9 minute read
ELEVATOR PITCH
The elevator
pitch Business Traveller Middle East gives Robin Solomon, general manager of Ibis Styles Deira, five minutes to pitch his property to prospective guests
Ibis Styles Deira, located in the heart of Dubai’s heritage centre, o ers a stylish launchpad to discover the city’s local hotspots and hidden gems. Our goal is to deliver an experience unlike any other where our guests can unlock a unique opportunity to explore the bustling souks, wander along the scenic Creek waterfront and uncover the area’s Dubai Heritage Village – while also having the opportunity to relax in the tastefully-designed rooms.
With an aesthetic inspired by the beauty of Arabic calligraphy and urban movement, we wanted to provide an ambience that re ects the rich heritage of the area while also incorporating modern elements through bold colours and designs. Guests instantly feel inspired from the moment they enter the lobby as they are met with awe-inspiring artworks and a friendly welcome.
Featuring an array of rooms ideal for families and individuals, the property o ers a range of options for business travellers. Our hotel has two meeting rooms, both fully equipped with an LCD screen projector and at-screen TV, and complimentary wi so that any business needs can be handled e ciently.
At Ibis Styles Deira, we understand that our guests need more than just a place to stay, but also a place to dine and create memories with families and friends. With four dynamic dining concepts, guests have a plethora of options available, suitable for all tastes and preferences.
Our airy and spacious restaurant, Lily’s Garden is located on the ground oor. Serving fresh specialities derived from wholesome ingredients and botanical mixes throughout the day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, it is an urban sanctuary created to awaken the senses and invoke a lively atmosphere. e friendly team and welcoming ambience of e Sports Bar provide the perfect place to catch up and savour delectable comfort food, snacks, and drinks against the backdrop of live sports action from seven TV screens.
Our stylish roo op features a striking in nity pool, o ering guests the chance to relax against panoramic views of old Dubai, the Dubai Creek, and the majestic horizon of the Arabian Sea. Guests can expect a laidback day-to-night vibe with expertly cra ed beverages and snacks which are served from the restaurant and bar.
A tness centre is located on the top oor allowing guests to maintain their tness regime during their stay.
For short- or long-term stays in the city, Ibis Styles is the ideal accommodation choice. Located near the Gold Souk metro and bus stations, the hotel provides guests easy access to key tourist attractions, business centres, and transport routes. Furthermore, a 15-minute drive will bring you to Dubai International airport. Besides, La Mer, Dubai Mall, and Burj Khalifa are all within a 20-minute drive from the hotel. We look forward to welcoming you soon to experience rst-hand this exciting new property.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP:
Robin Solomon; the infinity pool on the rooftop; interiors inspired by Arabic calligraphy
How to protect your ears when travelling
Leticia Araujo, audiologist at ReSound, gives business travellers expert advice on how to take care of their ears during their trip, particularly if they su er om tinnitus
Flying
When an aircra takes o , the noise in the cabin can be as high as 105 decibels. Sounds of more than 70 decibels can damage to hearing, so it’s recommended you take the following measures to protect your ears.
Sit at the front of the plane
Seats positioned in front of the wings are further away from the engines and the elements of the aircra that generate the most noise throughout the ight.
Ear protection
Noise-cancelling headphones are a great way to protect the delicate parts of the inner ear from engine noise. ey’re also good for blocking out general noise from other passengers.
Yawning, swallowing, or sucking on boiled sweets
is is the traditional advice given to anyone who struggles with pressure in their ears – and it works. at feeling of your ears popping occurs when the air pressure inside of the ear is di erent to the pressure outside, preventing the eardrum from vibrating normally. e eustachian tube, which regulates air pressure in the ear, can’t usually react fast enough, but by yawning, swallowing, or sucking a boiled sweet, the tube opens and allows the middle ear to receive a larger amount of air.
Swimming
If you are taking a dip in the hotel pool or in the ocean during your downtime, bacteria can enter the ears and cause infections known as Swimmer’s Ear (Otitis Externa). If you su er from tinnitus, this can worsen your symptoms. By wearing earplugs, water cannot penetrate the ear canal and you will eliminate the chance of infection or your tinnitus symptoms worsening. ose su ering from recurring ear infections or a perforation to their eardrums should try to use swim plugs every time they are in the water.
High altitudes
If you’re travelling to a destination where the air pressure is high, it’s important to consider the impact the change in altitude can have on your ears. Signi cant changes in air pressure at higher elevations can cause stress to the inner ear and eardrum, known as Ear Barotrauma. is happens when the eustachian tube becomes blocked, causing discomfort and pain within the ears that can cause hearing changes and could potentially worsen tinnitus symptoms. To avoid damage to your ears when visiting a location with barometric pressure changes, ascend slowly.
Wind exposure
If you’re visiting a location where the wind is likely to hit the ears at speed, it’s important to always use ear protection, as loud wind noise can cause tinnitus symptoms to are up. Using earplugs is a great way to protect your ears from any excessive wind noise you experience. Many people might not consider the impact of wind exposure on their ears, but, for example, the average cyclist travelling at the standard 15mph can experience wind noise of 85 A-weighted decibels.
Cold weather
If you’re heading to a cold location on your next business trip, don’t forget to consider your ears when you wrap up warm. When visiting a cold climate, your ears naturally produce more wax to protect the inside of your ears from the lower temperature. However, for tinnitus su erers, excess ear wax can be problematic, as blockages in the ear canal mu e noise and can make the tinnitus more noticeable. One way to prevent excess wax from building up is to keep your ears warm using earmu s or a woolly hat to cover the entrances to the ear and prevent the cold from entering the ear canal. resound.com
ABOVE: Leticia Araujo, audiologist at ReSound
Fighting attrition
Gerhard Hartman, vice-president for Medium Business at Sage Africa and Middle East, provides top tips for employee engagement and retention
The world over, local companies struggle to hold onto their best talent in fields where scarce skills such as finance, technology, management, and engineering are sought after.
What will persuade someone to stay when offered another job with similar career development opportunities at the same pay level? The magic ingredients relate to human connection in the business, workplace flexibility, and the employee’s alignment with the company’s purpose and culture. The following practical tips can help you meet these needs and improve your employee engagement and retention.
1. Offer genuinely flexible working arrangements
At Sage, we have embraced what we call Flexible Human Work – flexibility to choose to work from the office, home, or both; to decide where you work, including a different country or city; and to choose variable, compressed, part-time or job-share working arrangements. While not all organisations can offer every employee complete flexibility, offering realistic options is key to retention, especially among younger talent – align this to your business’ vision.
2. Foster true human connections
Workplaces with higher levels of human connection will be more successful in retaining employees. Ways to foster relationships include promoting teamwork by giving everyone a chance to contribute and pairing employees with mentors to show them the ropes.
3. Create a sense of purpose and belonging
Purpose-driven businesses excel at retaining employees. These businesses have a mission to solve customer problems and serve communities beyond the financial targets for the next quarter.
4. Focus on mental and physical wellness
Employees have a renewed appreciation for psychological and physical health. Companies that support them with well-considered wellness programmes can gain an edge in employee retention. A fundamental way to show a business cares about mental and physical health is to respect that people need holidays, weekends, and reasonable working hours underpinned by what was contractually agreed.
5. Listen to employees
Communication needs to be a two-way street – companies should listen to employees and take their feedback seriously. This includes an informal discussion between employees and leaders and more formal programmes such as employee surveys and performance reviews. It’s critical that employees feel they can share feedback, ideas and even criticism.
6. Offer appreciation
Thanking employees for their hard work and commitment can go a long way. Monetary rewards like bonuses are always welcome, but public recognition and time off are also additional ways to show employees you appreciate them.
7. Personalise the proposition
HR departments can benefit from using data to better understand employee behaviour and requirements. This can help them create customised employee value propositions for people from single parents to young high-flyers.
8. Use technology to streamline the employee experience
Cloud-based technology makes it affordable and simple for nearly any organisation to implement a modern HR solution. This enables HR to focus on building great employee experiences and propositions rather than on admin. A cloud-based HR system will also offer digital self-service and employee communications features that improve the employee experience.
Employee retention: Understanding the competitive advantage
The costs of high employee turnover to a business can be significant. Research by Gallup indicates the cost of replacing an employee can range from half to twice their annual salary. In addition to the costs of recruiting and training new employees, high turnover can harm workforce morale and the customer experience. Other employees may wonder if they should also be looking for new jobs or become resentful if asked to fill in for colleagues who have left. Those that cannot secure other jobs in the current economic climate might stay but become increasingly disengaged and dissatisfied in their careers. This, in turn, impacts the quality of their work, productivity, and engagements with customers.
On the flip side, an engaged and satisfied workforce can be a serious competitive advantage. Research shows committed and engaged employees perform 20 per cent better and are 87 per cent less likely to leave their current company. Achieving this level of engagement isn’t easy, but the rewards will more than justify the effort.
