined. “BRIDE Dubai is bigger and has a larger international presence, and the visitor profile is also different.” While the Abu Dhabi show has a largely Emirati crowd and a greater Arab presence, its Dubai counterpart has a wider mix

of Western and Asian expatriates, and Ms Cota says this means a comprehensive array of experts must be enlisted to cater for the diverse audience the two shows attract. It is an audience that is grown and evolved over the years, in parallel with the shows themselves. BRIDE Abu Dhabi, Ms Cota remembers, “started off with 20-25 exhibitors”. Its 18th edition, in January, demonstrated how it has developed; and, in tandem with BRIDE Dubai, also demonstrates how weddings in the UAE have their own special nature. “At the time when it started, BRIDE was very local, but it has grown into a more regional and international event,” she says. benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

“We can definitely say that BRIDE is the biggest in the region. “A wedding day is one of the most special times of a person’s life, and there is a huge bridal industry in the UAE and the wider Middle East, catering for everything from an intimate ceremony to an event happening over several days and involving a large amount of people. The BRIDE shows allow consumers to experience the full raft of services available in the marriage process, from engagement to honeymoon and beyond. “The UAE offers exceptional conditions for a fantastic wedding, with luxurious ceremony locations, great weather and expert planning teams. As this market has matured, the BRIDE shows have witnessed a remarkable increase in regional and international exhibitors.” With almost two decades of experience, and a wealth of ideas and inspiration to offer, BRIDE Dubai and BRIDE Abu Dhabi are set to continue having a big say in a couple's big day. 21

INDUSTRY FOCUS | ANALYSIS

The Wedding Planner There aren’t many women who freely admit to being a ‘bridezilla’ — but for Zainab Alsalih, it’s a point of pride

Ben Flanagan

ut then Ms Alsalih is a professional wedding planner — and so obsessing over every detail of other couples’ nuptials is very much part of the job description. As owner and managing director of the Dubai-based events company Carousel, Ms Alsalih got to play bridezilla — a term usually reserved for overly demanding brides-to-be — more than a dozen times in the last year. Her firm, which launched seven years ago, started out in corporate events but now specialises in weddings — a market she says is booming in the Emirates, particularly among expatriates wanting their ‘big day’ outdoors or by the beach. “There’s a rising trend of expats getting married here, primarily because we’ve got

such beautiful weather for five to six months of the year,” said Ms Alsalih. “If they were doing it in the UK or anywhere else they would have to wait until summer to have an outdoor wedding… if they can do it at all, because of the risk of rain.” Weddings are increasingly big business in the UAE, notably in Dubai where luxury 5-star hotels — with their ever-lavish conferencing facilities — sometimes feel as common as convenience stores. And like the city’s brash skyline, bigger is better when it comes to tying the knot in the UAE. Ms Alsalih said weddings in the UAE can cost anywhere between Dh1,000 to Dh3,000 per guest, depending on the venue, food and entertainment. Her firm charges clients an event-management fee depending on the work undertaken; Ms Alsalih declined to specify rates. benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

INDUSTRY FOCUS | ANALYSIS

Some press reports put the average cost of a UAE wedding for Western expatriate at around Dh100,000 to Dh150,000. But there are reports of some Indian and Arab couples spending as much as Dh1 million – suggesting that one day in white could leave many couples in the red. Carousel’s biggest wedding was a massive 1,000-guest event for a Saudi couple held in a tent next to the iconic Burj Al Arab. A ‘garden’ theme saw scores of trees, citrus plants and jasmine bushes installed in the venue by Ms Alsalih’s teams. But while that wedding was bigger than most, Ms Alsalih says the majority of Carousel’s events cater for between 200 and 500 people, which is still above average in many Western markets. “In the US and Europe people would consider 200 [guests] a large wedding. But in the UAE and this region, 200 is actually the average,” she says. According to a survey of 2,410 women conducted last November, 46 percent of brides-to-be plan to invite more than 250 people to their weddings, while almost a fifth said they’d host more than 500. The survey, conducted by The Bride Show, also found that only 28 percent of respondents would employ a wedding planner, with the majority choosing to plan their ‘big day’ themselves. benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

INDUSTRY FOCUS | ANALYSIS Ms Alsalih, understandably, makes the case for the benefits of employing her services, rather than couples taking on wedding planning themselves or leaving it in the hands of their venue. “The hotels and venues will not offer you ‘above-and-beyond’ what’s offered inhouse. For example, they will not help you out with your entertainment or décor, they would not do your lighting and sound for you,” she says. A company like Carousel deals with all suppliers on behalf of its clients — handling everything from the invites to the flowers, to the overall ‘design’ theme of the day — she added. “You will not have to talk to anyone else but us. We do your running around for you, we take your stress away. [On the wedding day] we’re there setting up for you so you don’t have to worry about it.” Ms Alsalih’s business, which now has eight full-time staff, is certainly growing. Back in 2011, the company was putting on four or five weddings a year. That has since tripled, and it organised six weddings in the first quarter of this year alone. But one challenge is the hot summer months in the UAE, where the weddings business comes to a standstill. “Nobody gets married here in the summer,” said Ms Alsalih. There is also more competition emerging locally, she added. “When we first started wedding planning was not something that people were used to in this part of the world. It was a fairly new concept. And I remember in the first two years having to explain what it is we do,” said Ms Alsalih.

Now, there are a lot of companies that do wedding planning. I think that the market is big enough for all these companies and planners… It’s a massive market here when it comes to weddings

benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

INDUSTRY FOCUS | ANALYSIS

“Now, there are a lot of companies that do wedding planning. I think that the market is big enough for all these companies and planners… It’s a massive market here when it comes to weddings.” Despite this, Ms Alsalih says she is still selective about which clients she takes on, based on both her workload, and whether she has a connection with them. “I’m very content doing 10 to 15 really beautiful weddings a year,” she says. About 80 percent of the Carousel’s clients are Western or Arab expats, and the weddings it organises are not quite the gaudy affair sometimes associated with those in the region. “We’ve more Western in style, versus the traditional Arabic style of weddings, which are more elaborate,” she says. “We are more about simple but elegant weddings. We focus a lot on the detail rather than a theatrical setup.” Ms Alsalih was born in Baghdad and raised in Europe and the Gulf, where she started her professional career as a banker. The launch of Carousel was partly inspired by the fact that she is a mother of three sons and sister to three brothers. “That’s why I turned to weddings,” she says. “I needed to get my girl fix somehow.” It is inevitably with the brides that Ms Alsalih forms a special bond, saying she has remained friends with all those she has worked with. She attributes this to being on call to them around the clock during the planning of their big day. “I am the bridezilla on their behalf. You can ask my team and ask my vendors: I’m very protective of my brides and their weddings,” she said. “I always tell my clients, ‘it’s not just your wedding, it’s also mine’. So I will not accept less than perfect.” benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

INDUSTRY FOCUS | ANALYSIS

In love with love

In fact she has s a wedding and event Giorgia Matteucci, founder of 'i tuoi sogni più belli' planned so many weddings, Ms Matteucci adplanner remits she has lost count. sponsible, — the internationally renowned wedding However she insists she is in each and every one has and event planners, talks about what it takes the right career. “I am a been different. “I create dreamer,” said the Italreally different and custo plan a bride and groom’s perfect day ian. “My mission is to tomised events for evemake people’s dream ryone. Every job is difcome true. That is why ferent. We recreate exactly what people are After graduating in Communication SciI named my company ‘i tuoi sogni più belli’ dreaming for on their big day." The personalences, she toured Italy: Milan, Genoa, Flor— that means your most beautiful dreams. ity of the couple play a big part, she explains. ence, Reggio Calabria. “I love to follow the bride in each step and I "I measure the personality in front of me, When she returned to her native Padua love to create the mood that the bride wants trying to understand his needs and desires. she made her wishes come true and started because I am a romantic. Dreaming is an important part of everyher own company. Since then, Ms Matteucci “I love flowers, fabrics, I love all things one's life and making dreams come true is has planned hundreds of weddings, planning bridal — it is the love. I am in love of the love.” a wonderful pleasure." It means ‘i tuoi sogni every detail from choosing the perfect locaSince she was a small girl, Ms Matteucci, who più belli’ have a policy to make every wedtion — be that a white, sandy beach, a stately has recently exhibited at BRIDE Abu Dhabi ding unique. “We don’t ever have a theme mansion, or a tented affair in the mountain — and works with UAE clients, as well as coubecause every time is different," says Ms to invitations, photography, entertainment, ples from all over the world, said she had the Matteucci. "To date it will be a bride and decor and lighting, to name but a few. desire to create events with a difference.

benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

INDUSTRY FOCUS | ANALYSIS

groom’s highest point in their love story. We don’t use a theme. “We change every time. My dream has always been looking for sensational solutions to any need, for any budget. I love details and challenges. We make each event unique and spectacular. From small and intimate to the large and sumptuous we have the knowledge and resources to help you create everything you have been dreaming for the perfect wedding day." No detail is too small, she says. “We take care of everything," she said. "We follow everything from the very beginning; from A–Z. The whole procedure. We travel together, work together. Everytime before the big day I am there to check everything is ok. “I want to be there. I want everything perfect. I am disposable 24 hours

I love details and challenges. We make each event unique and spectacular. From small and intimate to the large and sumptuous we have the knowledge and resources to help you create everything you have been dreaming for the perfect wedding day. No detail is too small

benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

a day, seven days a week for the bride. And they call me, crying saying: “oh now, tomorrow is going to be rainy and it is not going to be perfect”. But I tell them to be happy — it will be the best day of your life.” The time to plan the perfect wedding varies. Some couples have time on their hands. Others are eager to tie the know in a matter of weeks. “It is different. We are very flexible. It depends on the request," says Ms Matteucci. "Nine months is an average time because people are finding the right location then we scout the location with the bride picking maybe eight or nine possibles. Then we we whittle down to three and so on. So we do have time. "But two years ago for example, we did a very huge wedding for an Italian TV star . She is very famous and in all the tabloids and she decided to get married and she called me. "She wanted the wedding ready in two month. I worked all day, 24 hours a day. It was very huge because there were a lot of TV stars and the tabloids were following us all the time to find out where she was getting married. On the day of the wedding there was a very big helicopter flying above us because the photos (to sell) would have been very expensive...to get a snapshot of this day...they went mad.” Picking a favourite wedding she has planned is a difficult question to answer, she says. However if she had to pick it would be the wedding of Italian footballer and an Italian actress. “He plays for a big team in the major league,” she said. “The bride was the sweetest girl in the world. They met two years ago and fell deeply in love. He asked her to be his wife. It was a pleasure for us to work with them. It was just a matter of love." Being such an integral part of a bride’s big day has meant Ms Matteucci has inevitably become close and remained friends with many clients along the way. “I have become a sort of friend to all of the brides. We have a lot of friends now. They appreciate us. They are not just customers.” Planning someone’s perfect day can be stressful. However Ms Matteucci says her family keeps her grounded. “I get stressed but I am in love with my husband and have a lovely girl. Family is the most important thing. “But is pleasure for me — it is not work. It doesn’t feel like work for me.” And any words of wisdoms to a couple ahead of their big day? Just for the groom, she says. “Please be there on time!. This is the most important thing.” When asked what is the secret to a perfect wedding, Ms Matteucci says she has the answer. “Me, of course! I am the secret.” 27

INDUSTRY FOCUS | ANALYSIS

benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

INDUSTRY FOCUS | ANALYSIS

The Perfect Honeymoon Gateaway Mohammed Al Rais, deputy managing director of Al Rais Travel Agency, one of the largest independent travel agencies in the UAE which has been aiding couples plan their honeymoon for almost 40 years, talks to Benchmark about top honeymoon destinations, current trends and what is the biggest budget he has ever encountered for a perfect honeymoon getaway. A honeymoon to many is the best part of getting married. After the whirlwind of wedding preparation and the stress of the big day, the honeymoon is the time when loved ones can just unwind, relax and get down to the business of spending the rest of their lives together. Mohammed Al Rais is deputy managing director of Al Rais Travel Agency, one of the largest independent travel agencies in the UAE. The travel agency has been aiding couples plan their honeymoon for almost 40 years. He said honeymoons vary; whether couples head to the beach, in the mountains or a city break but most look for sometime downtime after a busy time planning a wedding. “Most they want to relax and maybe join this with a city destination. They rarely go for adventure.” benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

The top requested destination for the last three years has been Malaysia, he said. Sitting in the South China Sea and neighboring Singapore and Thailand, Malaysia boasts small islands composed of rain forests, white sandy beaches, coral reefs, topical sunshine and several honeymoon hotels. Malaysia is known to be one of the best spots in the world for romance and the country’s tourism board is savvy about promoting its impressive assets, explains “They are always promoting the country in the market,” he said. “The have a great product and know it is perfect for honeymooners.” He said while other destinations are catching up, Malaysia is still at the top of the list for honeymooners, especially Emiratis, which make up the bulk of the clientele at the travel agency. 29

INDUSTRY FOCUS | ANALYSIS

Hot on its heels, though, are Munich, in Germany, which has all the draws of a big city, and the cultural city of Vienna, in Austria. With soft white sands, brilliant blue skies and crystal clear water, the perpetually sunny Maldives is also often an ideal destination for honeymooners. “We recommend the Indian Ocean. It gives couples the time to spend with each other,” explains Mr Al Rais. For those living in the already sunny climates of the Middle East, many honeymooners fancy a holiday away from the beach and head to Europe with many choosing Paris — the legendary city of love — as the destination of choice. “It depends on the season,” he said. “If they go on honeymoon in January we don’t 30

recommend Europe because of the (cold) weather. But if they are going in July we recommend places Europe such as Paris . “However some people — they like the cold. They go to Switzerland for the skiing. But the majority prefer the perfect weather.” Many UAE nationals try to avoid heavily Arab populated places such as London, he said. “They don’t want to see everyone they know. They want some privacy.” The United States is also fast becoming a popular choice, especially over the last five to ten years, “Mostly it is California be that LA or the Orange County." A current trend now is combining a few destinations instead of selecting just the one. It means many couples hop from one from one country to another — for example benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

INDUSTRY FOCUS | ANALYSIS

A honeymoon is likely one of the most memorable and romantic vacations of your life Malaysia and Thailand — or between European countries such as Paris and London, said Mr Al Rais. One of the main advantages of splitting the time between several different destinations is couples don’t have to worry about getting bored in one place and they get to experience different locations and cultures. The honeymoon can also feel like a longer vacation. Another trend is customised honeymoons, especially among the wealthy clientele looking for that “something extra”, he said. “We organise fixed honeymoons as a guideline, but about 80 per cent of Emiratis they want to change and customise," explains Mr Al Rais. Expatriates are less fussy, he believes. But UAE Nationals tend to know what they benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

want and prefer a more individual approach to a holiday-of-a-lifetime. Mr Al Rais said the travel agency tries to offer all customers something extra. His typical customer is willing to spend $20,000 dollars (Dh70,000), he said. As most opt to splash out on Business Class flights rather than fly Economy, travel can be an expensive chunk of cash laid out for a honeymoon. However some are willing to pay over the odds to ensure the perfect getaway. “Sometimes it reaches Dh1million," said Mr Al Rais, when asked what are some of the higher end honeymoons his travel agency has helped organise and book. "I get two or cases like this a year. “Very rarely people spend less than Dh40,000.” Most honeymoons are for a fortnight, he said, and for most couples, especially UAE Nationals, feeling safe abroad is a priority when choosing a destination. “First and foremost is security," he says. "Second is the weather. Political stability is also important.” A honeymoon is likely one of the most memorable and romantic vacations of your life. After months planning the minute details an entire wedding, trying to narrow down and book the perfect honeymoon destination can seem daunting. Mr Al Rais said travel agents can take away the stress of planning such a trip while knowing the special extras that will make a honeymoon even more memorable. “Travel agencies are experts in the market,” he explains. “We, for example, are 40 years old in the country. We know exactly what type of services they honeymooner requires.” A travel agent can also provide before, during after after-sales assistance, he said. “We always have a representative there if they have any problem — no matter whether they are, be that America, Australia...we will have someone taking care of all their needs or any extras that they need. "And always in the honeymoon we give added extras such as free spas, special dinners, entertainment in the room, surprises when they arrive. “These are all things we want to do. Why? Because it is a honeymoon and it should be special." For more details phone: + 971 4 393 3333 or email: alrais@emirates.net.ae 31

INDUSTRY FOCUS | interview

benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

INDUSTRY FOCUS | interview

Interview with designer Dana Mardini at Mariage Fashion about what it takes to conceptualize and create the perfect wedding gown

benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

INDUSTRY FOCUS | interview How do you go about designing a wedding dress?

"It really depends if I am designing a dress for a client or for fashion show. Most brides-to-be have been dreaming about their wedding dress (for a long time) and they have an idea of what it should look like. It is very important to me to design the dress that fulfills the bride fantasy dress while ensuring it suits her. I want the bride to shine in her wedding and feel that she is the centre piece of that magical day. If I am working on a collection I get inspired by nature such flowers and birds as you can see from my recent fashion show in BRIDE Abu Dhabi. I design elegant wedding dresses with Middle Eastern touch."

How do you conceptulize your ideas? "I am inspired from nature's elements, such as flowers, and nature's colours."

Do you have template or do you start from scratch with each client?

"It all depends on the bride's desire and what is suitable to her."

What is the colour of the season?

"I don't think that each season has color. What is important in my opinion is to select the color that suits the person, the dress style and the event itself. All colors are wonderful and I believe they are suitable for all seasons."

What style is currently in trend?

"For bridal both fish cut and princess style but again it is really depends on each client and what is suitable for her."

benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

INDUSTRY FOCUS | interview

I want the bride to shine in her wedding and feel that she is the centre piece of that magical day. If I am working on a collection I get inspired by nature such flowers and birds DANA MARDINI Designer, Mariage Fashion

What budget should a bride be looking at for a perfect wedding dress?

"For a simple style wedding dress a bride should budget between Dh15,000 to Dh20,000. However if the design has lots of crystals and a complicated design then it is around Dh40,000 to Dh50,000. It is really dependent on the fabric quality, the number of crystals used and the amount of work that is required to finish it."

Who are the most popular designers right now?

Zuhair Murad, a Beirut-based Lebanese fashion designer, Tony Ward, a LebaneseItalian fashion designer, and Lebanese fashion designer Elie Saab.

What is the most extravagant dress you have ever been asked to design? VIP Omani customer asked me to design a royal dress and it cost about Dh100,000.

How much time should a bride should keep aside to look for a dress? "A minimum of two months if she is looking for ready made with some alterations. However I recommend three to four months if the dress is to be be designed from scratch." For more information visit www.mariagefashiondesign.com benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

INDUSTRY FOCUS | interview

benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

INDUSTRY FOCUS | interview

lobal economies may fluctuate, but weddings are ever-growing multi-billion dollar industry worldwide and this month at Benchmark, it’s all about ‘the big day’. We spoke to Thomas Grundner, Head of Sales & Marketing at Meydan Hotels and

Hospitality in Dubai on how they are cornering their slice of this lucrative market. C a r o ly n e A l l m a r k

Given the range of choice in Dubai and the rest of the region for five-star nuptials, why would a couple choose The Meydan Hotel to host their special day? We are ideally situated at the epicenter of one of the most exhilarating destinations on the planet and just ten minutes from the world’s largest shopping mall and Dubai’s thriving business districts, not to mention the fact that we are home to some hugely prestigious, world-famous horseracing events. In itself, The Meydan Hotel offers a uniquely vast event space to suit different wedding requirements — from the grand ballroom with its own private entrance; to the Sky Bubble Terrace with 360° views of

the skyline of Dubai; to our Signature restaurants that can cater for more exclusive, smaller weddings. We are, essentially, a destination within a destination able to accommodate a whole range of requests and demands from the couples who choose us. Tell us about the Meydan Hotels & Hospitality brand and how the hotels fit into this concept. When translated from Arabic, the word Meydan refers to ‘a meeting place’, and what Meydan Hotels and Hospitality aims to do is to provide our guests with a myriad of unique and iconic places to meet and escape. Though distinctly different from each benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

other from concept through to location and facilities, the two hotels we own emanate much cultural synergy between them. Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa offers an authentic desert experience that is true to traditional Arabian heritage, while The Meydan Hotel is home to the Dubai World Cup, the world’s richest horserace, in a region where horseracing is an integral part of our identity. Our guests also have access to a 9-hole championship floodlit golf course and a tennis academy, and the hotel’s huge, flexible event spaces provide unrivalled possibilities for exhibitions, sporting events and small to large-scale functions. 37

INDUSTRY FOCUS | interview

Are weddings a growth area for you? Do you see them as a key way to increase capacity out of the horseracing season that you’re so famous for? Yes. We are working on specific packages for the local Emirate, Indian and Western weddings in all our venues, based on the different times of year. We feel that there are great opportunities for the residential Indian weddings in our properties because of the wide range of indoor and outdoor venues we have available, as well as the social activities associated with them. Do you employ a specialist wedding coordinator? What is the scope of your ‘wedding package’? Wedding enquires are handled by our senior colleagues who are familiar with the various wedding options we have available in both hotels. The packages are tailored to suit the different wedding markets but normally include a buffet, family-style or plated menu based on individual requirements. Also valet parking, a selection of chilled fruit juices, soft drinks and water for the duration of the event; beautiful table linens and chair covers; a three-tier decorated wedding cake and a one-night stay for the wedding couple including full breakfast and a late checkout. Neither hotel has a beach. How do you feel you compensate for that in other areas to attract guests looking for a relaxing holiday break? Or that ‘barefoot 38

beach’ wedding popular with couples who choose a sunshine destination like Dubai to get married? Though neither property has a beach, we provide our guests with access to our own Meydan Beach, an exclusive beach club located on The Walk, along Jumeirah Beach Residence. It’s an elegant beachside venue and boasts tiered infinity pools, sweeping sea views and lushly landscaped sunbathing areas. For couples wanting a ‘barefoot beach’ wedding concept, the shoes-free experience could always be replicated at Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa. Situated amongst miles and miles of rolling sand dunes, a rustic celebration can be organised within the resort grounds, or even at Al Hadheerah restaurant. Designed in the manner of an ancient fort, with natural stone, rock walls and a sunken seating area, it is the region’s first authentic open-air desert restaurant. benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

Tell us about the most unusual wedding you’ve hosted and any extraordinary lengths you have had to go to keep a bride happy? We had this particular wedding event held recently in Sky Bubble at The Meydan Hotel for 120 guests. The preparations took over a year to finalise, with everything from the food tasting, intricate details of the setup, photoshoot requirements and perfect colour of the cake having to be meticulously planned. It was a little time-consuming but this is a wedding, so everything must be flawless to achieve that perfect day. What is the most popular request for couples getting married at The Meydan Hotel? Since The Meydan Hotel is home to the world’s most expensive horseracing event, the couples always request to have their wed-

INDUSTRY FOCUS | interview

Biography Thomas Grundner has been working in the hotel industry for over 20 years. He began his sales career as a Regional Director of Sales in Germany for a newly created hotel company. In 2000 Thomas moved to Egypt to join Iberotel as Regional Director of Sales. In 2002 he moved to a similar role for Rotana in Abu Dhabi. Thomas joined Jumeirah in June 2005 covering multiple sales responsibilities leading to his appointment as Vice-President of Global Sales in June 2008. In this position Thomas grew, developed and overlooked the company’s sales structure from a local hotel chain to a global player. Currently Thomas is heading up the Sales and Marketing function of Meydan Hotels and Hospitality. He overlooks all sales, marketing and revenue activities for the Hotel and Hospitality Division at Meydan Group LLC. This involves a focus on repositioning the brand, driving revenue for the group and implementing sales and marketing activities.

Facts • The Meydan Hotel is designed in the shape of a wave in motion • Adjoining the Grandstand, with over 95% of the 285 rooms and suites having a direct, unobstructed view of the racetrack

ding photos taken at the Turf area with the backdrop of the famous horseracing track.

• S ize of Racecourse district: 67 million sq ft • Grandstand capacity: 15,000 tiered seating and over 60,000 capacity for the

Profits aside, how do you define success in a hotel? Although we are seeing an increase in supply of hotel rooms in the city with a slightly lower demand, we have outperformed our competitors with an increase in revenue growth. Furthermore, we have been awarded “World Leading Sport Resort” for The Meydan Hotel three years in a row now and Bab al Shams Desert Resort and Spa has been named the “World Leading Desert Resort” for the last three years. Such awards and results can only be achieved with the dedication of our colleagues who we need to thank for delivering the service and the personal touch they engage our customers with. Their efforts are at the very centre of our success.

Grandstand only (full capacity of 120,000

The horseracing season is well underway and we are looking forward to another exciting climax this month with the Dubai World Cup final. What experience can guests staying at The Meydan to watch the races this year expect? With front row seats to the world’s greatest equestrian event, The Meydan Hotel is the ideal venue for visitors to experience the thrill of being part of Dubai World cup from the 1.5 kilometre-long grandstand or in the comfort of our restaurants. The restaurants have their own terraces and share unrivalled views over the Meydan racecourse, as well as offering delicious food and the all-important Apron Views access for race enthusiasts. benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

inclusive of full facilities and open areas) • Total car park wingspan (in the shape of a falcon): 1.3km • Currently the new home of the world's horseracing elite, Meydan Grandstand and Racecourse has marked a defining moment in the sport's global history by hosting the richest, most illustrious race — the Dubai World Cup. This icon is also the world's largest integrated racing facility, which comprises of a 1,750m all-weather Tapeta surface track and 2,400m turf track, providing unsurpassed standards in racing facility and technology for the ultimate horseracing experience.

LIFESTYLE | WEDDING

benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

Aghareed Offers Unique Wedding Concierge Service

ghareed occupies a distinct place in the UAE’s wedding planning industry as the world’s first and only full wedding concierge service. Capable of bringing every detail, decision and service to one venue for packaged and bespoke events, we are partnered with the best vendors in Dubai to ensure that our client’s get the best services possible for their special day. While there are a significant number of companies in the UAE trying to fully cater to the industry, the majority offer limited services and lack operational support. Aghareed has the

advantage of being a conglomerate, offering a network of wedding service providers who are experts in their respective fields. From conceptualising and theming to budgeting and execution, everything Aghareed does is in-house. As the first such service in the world, Aghareed has all the ingredients to make dream weddings come true. Aghareed started life in early 2013 as a team of wedding consultants who pooled their respective resources to enable turnkey solutions that would cater for the entire marriage process; from proposal through to honeymoon. Aghareed, in Arabic, is benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

the sound of a bird’s chirping. As we are a Dubai-based concierge service, we wanted to stay true to our roots. In the context of our organisation Aghareedrepresents the twittering noises associated with marriage; such as the excited, chatter, the ululating, the music and the singing. As a trendsetter in the region, we are in a good position to reveal what is the current vogue for the region’s weddings, so perhaps this in an opportune time to reveal what’s hot and what’s not right now. For this season, blush pink and gold is a very popular colour scheme for décor and design. It seems to be 41

LIFESTYLE | WEDDING

Couples certainly seem to becoming much more extrovert with their requests and seem to have a desire to stamp their personality on their day

the trend of the year as it replicates a vintage look that is also elegant. Large floral displays are out and there seems to be more of an emphasis on accessorising table displays and adding in the personal touch. In terms of venues and themes, the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fantastic climate for much of the year means that outdoor weddings are perennially popular. We have noticed a trend towards having two venues, for example a blessing on the beach and then moving to a ballroom or courtyard for an evening reception. Dubai has so many options in terms of beautiful locations that we see couples aiming to show their guests its different aspects, which also helps to break up the wedding day. Couples certainly seem to becoming much more extrovert with their requests and seem to have a desire to stamp their personality on their day. Last year, we managed a wedding where the theme was Cirque du Soleil. The couple arrived on an abra and was welcomed by a modern day Zaffeh in flash mob style. The ceremony was hosted by a clown on stilts and the ring was delivered by a contortionist. Shortly we will be managing a wedding where the bride will be arriving on horseback, so extravagance and style arecertainly the wedding zeitgeist right now. With regards to fashion accessories, DIY elements for a wedding are a popular trend. This way, couples can add their personal touches. Creativity is key at the moment, which can make the day so much more special. Vintage luxury is very much a trend this year and with that comes the cost effective wedding alternatives, such as making your own table runner out of hessian fabric, tying ribbon or lace round mason jars and adding garden flowers and bespoking your own favours. One of our recent events saw a bride giving away mini jars of old-fashioned sweets to her guests. The wedding had an 42

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always like to finish any article about Aghareed with some short, helpful tips that I feel are extremely important for couples when thinking about planning their big day, so here are six pointers that I hope can be helpful:

English tea party concept so incorporated these retro candies into the design. When it comes to honeymoon destinations, couples are opting for adventurous and exotic locations to mark their holiday as married couple. Recent couples we have catered for have jetted off on tours of Bora Bora, travelled to Australia, spent time in Las Vegas and undertaken safari tours in Africa. One particular trend we have noticed is a greater demand for the ‘on-the-day planner’ service. This has been formulated for couples who maybe don’t require the full wedding planner service and want to manage most elements themselves instead. The package consists of a wedding planner dedicated to the couple on the day. The consultant will meet the couple one or two weeks prior to the wedding and take all the

information and supplier details to create the running order. We then manage all suppliers, from the set up to the wedding itself, to ensure the day runs smoothly and the couple can enjoy every moment of their wedding day, stress-free. Finally, Aghareed would obviously love to be a part of the entire wedding process and our expertise in the marketing means that we are a valuable investment. But if you do decide to plan the wedding yourself, then my top tip is to invest in one of the wedding consultants to be there on the wedding day. The ‘on the day planner’ service means we will assist putting the event sheet and running order together for you and be there from the moment suppliers start setting up to the end of the wedding. We deal with the stress of the day — so you don’t have to. benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

• Think carefully about the guest list. Don’t feel pressured into inviting long lost relatives just to please others. It’s your wedding after all. • Sit with your partner and write a list of the wedding elements that are important to you, for example,photographs and video. Budgeting more for these means you can save in other areas, such as favours, flowers or stationary. • Make sure you check the dates for any public holidays and Islamic celebrations that may mean festivities have to be curbed by law — no live music can result in a quiet wedding! • Make the day personal to you both. Think of your ‘favourites,’ including songs and places and incorporate these into your wedding day. • B e thrifty with your favours. A bag of chocolates, homemade cookies and Dubai souvenirs are lovely but cost-effective ideas. • T he most important recommendation of courseis for you to just enjoy the day. Embrace the moment and hire a wedding planner to deal with the stress!

LIFESTYLE | fashion

LIFESTYLE fashion

Salvatore Ferragamo Women's

benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

LIFESTYLE | fashion

Spring Summer 2015 Collection

benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

LIFESTYLE | fashion

Salvatore Ferragamo Women's

benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

LIFESTYLE | fashion

Spring Summer 2015 Collection

benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

LIFESTYLE | WATCHES LIFESTYLE | WATCHES

BURBERRY The Britain Icon Check for Men Limited Edition Part of the brand-new The Britain Icon Check collection designed by Burberry’s Chief Creative Officer and CEO Christopher Bailey, this timepiece issued in a 20-piece limited edition is a compendium of the famous British brand’s design codes. Created in the 1920s, the “Check” motif featured on the lining of its famous trench coats finds new scope for expression in the form of a grid pattern serving as a watch dial. 48

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LIFESTYLE | WATCHES

BREITLING Chronoliner Already serving as “official supplier to world aviation” in the 1950s and 60s, Breitling now finds inspiration in a model from that era to present its new Chronoliner. This chronometer certified by the COSC, like all Breitling chronographs, is pursuing the brand’s longstanding aeronautical tradition in a spirit that is both modern and timeless. Its distinctive features include a broad scratch-resistant high-tech ceramic bezel with a star-shaped cut-out that facilitates handling as well as white ceramic numerals creating an optimal contrast

LOUIS MOINET 20-Second Tempograph Louis Moinet merges traditional watchmaking with modern innovation to reveal the magic of its 20-Second Tempograph. Powered by a new movement composed of more than 260 parts — LM Calibre 39 – this astonishing model stages an unprecedented feat. In a perpetually repeated choreography, the central retrograde hand performs a fascinating dance in 20-second cycles, before returning to its initial position to resume its progress.

benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

LIFESTYLE | WATCHES

LONGINES Longines Conquest Classic Moonphase A reflection of Longines' presence at the world's most prestigious equestrian events and almost two centuries of watchmaking tradition, the new Conquest Classic Moonphase captures one of the essential qualities of equestrian sport: elegance.

benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

LIFESTYLE | WATCHES

ARNOLD & SON Instrument Collection DSTB Arnold & Son celebrates its 250 years of history by offering an exceptional model honouring both its British origins and the traditions upheld by the field of Swiss Haute Horlogerie, of which it is one of the finest ambassadors. In tribute to its founding father John Arnold, who together with his son produced the first marine chronometers to be offered in substantial quantities and at reasonable prices, the Instrument Collection DSTB beats to the tune of a new manufacture movement featuring one of the complications most closely associated with the House: deadbeat seconds

JAQUET DROZ

HAMILTON

Grande Seconde Deadbeat

ChronoWorldtimer Quartz

Deadbeats seconds is an extremely rare complication first introduced in the Age of Enlightenment, the very era when Pierre Jaquet-Droz was travelling the length and breadth of Europe to present his timepieces to royal courts across the continent. This technique means that the seconds hand no longer moves in a smooth sweep, but instead in one-second jumps, thus enabling extremely precise measurements. timeless. Its distinctive features include a broad scratch-resistant hightech ceramic bezel with a star-shaped cut-out that facilitates handling as well as white ceramic numerals creating an optimal contrast

All pilots need a chronograph, while aerobatics pilots require particular functions, such as the precise marking of the four minutes corresponding to a freestyle programme â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which is why the latter appear in yellow on the dial. This watch equipped with a quartz movement specially developed for Hamilton also offers a whole series of functions that are highly useful both in flight and on the ground.

benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

LIFESTYLE | MOTORING LIFESTYLE | MOTORING

The Volkswagen

Beetle and

benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

LIFESTYLE | MOTORING

ndwellGolfâ&#x20AC;Ś they are related T

he Beetle is a reinterpretation of the original design, which made its debut over seven decades ago and offers a distinctive bold, dynamic and masculine look with a powerful new engine. Motoring fans of every age have a treat in store with the bolder, more dynamic and more masculine Beetle. The new model is a step-change from its predecessor with a powerful new engine, the Beetle enjoys 210HP from a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, a 6-speed dual-clutch gearbox and a top speed of 227 km/h. With a starting price of only USD 27,196, the new Beetle is available in a range of styles and colours: solid, metallic, pearl and two tone sunroof (with black ceiling) shades anda range of special colours including Denim Blue, Saturn Yellow and Tornado Red. The Beetle S is the entry level model and features a multi-function leather wrapped steering wheel; Fender Audio System and eight speakers; with dual zone climate control,and parking distance control that provides acoustic warning signals at the front and rear of the vehicle.

benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

LIFESTYLE | MOTORING

The mid entry model, the Beetle SE, has a number of distinguishing features including 18-inch alloy "Twister" wheels; a multifunction leather-wrapped steering wheel with gear shift; a transparent tilt/slide sunroof, which is 80 per cent larger than its predecessor and insulates 99 per cent of UV radiation and 92 per cent of heat energy; bixenon headlights including 15 LEDs frame the xenon module on the outer perimeters of the headlights. The top line model, Beetle SEL, offers the features of the S and SEL models but comes with 19-inch alloy “Tornado” wheels; a keyless locking and starting system and a radio navigation system — the seat centres and inner sides of side bolsters are wrapped in "Vienna" leather. It also offers additional refinements including a 6.5-inch touchscreen, DVD player, voice control, SD card slot, 30 Gigabyte hard drive and a mobile device interface with ipod/iphone adapter cable. We move onto the versatile compact Golf ok the Golf R to be more precise. If you thought the Golf GTI is hot, get a hold of the Golf R, it verges on scalding, which is a sportier take on the regular Golf GTI with a number of performance-inspired upgrades that make it feel more purposeful on the road. Each original add-on to this model has been specifically designed to enhance the popular compact sports car.The standard model can be visually distinguished as an impressive sports car by details such as standard bi-xenon headlights with newly designed LED daytime running lights (in 54

227km/h IS THE TOP SPEED OF THE NEW BEETLE, with a powerful new engine, the Beetle enjoys 210HP from a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine

benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

dual-U design); matte chrome door mirrors, dark red LED rear lights and two-branch exhaust system with four chrome tailpipes. The latest model also features a new bumper design with remarkably large air inlets, modified radiator grille, brake callipers in black and the "R" logo subtly adorned across the interior and exterior styling of the car. The model also features the newly designed five-spoke, 18-inch alloy "Cadiz"

LIFESTYLE | MOTORING

The latest Golf is a class act with excellent driving manners, It's a brilliant city car that also copes admirably with the open road, and its why it will remain a best seller for Volkswagen for years to come

black wheels; a keyless entry and starting system; park distance control that provides acoustic warning signals at the front and rear of the vehicle and "Rear Assist" rear view camera. The interior underlines the Golf R’s positioning as the range’s flagship model with “carbon touch” inlays, sport seats in a "fabric-Alcantara" with ornate stitching in crystal grey; leather trimmed three-spoke sport steering wheel; automatic climate control; a radio-CD system with touchscreen and a mobile device interface with iPod/iPhone adapter cable. The all-new Golf R is available in a range of styles and colours: solid, metallic, pearl effect and mother of pearl effect shades and benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

a range of special colours including limestone grey metallic, lapiz blue metallic, deep black pearl effect and oryx white mother of pearl effect. With a six-speed dual-clutch gearbox (DSG), the new Golf R completes the classic sprint in 5.0 seconds and can reach a top speed of 250 km/h. Like all three previous Golf R models, the new vehicle also transfers its turbocharged engine power to the road via a permanent all-wheel drive system. The latest Golf is a class act with excellent driving manners, It's a brilliant city car that also copes admirably with the open road, and its why it will remain a best seller for Volkswagen for years to come. 55

LIFESTYLE | TOURISM

benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

LIFESTYLE | TOURISM

Jumeirah Beach Hotel

SCOTT ARMSTRONG

he warm waters of the Arabian Gulf lap at your legs as you sit on powder-white sand. To your left the glorious Burj Al Arab rises out of the sea like a ship hewn from light, its billowing sail-like structure creating the illusion that the huge seven-star hotel is in fact impossibly delicate. Sweeping your gaze around to the right, across the ocean and back across the marina playing host to billionaires and their yachts, you take in the Dubai skyline, with the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, reaching up into the sky in the distance. And directly behind you, your hotel rises gracefully from its beachfront location, looking down on a host of azure pools, palms and playgrounds for young and old. This might be your favourite memory of Dubai’s impressive Jumeirah Beach Hotel, but it will be a close-run battle, for this resort, and the city by the sea it calls home, will compete for that coveted title. benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

Dubai earned a reputation as a city of grandeur, where millionaires are ten a penny. Five-star hotels fall over themselves trying to outdo each other, with diamond-encrusted toilet paper, butlers who would brush your teeth for you, or some such nonsense. The emirate has a terrific number of stunning hotels, so there’s a tremendous amount of competition for your dirhams and it can be difficult to know where to start for accommodation when planning a stay. Fortunately, amid the hotels promising one over indulgence after another, one brand has not lose its head amid the opulence and strives to identify what actually makes a stay memorable. Jumeirah recognises that fine-looking surroundings are required, but luxury is just the wrapping paper, and there has to be something deeper that will be remembered after the champagne has worn off. Something that will keep guests coming back — service, service, service. 57

LIFESTYLE | TOURISM Nowhere is this better illustrated than by the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, one of the oldest (though recently revamped) in Dubai but one with a loyal following, who come back year after year. It’s because here from the minute you turn up, perhaps a little overawed by the supercars in valet parking, you feel welcome, genuinely welcome. As you walk into the smart yet casual reception you relax. Warm smiles and open, easy-going conversation ensure that by the time you have your room keys you are totally at ease. Travelling with children? No problem. Dedicated swimming pool for families, fully staffed kids’ club so you can leave them to enjoy themselves with the peace of mind that someone is watching over them (giving you some adult-only time). Older kids? Well if the tennis courts, the sports centre with climbing wall, the beach access, the watersports or the teens’ club where they can chill out don’t do the job, the perhaps the direct (and complementary) access in the Wild Wadi waterpark next door (also run by Jumeirah) will suffice. Wild Wadi is a destination in itself for families and tourists alike with thrilling water rides, slides and fun. Wave pools, a lazy river which floats you around the park to many of the faster flume rides, surfing simulators, it is tremendously good fun. The staff are friendly and helpful, you can charge your entrance wristband up with money so you don’t need carry cash. One other great advantage of staying at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel is that you can get onto the park an hour before it opens to the public, not queuing for rides.

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LIFESTYLE | TOURISM

Luxurious and relaxed, it’s hard to point out anything this hotel does wrong, providing an ideal base for your stay, business or pleasure, under the Dubai sunshine

Aside from the family pool, there is another giant pool dotted with swim-up bars and relaxed eateries, and if you choose an executive room then you’ll also have the use of the executive pool, with its own restaurant and pool bar — essentially from plush to plusher, where staff frequently hand out chilled towels or spray you with cooling mist so you don’t get too hot under the collar as you worship the sun. Going executive also gives you complimentary access to the Executive Club Lounge, with free snacks and non-aloholic drinks all day, a real bonus if you have children with you and you don’t really want to have to sit down for a restaurant lunch. benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

There are gaming consol stations, computers and toys for youngsters, and for the adults there is the two-hour ‘happy hour’ featuring free ‘grape and grain’ based beverages as they are often referred to in the UAE. There’s a choice of 12 different restaurants including L’Attitude, a verandah of live cooking stations to satisfy just about any taste. This is a great choice also for breakfast, when the omelette and pancake chefs are constantly busy. Beachcombers is also a must, a charming relaxed seafront Asian speciality restaurant where you can sit and watch the moon come out above the Burj Al Arab — a visual treat at night, illuminated in soft lights which change colour continually. The resort also has nightlife venues where you can dance off a few calories. The 360 bar is a great spot; in the heart of the marina, this outdoor bar gives you a great view of Dubai as DJs spin the tunes. Fortunately, after all that your room will be the height of comfort. By the side of the huge bed are remote control panels for just about anything you need operate, including the curtains. The equally large television has plenty of entertainment options. It’s a close call though whether the best feature’s the view out across the sea, or the bathroom, a virtual mini-spa. Soft spotlighting creates a soothing environment, and the deep standalone bath just invites you to soak after a hard day having fun. The walk-in shower with choice of power or monsoon settings helps revive any aching bones you may have. Luxurious and relaxed, it’s hard to point out anything this hotel does wrong, providing an ideal base for your stay, business or pleasure, under the Dubai sunshine. 59

LIFESTYLE | Tourism

Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea resort

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LIFESTYLE | TOURISM

Have you ever seen three suns set at once? It may sound like science fiction but there is a place on earth where you can witness this breathtaking spectacle SCOTT ARMSTRONG

or travel to the Dead Sea in Jordan and here, surrounded by total luxury, you can soak up a sight that will linger long in the memory. Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea resort is a sprawling, impressive uberluxurious resort that has one very special jewel in its crown and that is a perfectlypositioned infinity pool, looking out to the Dead Sea and the mountains beyond. Your strategically chosen spot by the pool allows you to sit mesmerised as the sun sets, reflected in the vast lake and then again in the infinity pool before you. The effect is stunning, you sit perhaps for an hour just drinking in the scene. Blues and oranges darken as the sun creeps down behind the mountains, turning their bright sandstone to black in the failing light.

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LIFESTYLE | Tourism

No visit to Jordan would be complete without a visit to the Dead Sea. The lowest point on earth, this natural phenomenon has been drawing tourists for centuries who flock to this highly-salinated lake for the health benefits, or just to float without having to swim in the salty water. How would this miracle of nature be perfectly summed up? Well if a 13-year-old thinks it's pretty cool (remembering it's not youtube) then high praise indeed. A dip in the waters is a memorable experience, once you get the hang of floating, rather than trying to swim, remember to take your newspaper for the traditional reading in the water facebook/instagram moment. Perhaps what strikes you the most about this resort is the peace, possessing a quiet that allows you to remove yourself from the 62

constant slog of the modern world. It's huge Resense spa will also help you do that. One of the biggest in the Middle East, it offers a menu of massages and treatments designed to bring your body back to life and soothe the spirit. You can even dip in the Dead Sea inside the spa if you not brave enough (or its too cold) to try outside. Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea Resort is arguably the perfect way to complete any journey to Jordan. For example hikers travelling and staying in the astonishingly beautiful archeological wonder that is Petra should note it is three to four hours drive to and from the airport, whereas the Dead Sea is maybe an hour maximum. So it is convenient to have such luxury in the tail-end of your trip, removing a layer of benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

stress when you are homeward bound. More than that though it is a great way to relax those aching limbs after all the walking you will have done in Petra. The Ishtar Superior Room comes with free wifi, a stunning bathroom, and a private sitting area looking out across the lazy river pools and out to the vast lake and the mountains beyond. Anyone who has visited Jordan before will remember the hospitality from their visit, and despite the ills around its borders, time and troubles have not dimmed the invitation, the smiles and the welcome.

LIFESTYLE | TOURISM

For those travelling with family rest assured that safety and security are paramount in Jordan, just like the UAE, and it is a country that genuinely deserves to be on your travel map. This month, March, marks the beginning of Jordan's tourist season and it is well worth making the trip sooner rather than later. While not as hot as Oman in summer, climbing Petra's peaks can be a challenge in the hotter months. The Dead Sea isn't just a place, it's an experience and one which leaves you curiously refreshed and wanting to go back into the world with a smile on your face. Useful information Driving in Jordan can be a perilous affair for the uninitiated. To start with sat nav can be notoriously unreliable and you can find yourself slogging up a mountain pass in a hire car not suited to the peaks. Also, even with Sat Nav, turnoffs can be deceptive or downright hidden adding to the normal layer of stress while navigating an unfamiliar city or country. And while the King's Highway is pretty much ok, many of the roads, especially the one out to Petra, is in shocking conditions. Pot holes galore which can lead to accidents if one isn't paying 120 per cent attention. Lastly, the police are always on the look out for victims of their speed traps and don't expect the leeway you might get in Oman. Solution? Book a driver, without a shadow of a doubt you'll enjoy your experience so much more. They know where they are going, they are safe and they know where the speed traps are. I booked with www.trip2jordan.com and got the excellent Abu Rami. Great English, safe driver and always on time, he really took stress out of equation. The company has a long history of day trips and tours in Jordan and will help you put together your itinerary if you need. While I sourced hotels myself, they can even take care of that for you. benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

LIFESTYLE | EATING OUT

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LIFESTYLE | EATING OUT

DELPHINE RESTAURANT & BAR ARRIVES AT THE H DUBAI

resh from the heart of Hollywood, Delphine Restaurant & Bar, the highly praised concept from the Innovative Dining Group, and a favorite hangout among the who’s who of Hollywood has opened its doors for the first time in the UAE on the ground floor at theThe H Hotel Dubai. Bringing flavors from Southern California, Delphine Restaurant & Bar has opened in late January 2015 and is already causing a stir among residents and visitors alike to the already popular dining and lounge offerings at The H Dubai. Delphine Restaurant & Bar’s concept captures the laid-back attitude of the West Coast, presented with a truly personalized service. The Dubai outlet is true in keeping with this philosophy, reflecting the best of Hollywood’s casually chic style, set amongst distinct restaurant, bar and lounge areaswithvelvet furnishings, art deco inspired lighting and marble surfaces. The combination of elegance and accessibility has already made Delphine a perfect meeting venue for all, whether breakfast, lunch, dinner, and late night lounging or weekend brunch. In keeping with the original West Hollywood location, Delphine Restaurant & Bar’s menu reflects the best of fresh modern Californian bistro cuisine. Jump in anddiscover a range of mouthwatering options from the à la carte choice of starters, entrées benchmark middle east MARCH 2015

and desserts, featuring anselection of signature dishes. A wide selection of Californian grape beverages will complete the culinary journey, while over at the lounge and bar you can enjoy the rest of the night with a vast selection of signature cocktails. Happy hours offers 50% off on selected beverages, daily from 5:00pm till 8:00pm, Delphine’s lounge provides a perfect chill out area, offering a lighter tapas style menu in counterpoint to the restaurant. Live performances from jazz and swing bands lift the ambiance well into the night. Delphine’s bar is a buzzing destination for Dubai’s late night connoisseurs. From a unique raw bar concept directly out ofDelphine California, a sophisticated ‘flight’ pairings of ‘tasting’ style menu and West Coast grape beverages and artisan cheeses and cold cuts from our extensive West Coast collection will satisfy a discerning crowd until 2am. Lee Maen, Founding Partner of Innovative Dining Group and the brain child behind Delphine among other restaurant concepts “We are always on the lookout for major cosmopolitan cities where people like to go out, play and entertain and believe that Dubai is the perfect location in which to expand”. Delphine Restaurant & Bar is set to enhance The H Dubai’s position as the dining destination of choice for discerning UAE residents and well-heeled tourists. 65

LIFESTYLE | HEALTH

IWedding do...Nutrition do Tips I?

ot only do you want to look your best on your wedding day, but you also want to feel your best to accomplish all the pre-wedding tasks and then have energy leftover for the special day! Here are some do’s and don’ts of wedding nutrition tips.

Pre-Wedding Diet Disasters

Food tastings You will be doing a lot of it before the big day! But don’t let bites of red velvet cake, cupcakes and nibbles of "real" food be your only source of nutrients. Not eating natural “real” food during the day slows down your metabolism and makes it hard for you not to overeat come dinner time. Fill your diet with fresh fruits, veggies and whole grains, and eat more frequently during the day. Pre-wedding partying Like bridal showers and bachelor parties are great, and are in your honor! But the finger food and cute cocktails are not doing your calorie intake and sugar levels any favors. Fix yourself a plate, eat it slowly, and limit your drinks to 2! Coffee instead of water Everybody goes through all the stress and lack of sleep when planning a wedding. Drink your coffee if it makes you feel better, but do not forget to drink water, 2.7 liters of water to be exact. If glowing radiant skin is what you are going for, then this is what you need to do. Crash diets Avoid drastic diets that cause fluctuations in your hormone levels. The imbalance can result in unexpected problems such as dehydration, rashes, and low blood pressure.

Wedding Day Diet

Now that you’ve made it through to this special day, it’s time to celebrate; and you will need all the energy you can get. The goal is to fuel your body with food that lets blood sugar levels rise slowly, stay even for a long period of time, and go down slowly. Breakfast Kick off your big day with a bowl of oatmeal, a great source of soluble fibers which will help with the bloating if there’s any, and will give you energy for the whole day. Lunch You can trick your body into letting go of excess liquid by having natural diuretics- ideally a salad that consists of lettuce, cucumber, parsley, lemon and salmon. Snack Have fruits in the afternoon for a hydrating snack. Melons, papaya, and mangos are especially good because they also contain potassium, which helps regulate your body’s balance of fluids and minerals. Dinner It is obviously going to be whatever you chose to serve your guests! It is important that you take the time to sit and have a proper meal at your wedding. Don’t skip that part. Finally, whether you want to lose weight or simply stay in shape for that big day, it is important that you find your own rhythm, the one you know suits your body, so you can look good, feel good, and enjoy your day! Dana Z. Taleb, Licensed Dietitian dztaleb@gmail.com

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