Business Traveller ME - September 2023

SEPTEMBER 2023

businesstraveller.com

MIRAL DE STINATIONS

VANCOUVER VIEWS

JA SON ATHERTON

PLUS

Putting Abu Dhabi’s major attractions in the spotlight

Your travel guide to the energetic North American city

The celebrity chef driving a culinary revolution in Dubai

Global news • Hotel spas • Travel gadgets

ALL ABOARD

Railway projects on the fast track

AIRSIDE

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CONTENTS

REGULARS

FEATURES

06 UPFRONT

The latest airline, hotel and travel news 12 SUSTAINABLE TRAVELLER

Best practices from across the region 14 GLOBAL NEWS

An update on international travel 24 HOTEL VIEWS

Mark Allaf, general manager of voco Riyadh 30 ELEVATOR PITCH

Nabil Khamaiseh, general manager of Courtyard by Marriott Jubail 31 AIR MILES

Paul Evans, co-founder and CEO of Solutions Leisure Group 32 OPINIONS

What is the future growth potential of the Middle East’s hospitality sector?

55 LIFESTYLE

As you head back to the office this month, look your best self 66 POSTCARD

Red Bull athlete Jaan Roose walks a fine line betweeen Fairmont and Raffles hotels in Doha

COVER: CLARKWIN CRUZ, GETTY IMAGES

SEPTEMBER 2023

ON THE COVER

20 THE GRAND BLUEPRINT

Miral Destinations is crafting innovative solutions to manage major leisure and hospitality assets on Yas Island and Saadiyat Island 26 TALES FROM VANCOUVER OUVER

This culturally diverse mega city has plenty to offer visitors year-round

36 THE FIRST AND LAST MILE

How to best manage the start and end of a business trip which can often be the most stressful part of the journey

16

THE FAST TRACK

From high-speed trains to luxury coaches, what does the future hold for rail travel in the region?

40 ACCESS TRANQUILLITY

We take a look at some of the leading hotel spas located across the Middle East

3

46 REWIRED TECHNOLOGY

Essential travel gadgets that should accompany you wherever you go 48 SIGNED, SERVED, DELIVERED

Celebrity chef Jason Atherton is bringing a fresh twist to Dubai’s dining space

THE REPORT

TRIED & TESTED FLIGHT

26

40

20

60 TRIED & TESTED HOTELS

61

61 Holiday Inn Riyadh The Business District 62 Al Ain Rotana 63 AKI Hong Kong – MGallery 64 R48 Hotel and Garden, Tel Aviv

JAROMIR VANEK/GETTY IMAGES; HYKU DESESTO

60 Flydubai Boeing 737 Max business class Dubai–Olbia

48 SEPTEMBER 2023

WELCOME

T

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he Haramain High Speed Railway that began operating in Saudi Arabia in 2018 ushered in a new era for rail travel in the region. Beyond mega airlines and excellent road networks, could the railways be the untapped frontier for travel in the Middle East?

UAE’s Etihad Rail certainly thinks so. After spending the last few years developing a vast national rail network across the country, full-fledged freight services have now commenced and passenger services on it are imminent. In a boost to international travel, Oman Rail recently partnered with Etihad Rail in a US$3 billion project to connect Oman’s Sohar Port to the UAE’s network to facilitate both freight and passenger services between the two countries. Hopes are soaring for Saudi Arabia and the UAE to enter into a similar arrangement. We chart some of the major developments shaping the future of rail travel in the GCC in our cover story (pg16).

While the development of efficient and high-quality mass transport systems are underway, spare a thought for the major pain point of nearly every business traveller – the first and last mile connectivity. That’s why the story on ground transportation (pg36) is worth a read. It looks at companies building efficient solutions to help you take the guesswork (and anxiety) out of getting to your hotel from the airport in a city you’ve just landed, or even making sure you’ve not left getting to the airport as an after-thought in the city where you live.

We’re coming out of our summer travel break, and as you plan your end-of-year holidays, could Vancouver make it to your travel bucket list? Before you decide, read our feature on the North American city (pg26) that has several stunning nature trails, museums and an eclectic food culture. For more home-bound travel, you could consider a day spent in Abu Dhabi’s Saadiyat Island or Yas Island which have plenty of entertainment options – the new SeaWorld attraction instantly comes to mind. Liam Findlay, chief executive officer of Miral Destinations that manages the destination experience at the two islands, reveals what lies ahead (pg20).

For now, welcome back from your summer break. Enjoy the issue.

Business Traveller Middle East is jointly published

by Motivate Media Group and Panacea Media Ltd MOT IVAT E ME DIA GROUP

Editor-in-Chief Obaid Humaid Al Tayer Managing Partner and Group Editor Ian Fairservice Editor Varun Godinho Art Director Clarkwin Cruz Editorial Co-ordinator Londresa Flores Contributors Shaistha Khan, Hannah Brandler, Divsha Bhat, Felicity Cousins, Akanksha Maker, Amy Sessions, Camille Macawili, Melanie Swan, Alice Holtham, Iain Akerman, Helen Dalley General Manager – Production S Sunil Kumar Production Manager Binu Purandaran Production Supervisor Venita Pinto Chief Commercial Officer Anthony Milne Group Sales Manager Chaitali Khimji Senior Sales Manager Murali Narayanan PANACE A ME DIA LT D

Managing Director Julian Gregory Associate Publisher Middle East Rania Apthorpe

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REWIRED TECHNOLOGY Travel gadgets that should be on your radar (Page 46)

JASON ATHERTON The celebrity chef has an exciting new project in Dubai (Page 48)

HOTEL REVIEW We check in to the Holiday Inn Riyadh The Business District (Page 61)

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SEPTEMBER 2023

UPFRONT

One&Only One Za’abeel Dubai to welcome first guests in December

Etihad to launch Boston flights ETIHAD AIRWAYS will operate a four-times-weekly service to Boston from Abu Dhabi beginning March 31, 2024. It will be the UAE national carrier’s fourth destination in the US, joining Chicago, New York and Washington. While the airline will be pressing its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on this route (flights will operate every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday), Etihad also recently reinstated its superjumbo A380 into its active fleet. The airline is bringing a total of four A380s back into service, and recently began operating two A380s on the Abu DhabiLondon Heathrow route.

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Hilton to quadruple Saudi portfolio ONE&ONLY ONE ZA’ABEEL DUBAI has opened bookings for its luxury resort which will welcome its first guests starting December 1, 2023. Located in the One Za’abeel development designed by architect Nikken Sekkei, One Za’abeel’s dual skyscrapers are intersected by the world’s longest cantilever, The Link, situated 100m above the street. With interiors designed by Jean-Michel Gathy, One&Only One Za’abeel will feature rooms, suites, and a Villa One penthouse. It will also include two gala ballrooms, six meeting rooms, a private club on the 53rd floor, and an events lawn at The Garden. The One&Only One Za’abeel Private Homes will be the property’s collection of branded residences.

SEPTEMBER 2023

HILTON PLANS TO open more than 50 new hotels across 10 of its brands in Saudi Arabia. That decision, it says, makes Saudi the company’s largest pipeline market in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA). Hilton currently operates 16 hotels in Saudi, including Waldorf Astoria Jeddah – Qasr Al Sharq, Conrad Makkah, and Hilton Riyadh Hotel and Residences. Its development pipeline includes the introduction of new brands to the kingdom such as LXR Hotels and Resorts, Canopy by Hilton, Embassy Suites by Hilton, and Hampton by Hilton.

Its goal is to build a portfolio of 75 trading properties across the country. Hilton’s recent signings in the kingdom include the Conrad Riyadh Laysen Valley set to open in 2025, as well as Hilton The Point Residences and Canopy by Hilton The Point, both of which are scheduled to open in 2026 in Abha.

Kerten Hospitality, IHG announce plans for NEOM’s Oxagon

Riyadh Air signs first sports sponsorship deal SAUDI ARABIA’S newly launched Riyadh Air has signed a multi-year agreement confirming the carrier as the main and official airline of Atlético de Madrid. The carrier’s first sports sponsorship deal will see its name present on the team’s kits. “We believe that this partnership is a perfect match, as both Riyadh Air and Atlético share a commitment to excellence and a passion for connecting people and cultures around the world. This airline created global waves when we recently launched our stunning livery and with this partnership, once again we are surprising the world as we move towards our maiden flight in 2025,” said Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air.

ENVI LODGES REVEALS DESIGN OF UPCOMING SUSTAINABLE LODGE IN SAUDI

TWO NEW HOTELS were recently announced for the under-construction city of Oxagon in Saudi Arabia’s NEOM development. Kerten Hospitality will debut its The House Residence brand in Oxagon. The upscale 200-unit serviced apartment property is located within the city’s first residential community, and is set to welcome its first guests in 2025. Meanwhile, IHG Hotels and Resorts has signed a franchise agreement to open a Hotel Indigo in Oxagon too. The 250-key hotel will open its doors in 2026. Located in the northwest of Saudi Arabia, Oxagon reimagines the traditional industrial city, with its neighbourhoods being designed to be fully walkable and incorporating sustainable on-demand mass transit and micromobility solutions.

LUXURY ECO-LODGE management company ENVI Lodges has revealed a first look of its upcoming debut property in Saudi Arabia. ENVI Al Nakheel is a luxury sustainable lodge in Saudi Arabia’s UNESCO World Heritage-listed Al Ahsa Oasis.

Scheduled to open next year, it is being constructed in a traditional date palm farm and will offer 25 eco-lodging pods with one- and two-bedrooms, as well as an arrival pavilion, a farmto-table dining concept, and a swimming pool. Thai-based Fractal Architects has designed the pods and guest facilities and has taken a ‘plant-based architecture’ approach, reportedly inspired by the patterns of the date palm’s trunk, fronds and leaves. The architecture and interiors will incorporate organic materials and integrate natural elements including palm leaves and bark, straw, and locally derived paint and texture finishes.

SEPTEMBER 2023

QATAR TOURISM

JAPAN AIRLINES TO ADD DAILY FLIGHTS TO DOHA

JAPAN AIRLINES (JAL) will launch a new daily nonstop service between Tokyo’s Haneda airport and Doha starting next summer.

This route will be the first direct flight to the Middle East operated by a Japanese airline. The exact launch date and schedule are yet to be confirmed, though JAL did say that it would deploy its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft on the Doha route.

Guy Hutchinson steps down as CEO and president of Rotana

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GUY HUTCHINSON, president and CEO of Rotana, will be stepping down from his role early next year to take over a new position at Hilton. Hutchinson will take over as Hilton’s president for the Middle East and Africa region. No replacement for his current role at Rotana has yet been announced. However, Rotana recently announced the appointment of Eddy Tannous as its new chief operating officer.

Ishraq Hospitality expands portfolio into Georgia DUBAI-BASED ISHRAQ HOSPITALITY recently signed a hospitality management agreement with investment company Rekan Group for a new property in Georgia. The agreement involves the management of a Crowne Plaza Hotel in Batumi which is slated to open in 2025. Located by the beach promenade in Batumi, it will have 150 rooms, two restaurants, meeting facilities, a fitness club and a pool. In addition to the hotel, Ishraq Hospitality will also oversee the overall management of the 240-key Batumi Hotel Apartments which will open in 2025.

SEPTEMBER 2023

IHG’s ultra-luxury Regent brand to debut in Saudi Arabia IHG HOTELS AND RESORTS will open its first Middle Eastern Regent property in Saudi Arabia. Set to be operational by mid-2024, Regent Jeddah will be located along the waterfront in the port city, and will offer views of the Corniche and Jeddah’s Formula 1 racetrack.

The ultra-luxury hotel will be housed in a 29-storey structure and will have close to 182 rooms facing the Red Sea as well as five penthouses. Although the Regent brand is found in locations including Cannes, Bali, Santa Monica and Hong Kong, IHG says that Regent Jeddah will be “one of the first new-generation Regent Hotels to open globally.”

UPFRONT

ADDRESS HOTELS AND RESORTS OPENS MEGA 1,484-KEY PROPERTY IN MAKKAH

Emirates launches private jet ondemand charter service for GCC travel

ADDRESS HOTELS AND RESORTS has opened the sprawling 1,484-key Address Jabal Omar Makkah hotel in Saudi Arabia. Designed by architects Foster and Partners, the towers of Address Jabal Omar Makkah span over 5,000 sqm of prime space. The interconnecting bridge that links the property’s two towers houses a prayer room with a panoramic view of the Kaaba. F&B options at the Address Jabal Omar Makkah include four restaurants, two lobby lounges, and two club lounges. On the wellness front, it features the first-ever Foot Spa by Address Hotels and Resorts. The new hotel also has dedicated spaces for conferences and events.

EMIRATES HAS LAUNCHED an on-demand regional charter service for customers who want to make short trips in the GCC (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait) from Dubai’s Al Maktoum International airport. Operated by the airline’s Phenom 100 twin-engine aircraft, customers can fly to GCC destinations both within and outside of the existing Emirates network. The aircraft seats up to four passengers, and each passenger can check in one medium-sized bag weighing up to 15kg.

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Third Fraser Suites property confirmed for Bahrain

EMIRATES UNVEILS NEW BUSINESS AND FIRST CLASS AMENITY KITS

FRASERS HOSPITALITY has entered into a management agreement to operate Fraser Suites Al Liwan Bahrain in partnership with real estate development company Seef Properties. Fraser Suites Al Liwan Bahrain will offer 63 serviced apartments spread over three floors. It will comprise nine one-bedroom units, 44 twobedroom serviced apartments and 12 three-bedroom apartments.

Fraser Suites Al Liwan Bahrain is slated to open in the fourth quarter of 2023 and will join existing properties by the hospitality group in the country including Fraser Suites Seef Bahrain and Fraser Suites Diplomatic Area Bahrain.

EMIRATES HAS UNVEILED its latest collection of Bulgari amenity kits for its business and first class customers.

There are a total of eight collectable bags in the new collection, and they come in two shapes – a pouch bag and a classic toiletry bag – made from vegan leather. The female kits for the first class collection include a 30ml bottle of Bvlgari Le Gemme Desiria eau de parfum and an engraved gold Bulgari mirror, among other items, whereas the male first class kit includes a 30ml Bvlgari Le Gemme Gyan eau de parfum and a Bvlgari Le Gemme Gyan aftershave balm too.

SEPTEMBER 2023

UPFRONT

EQUINOX HOTELS TO OPEN RESORT IN AMAALA

DUBAI’S H1 2023 VISITOR COUNT BEATS PREPANDEMIC PERFORMANCE 10

RED SEA GLOBAL has partnered with Equinox Hotels to unveil a new resort in Saudi Arabia’s Amaala destination. Equinox Resort Amaala will be an integrated wellness property with a focus on sports, fitness and lifestyle. It will comprise 128 keys, including two luxury penthouses. It will feature several culinary concepts, a magnesium salt rooftop pool, spa, beach club, and a signature Equinox Fitness Club. Equinox Resort Amaala will be a part of the Amaala Marina Village, designed by Foster and Partners.

Other hospitality brands which have announced upcoming openings in Amaala include Six Senses, Rosewood, Jayasom and Clinique La Prairie.

DUBAI WELCOMED a record 8.55 million international overnight visitors in the first six months of this year, beating the pre-pandemic figures of 8.36 million tourists that it hosted in H1 2019. Dubai’s hotels outperformed pre-pandemic levels across hospitality metrics in H1 2023. The emirate’s hotels recorded an average occupancy of 78 per cent, 2.2 per cent points higher than the same period in H1 2019. The number of hotels by the end of June this year in Dubai stood at 810 establishments and 148,689 rooms, compared to 714 hotels and 118,345 rooms at the end of June 2019. The average length of hotel stay also increased from 3.5 nights in H1 2019 to 3.9 nights in the first six months of this year and an average daily rate of Dhs534.

RESERVATIONS OPEN FOR SO/ UPTOWN DUBAI ENNISMORE’S SO/ HOTELS brand has debuted in the Middle East with the launch of SO/ Uptown Dubai. Now open, the luxury hotel located within the 340-metre-high Uptown Tower is designed by Adrian Smith and Gordon Gill, it features 188 rooms and suites as well as 227 branded residences which will occupy the top 28 floors of the building. The property also has a 1,000-guest capacity ballroom, a spa designed in partnership with Anne Semonin Paris and several dining and entertainment concepts too.

Ennismore recently launched its paid-for Dis-loyalty programme that gives members access to discounts on hotel stays and dining experiences. The group currently has a portfolio of more than 75 hotels across 10 brands including 25hours Hotels, Mama Shelter, The Hoxton, Mondrian and SLS, as well as 150 restaurants and bars.

SEPTEMBER 2023

SPONSORED

all-day dining venue, Nana Thai, that also serves Middle Eastern cuisine. Available on-site at this hotel are a fitness centre, business centre, spa and a rooftop pool.

Building-533, Al Maha Street, Al Khuwair-42, Muscat, Oman; +968 2439 7500; mdo@chr.co.th; centarahotelsresorts.com/mdo

Celebrate with Centara

studio, as well as sauna and steam rooms.

Diplomatic Street, P.O. Box 23628, Doha, Qatar; +974 4009 5555; cwq@chr.co.th; centarahotelsresorts.com/cwq

As Centara Hotels and Resorts marks its 40th founding anniversary this year, here are some of the Thai hospitality group’s key properties in the Middle East

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hai hospitality group Centara Hotels and Resorts has come a long way over the last four decades from a single class-leading hotel that opened in Bangkok in the early 1980s.

This year, the group which celebrates its 40th founding anniversary, has grown into a global hospitality major with six brands – Centara Reserve, Centara Grand, Centara, Centara Boutique Collection, Centra by Centara and Cosi – and 93 properties spread across 13 countries.

The Middle East features prominently in the group’s global portfolio and it is present in Doha, Muscat and Dubai.

Here’s a look at what you can expect from its properties within the region.

Centara West Bay Hotel and Residences, Doha The 172-key property is located within Doha’s business district and looks out over West Bay North Beach. It comprises studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences, as well as penthouses. Each unit also has a kitchen area with a stove, oven, microwave, fridge and freezer, as well as a dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer and smart TV making this ideal for short- and long-stay guests. On-site facilities include an indoor swimming pool, a fitness centre with a yoga and aerobics

Centara Muscat Hotel, Oman Located in the vibrant Al Ghala business district of Muscat, it is only a 15-minute drive from the city’s international airport.

The hotel features 152 rooms and suites, with options of king- or twin-beds. One of the most prominent suites on the property is The Executive Suite King which has a separate living room. At this hotel, you’ll find several facilities including a fully-equipped gym, a rooftop swimming pool, a spa, and two restaurants – Tiptara and The Roof Restaurant.

Building No. 352, Way No. 5003, Block No.250, Ghala Heights, Phase-1 Wilayat Bausher, Muscat, Oman; +968 2423 6600; cmo@chr.co.th; centarahotelsresorts.com/cmo Centra by Centara Muscat Dunes Hotel This property is also located in the capital of Oman and appeals to both business and leisure travellers. There are 78 units at this property spread across three categories: Standard, Deluxe and Suites.

For larger families, the Family Suites have a separate living and dining area with a kitchenette. For guests visiting the property who are arriving from the airport or departing to the airport, the hotel can organise a shuttle service. It has one

Al Hail Waves Hotel – Managed by Centara Al Hail Waves features 64 rooms ranging in size from 20-40 sqm, with some of the most popular accommodation options being the generously sized Deluxe Suite King room and the Family Rooms. Here too, you’ll find a rooftop pool, fitness centre, business centre and high-speed complimentary wifi access. F&B options include the all-day dining venue of Hong Thai restaurant, and also the Pool Bar that serves beverages and snacks.

Building No. 312, Way No.65, Al Hail North, Muscat, Oman; +968 2442 9300; amo@chr.co.th; centarahotelsresorts. com/managed-hotels/amo 11

Centara Mirage Beach Resort Dubai For a full-scale resort holiday, head to this property located on the Dubai Islands development in the UAE. The beachfront resort has 607 units. The prime accommodation is the six Two-bedroom Suites, each of which features 130 sqm of space and includes a separate living area and terrace. As a resort, it has excellent leisure facilities including an 18,000 sqm beachfront, a water park with a lazy river, a beachfront swimming pool, three kids’ clubs, a spa, a water sports centre and a high-rope adventure park. Apart from a leisure component, the resort also has multiple large events and meeting spaces that can cater to MICE events and company off-sites perfectly lending this property a bleisure positioning.

Dubai Islands, Dubai, UAE; +971 4 522 9999; cdd@chr.co.th; centarahotelsresorts.com/cdd

SEPTEMBER 2023

S US TA I N A BL E T R AV E L L E R

D I R I YAH’S FI R S T PHASE OF MASTERPLAN O BTAI N S LE E D P L AT I N U M CE R T I FI C AT I O N

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World’s first zero-carbon 5G network unveiled at Six Senses Southern Dunes

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ed Sea Global (RSG) and telecom company Zain KSA have unveiled the world’s first zero-carbon 5G network at the soon-to-open Six Senses Southern Dunes, The Red Sea resort in Saudi Arabia. RSG said that the zero-carbon 5G network, designed exclusively for The Red Sea, will bring guests “the highest speeds for 5G connectivity in the region”. It will be powered by 100 per cent renewable energy from over 760,000 solar panels that RSG has built to power the entire 28,000 sq km destination. Designed using 3D printing technology, the exterior cladding of the 5G towers blend with The Red Sea’s landscape. Inspired by the surrounding rock formations, it merges into the resort’s natural habitat.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH I welcome COP28’s focus on lives and livelihoods and putting people at the centre of climate action, in particular the focus on food systems transformation. I hope that COP28 will make a realistic assessment of the progress made and close the huge gaps that remain in climate finance and technology transfer. As a fellow advocate for the climate vulnerable, I hope that under the strong leadership of Dr Sultan [bin Ahmed Al Jaber], COP28 will progress in operationalising the Loss and Damage Fund in line with the COP27 agreement” –Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh

SEPTEMBER 2023

THE FIRST PHASE of Diriyah’s masterplan has been awarded Platinum Level LEED for Cities Certification by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). Platinum is the highest certification level within the LEED framework. The accreditation in LEED for Cities and Communities marks the first time a project in the Middle East has received the top accolade. Jerry Inzerillo, Diriyah Company group CEO, said, “As the first project in the Middle East to achieve this formidable accolade, alongside our recent milestone of 50 million safe man-hours, we continue to set a new benchmark for our peers.”

Emirates takes steps to reduce food waste through meal pre-ordering service EMIRATES HAS launched a new option for business class passengers to pre-select their inflight meal before they fly.

Initially, the service is available on all its flights between Dubai and London’s Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted airports. Passengers can browse the onboard menu on the website or the airline’s app from 14 days until 24 hours before their flight and book their preferred hot main meal. Emirates said that the new measure which will be added to more routes and classes soon will not only help reduce food wastage, but will also be added to an existing suite of AI-enabled customer preference tracking data and cabin crew reports to help further facilitate menu planning and optimal food loading.

J U M E I R A H Z A B E E L S A R AY TO E L I M I N AT E 2 .1 M I L L I O N S I N G L E - U S E P L A S T I C B OT T L E S F R O M I T S O P E R AT I O N S DUBAI’S JUMEIRAH ZABEEL SARAY resort says that it has successfully moved away from the use of plastic water bottles due to an on-site glass bottling plant built in collaboration with Swedish firm Nordaq. The move effectively eliminates 2.1 million single-use plastic bottles from its ecosystem, says Jumeirah. Another Jumeirah property in Dubai, the Jumeirah Beach Hotel, also confirmed in August last year that it had installed an on-site glass bottling plant operated by Nordaq. Other sustainability-driven measures at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray include initiatives to minimise food waste and promote responsible sourcing including the recent launch of Arcadia which serves food sourced from the hotel’s hydroponic farm.

ALWADI HOTEL DOHA AWARDED GREEN KEY ALWADI DOHA – MGALLERY HOTEL COLLECTION has achieved the Green Key certificate for the second year in a row. The Green Key recognises excellence in sustainable operations and environmental responsibility within the tourism industry. It evaluates a hotel’s environmental management, energy conservation, waste management, water conservation, and other sustainable practices. Alwadi Hotel Doha general manager, Ramsey Saarany, said, “Our commitment is embedded in everything we do at Alwadi Hotel MGallery while supporting Qatar’s sustainability goals, a key part of the Qatar National Vision 2030. We also uphold the values of Msheireb Downtown Doha, the world’s first sustainable downtown regeneration project.”

FIVE OBTAINED 100 PER CENT RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY FOR DUBAI HOTELS IN 2022 FIVE HOTELS AND RESORTS has said that 100 per cent of the electricity it used last year at its two properties in Dubai – FIVE Palm Jumeirah and FIVE Jumeirah Village – was derived from solar energy. To that end, it says that it has become the only hotel operator in the UAE to obtain the International Renewable Energy Certificates (I-REC) confirming that it has achieved 100 per cent renewable electricity for 2022. These certificates were received from the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is under the purview of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority. FIVE’s single delivery I-REC agreement was subsequently verified through the International Renewable Energy Certification Foundation.

Also in 2022, FIVE says that it achieved a reduction in carbon use intensity of 76.2 per cent, electricity consumed per capita by 35.3 per cent and water use intensity by 36.2 per cent compared to a 2020 baseline.

SEPTEMBER 2023

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UPFRONT GLOBAL NEWS

MGM Resorts properties to join Marriott Bonvoy

New Four Seasons coming to Jacksonville

The Peninsula London to open this month

KLM showcases new B777 business class seat

Hilton confirms first property in Ghana

Under a new agreement, 17 MGM properties will be marketed under the MGM Collection with Marriott Bonvoy brand.

It replaces a previous partnership between MGM and the World of Hyatt programme.

The majority of the hotels are located in Las Vegas, but five MGM Resorts in other US locations will also join the collection.

Four Seasons will open a new Hotel and Private Residences in Jacksonville, Florida. Scheduled to debut in 2026, Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Jacksonville will be located on the banks of the St. Johns River.

It will feature 170 rooms and suites, as well as 26 private residences and several outdoor pools.

The Peninsula London has announced a soft opening date of September 12, 2023. The newly-built hotel is located on the site of a former 1960s office block.

Overlooking Hyde Park Corner, the hotel’s main entrance is on Grosvenor Place.

It features 190 Peter Marino-designed rooms as well as 25 residences.

KLM has introduced a new version of its World Business Class seat to be fitted across its B777 fleet. It will have a lightweight sliding door, converts into a 198cm fully-flat bed, has a massage setting, and multiple charging sockets as well as a wireless charging option too.

All guests using this seat will have direct aisle access.

Hilton will open its first hotel in the West African country of Ghana this December.

The new-build Hilton Accra Cantonments will feature 145 rooms, an outdoor swimming pool, an all-day dining restaurant, and 900 sqm of events space.

Hilton currently operates 43 hotels across Africa, with another 65 under development.

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SEPTEMBER 2023

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Air India unveils new livery

Singapore Airlines to boost services

Flights between China and the US set to increase

Dusit Thani to debut in Kyoto

Melbourne airport at 82 per cent of pre-pandemic traffic

Star Alliance carrier Air India has unveiled its new livery design that features a palette of deep red, aubergine, and gold highlights, along with a chakra-inspired pattern and a custommade ‘Air India Sans’ font. The new design will debut on its first Airbus A350 which will enter the fleet of the Tata Group-owned airline in December.

SIA will soon ramp up services including restoring A380 flights between Singapore and Frankfurt, and deploying its A350900 aircraft to Cairns and Male. Also, it said that several of its destinations including Dubai, Tokyo-Haneda, and Seattle, among others, are planned to reach or exceed prepandemic levels of flight frequencies.

From September 1, Chinese authorities have approved airlines from each country to collectively operate 18 weekly round trip flights between China and the US. From October 29, that number will increase to 24 weekly roundtrips. Prepandemic, Chinese and US carriers together operated 150 weekly roundtrips.

This month, Dusit Thani will open in Kyoto’s Hanganji Monzen-machi district, only 850m from the major transportation hub of Kyoto Station. Located in a residential area, the design of the 147-key hotel reflects the cultural heritage and architecture of the city. Dusit’s first hotel in Japan, ASAI Kyoto Shijo, opened in June.

More than 30 million people passed through Melbourne airport in the 12 months to June 2023, including more than 22.5 million domestic passengers and almost 8.3 million international travellers.

It represents a 138 per cent increase on the previous financial year, and 82 per cent more than those processed in 2019.

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AE he U t d n bia a bust and i A ra Saud ilding a ro -lo oking u rd a r e b i v e f o r wa i s s e t t o s t t n a ex te work th movemen t e e ra i l n i o n i s e t h s e n g e r s ut as re vol ht and p g n i o f fre the re gio s acro s

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the passenger fleet, the North Train freight line extends across 1,550km.

The East Train Network meanwhile has a 733km passenger line that links the kingdom’s capital of Riyadh to Dammam and passes through Abqaiq and Al Ahsa. The East Train Network fleet comprises 102 diesel locomotives and 75 passenger cars.

As domestic tourism rises in the kingdom, SAR witnessed an 84 per cent increase in passenger traffic across its network in the first six months of this year, carrying 4.4 million people.

The number of train trips taken cumulatively on the North, East and Haramain networks totalled 16,404, a 46 per cent year-on-year increase.

ETIHAD RAIL NEWSROOM; NIGEL YOUNG/FOSTER AND PARTNERS

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orld-class airports and national airlines to match are characteristic of the GCC countries.

Couple that with high-speed road networks, and it isn’t hard to see why air and road travel have dominated the discussion around intra-GCC travel over the last few decades.

But significant developments, specifically in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, over the last few years are gradually bringing to the forefront the conversation around the use of railways to transport not just goods, but also passengers, across the region.

In 2018, the Haramain High Speed Railway (HHR) was inaugurated in Saudi Arabia. It is believed to be among the top 10 fastest electric-rail trains in the world. Trains on that line run at an average speed of 300kph and connect the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah with Jeddah, the King Abdulaziz International airport and the King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC). There is a slick fleet of 35 Spanish-built Talgo 350 trains that service the approximately 453km route. Each high-speed train has 13 cars configured in two classes – business and economy – and can carry a total of 417 passengers.

There are five stations along the route, with Foster and Partners having delivered stunning designs for four of them. The Jeddah airport station covers a massive 105,000 sqm making

UAE ON THE RISE

T it among the world’s biggest train stations at an airport. The Makkah to Madinah route is covered in two hours and twenty minutes – nearly twice as fast as travelling by road.

Such is the demand for the service that during Ramadan this year, the Haramain Express carried more than 818,000 passengers on more than 2,540 train journeys – a 265 per cent increase over the previous year.

The Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) network, apart from the Haramain Express route, is broadly divided along the North Train Network and the East Train Network. The North Train passenger line extends 1,250km from Riyadh up to the kingdom’s northwest region to Al Haditha near its border with Jordan.

The fleet servicing this route includes day trains that can accommodate 442 passengers, and night trains that each have a capacity of 364 seats and sleeping berths. Apart from

FROM TOP: A rendering of the proposed passenger train of Etihad Rail in the UAE; Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launches freight operations across the UAE

300 KPH

The average speed of a Haramain train in Saudi Arabia

he increasing popularity of the rail network in Saudi comes at a time when its neighbours are also taking steps to develop their own networks. Among them, the UAE has particularly accelerated its efforts over the last few years. In 2009, Etihad Rail was formed under a federal law and tasked with managing the development, construction and operation of the country’s national railway network across both freight and passenger divisions. By 2016, Etihad Rail began operating freight operations across a 264km route to transport granulated sulphur from Shah and Habshan to Ruwais.

A monumental moment in the country’s railway development came in December 2021 when the country’s government announced the launch of the UAE Railway Programme that would lay the foundation for an integrated system to facilitate the transportation of goods and passengers across the UAE, backed by an investment valued at a staggering Dhs50 billion.

That programme was classified under the country’s ‘Projects of the 50’ – a set of the country’s prioritised economic and developmental projects – and involved three main tranches including the development of a full-fledged freight network, the commencement of passenger rail SEPTEMBER 2023

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TALGO; FOSTER AND PARTNERS; ETIHAD RAIL NEWSROOM

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services and finally the integration of transportation services wherein a network of light rail will be linked to the main passenger network to aid transportation within UAE cities.

The decision to classify it as one of the ‘Projects of the 50’ was justified when you consider that the government forecasted that the programme will overall generate Dhs200 billion in economic opportunities including Dhs11 billion in savings in travel time, distance and cost savings between stations, Dhs8 billion in road maintenance benefits as well as tourism benefits of Dhs23 billion – besides creating several thousand jobs in the railways and its supporting sectors by 2030.

In February this year, Etihad Rail inaugurated the network expansion comprising approximately a 900km line from Ghuweifat located on the border with Saudi Arabia in the west to Fujairah on the eastern coast of the UAE. The completion of that network meant full-fledged freight services commenced across the UAE, paving the way for the second tranche of the UAE Railway Programme – the development of its passenger services – to commence.

The proposed passenger services will link 11 regions and cities in the UAE from Al Sila in the west to Fujairah in the east. The trains – each with a capacity to carry 400 passengers – will operate at a maximum speed of 200kph. It will,

SEPTEMBER 2023

for example, facilitate travel from Abu Dhabi to Dubai in 50 minutes, or Abu Dhabi to Fujairah in just over an hour-and-a-half.

Etihad Rail estimates that 36.5 million passengers will be carried by the network annually by 2030. In June last year, Etihad Rail signed a Dhs1.2 billion deal with Spain’s CAF for the designing, manufacturing, supplying, and maintaining of passenger trains for the network.

To ensure that it gets the operational aspects of the passenger services spot on, Etihad Rail signed MoUs to study best practices and facilitate knowledge exchange with leading rail entities from around

SAR witnessed an 84 per cent year-onyear increase in passenger traffic in H1 2023, carrying 4.4 million people across its network

the world including Renfe, Spain’s national railway operator which operates the largest high-speed rail network in Europe, and British firm High Speed 1 which operates highspeed passenger trains in the UK. While Saudi Arabia and the UAE develop their independent railway networks, the vision of a unified GCC rail network moved one step closer when Oman Rail, Oman’s national rail developer, signed an agreement with Etihad Rail to establish an equal ownership joint venture company – the Oman-Etihad Rail Company – to develop freight and passenger railway connections between the two countries last year.

That project, with an investment pipeline of US$3 billion, will result in the designing, building and operation of a 303km network that links Oman’s Sohar Port to the UAE’s national rail network. While freight trains will run at 120kph on the route, passenger trains will do so at 200kph connecting Abu Dhabi to Sohar in 100 minutes. In a major boost to its plans, the joint venture company also recently signed a cooperation agreement with Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company.

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eyond high-speed rail networks, what will the future of passenger rail travel within the GCC look like? Italian luxury hospitality company Arsenale, cofounded by Paolo Barletta and Italian billionaire Nicola Bulgari through his Annabel Holding company, and backed by Oaktree Capital Management, has a few answers.

As Barletta, its CEO, told Business Traveller Middle East recently, Arsenale has two main divisions.

The first is the hospitality real estate division wherein it invests in buildings within Italy and converts them into luxury hotels, while the second is a luxury train cruising division. “We have created the knowhow to revamp carriages sourced from the Italian railways stock, and turn these cars into luxury products. We

TALGO; NIGEL YOUNG/FOSTER AND PARTNERS; IAN TIMBERLAKE/STRINGER/GETTY IMAGES

buy the cars and renovate them in our factory in the south of Italy. We have proprietary agreements with several important players in the industry for the supply of air conditioning, brakes, and the fitouts of the interior. We are the ones who are manufacturing the train ourselves,” says Barletta.

Arsenale’s trains are designed to recreate 1960s glamour. Its first luxury train, La Dolce Vita which was born out of an agreement with Accor’s Orient Express, will begin operations next year with a fleet of six trains that will run across Europe from Italy to Paris, Istanbul and Split with one-three night packages and offer fine dining experiences and accommodation in suites.

Arsenale has now partnered with national railway entities in Saudi Arabia and the UAE to bring that luxury train cruising concept to the two countries, each with its own

dedicated train. In March, it signed a memorandum of understanding with SAR for the Dream of the Desert project in Saudi Arabia. Arsenale will deliver a train with 40 luxury cabins that will operate in the kingdom from Riyadh to Qurayyat near the kingdom’s border with Jordan.

Following the announcement of the Dream of the Desert project, Arsenale also signed an MoU with Etihad Rail to develop a cruising train that will consist of 15 luxury coaches and travel from Abu Dhabi to Dubai and on to Fujairah in the UAE. The dream for Barletta would be to at some point link the Saudi Arabia and UAE train services. “In the future, I hope the two networks will be connected to then have a cross-regional service going from one country to the other. Imagine the beauty of going from Dubai and spending one night in Riyadh and then coming back to Dubai or Abu Dhabi.”

FROM TOP: The interiors of the Haramain train in Saudi Arabia; Passengers boarding a train in Riyadh OPPOSITE PAGE FROM TOP: A fleet of 35 Talgo trains are a part of the Haramain High Speed Railway; The exteriors of the Foster and Partners designed station in Madinah

1,200 KM The total length of the Etihad Rail network in the UAE, once complete

As the development of passenger railway networks progresses at pace, integrating them with other existing transport solutions for first- and last-mile connectivity will also be key.

To that end, in June SAR expanded a partnership with Uber wherein Uber’s Reserve product has – in a world-first for Uber – been integrated into a rail platform. SAR’s customers can now therefore pre-book up to four Reserve rides to and from seven train stations in six cities across the kingdom when purchasing train tickets via the SAR website or app.

The future of railways, especially in Saudi Arabia, would also be linking the mega projects under construction in the kingdom. In May, Saudi’s giga project of NEOM awarded a €1.4 billion contract to a joint venture between Italian firm Webuild and Saudi company Shibh Al Jazira Contracting Company (SAJCO) to design and build a 57km line called the Connector which will link The Line and Oxagon in NEOM via a high-speed railway. The project includes building tracks to support trains operating at speeds of 230kph as well as two freight railway tracks.

This agreement comes against the backdrop of local media reporting officials from the kingdom last year saying that Saudi aims to nearly triple its railway network with plans to add 8,000km of new tracks.

Developing the rail networks will also go a long way towards delivering Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s commitment to its net zero goals.

In Saudi, for example, the volume of goods transported by the country’s freight trains in the first half of this year reached 12 million tons, an increase of 13 per cent year-on-year, which led to a reduction of 970,000 truck trips. Etihad Rail meanwhile says that its network would potentially reduce CO2 emissions in the road transport sector by 21 per cent per year by 2050. There are plenty of good reasons why countries in the region are seizing the moment and doubling down on their efforts to develop their railway networks.

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he Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) aims to attract 24 million visitors to the emirate this year. That’s approximately a third more than the 18 million who visited Abu Dhabi in 2022. Bear in mind that Abu Dhabi had some form of entry and travel restrictions until November last year.

This is the first full year since the start of the pandemic that it is operating sans any movement restrictions. That 24 million target, therefore, isn’t fanciful.

SEPTEMBER 2023

DESTINATION MANAGEMENT

With Miral’s success at building out the overall Yas Island positioning and offerings, DCT Abu Dhabi appointed Miral to oversee the destination management of Saadiyat Island too.

Even during the pandemic, the emirate continued promoting itself to prospective visitors. Playing a role in driving attention towards Abu Dhabi – specifically Yas Island – is Miral Destinations. “In the past, Yas Island has always been famous for Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld or the Grand Prix, but as a destination, we’ve only established ourselves over the last couple of years. There has been a rapid expansion of Yas Island. We’ve put Warner Bros. on the island, we’ve launched CLYMB with the tallest indoor climbing wall

in the region, we’ve launched Etihad Arena, and we’ve also launched the culinary district of Yas Bay over the last few years,” says Liam Findlay, chief executive officer of Miral Destinations.

Miral works closely with DCT Abu Dhabi to serve many roles including managing the destination and its assets and also curating the experiences on the island. While the Yas Waterworld, Warner Bros. and Ferrari World theme parks allowed for plenty of entertainment for visitors, Miral opened another mega park – SeaWorld Yas Island, Abu Dhabi – in

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Miral Destinations manages major leisure and hospitality assets on Yas Island and Saadiyat Island as it aims to significantly boost visitor numbers to Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI

I see us as the Orlando of the Middle East, but even better than that LIAM FINDLAY, chief executive officer of Miral Destinations

May this year. That project is home to the world’s largest multi-species aquarium that houses 68,000 marine animals and holds 25 million litres of water. That aquarium is present in just one realm out of a total of eight massive themed realms that make up the entirety of the 183,000 sqm indoor SeaWorld park. “SeaWorld is the first marine life theme park in the Middle East. You think of what we have within the destination of Yas Island – we have Yas Waterworld, we’ve got Warner Bros. which is an amazing IP, we’ve got Ferrari World

which is a phenomenal IP with the growth of Formula One worldwide and now we’ve got SeaWorld. I see us as the Orlando of the Middle East, but even better than that.

“When you go to Orlando, it takes 40 minutes to go from one theme park to another and you get stuck in traffic. [At Yas Island], we’ve got all the assets within a tight radius. To go from Ferrari World to Warner Bros. is a five-minute drive and to go from Warner Bros. to SeaWorld is another five minutes. We’ve put all these destinations together. And it’s not just the theme parks, our hotels too are in the same destination, as is Etihad Arena. As a destination, we’re really set up for the future,” declares Findlay.

Findlay says that Miral used the initial months of the pandemic as

LEFT: CLYMB Abu Dhabi on Yas Island BELOW: Ferrari World Abu Dhabi; Louvre Abu Dhabi

an opportunity for Yas Island to “leapfrog other destinations”. It came into the global spotlight when it safely hosted the high-profile UFC events during the thick of the pandemic in mid-2020. In 2021, Miral opened the 180,000-capacity Etihad Arena on Yas Island. Alongside its entertainment assets, Miral has also developed the hospitality offerings at Yas Island. In 2021 alone it opened the 545-key Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island resort property, as well as the world’s first Warner Bros. hotel – The WB Abu Dhabi, Curio Collection

by Hilton – and also the156-key DoubleTree by Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island Residences. “With the three new hotels which were launched 18 months ago, we currently have 3,200 keys on Yas Island,” says Findlay.

Developing the island’s hospitality portfolio is crucial when you consider that 4.1 million hotel visitors stayed in Abu Dhabi last year, a 24 per cent yearon-year increase. Consequently, hotel revenues climbed 23 per cent over that period to Dhs5.4 billion in 2022.

Occupancy rates at Abu Dhabi hotels stood at 70 per cent in 2022 and the average hotel stay length for guests was approximately three nights per guest, with an average revenue per available room of Dhs263, indicating the underlying potential to further grow the emirate’s hospitality portfolio.

To generate a buzz around Yas Island, Miral has effectively deployed celebrity star power. In May 2022, comedian and actor, Kevin Hart, was appointed as the first 'chief island officer' of Yas Island. With 178 million followers on Instagram alone, appointing Hart to an ambassadorial role for the island was a smart decision. “Kevin did a tremendous job for us. When we look at Yas Island, we’ve had such rapid growth, but we needed to create a brand of Yas Island.

Kevin helped us to lift that brand,” says Findlay.

In April this year, Aquaman-star Jason Momoa took the baton from Hart to become the newest chief island officer. His introductory video saw him paddleboarding near SEPTEMBER 2023

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the island calling the ambassadorial role a “ridiculously awesome job”.

While Hart and Momoa both spoke to a global audience as the overall destination brand ambassadors, Miral has also driven celebrity endorsements from specific regional markets where it sees likely potential.

“We had Ranveer Singh as our brand ambassador last year. He is our brand ambassador again this year.

“We launched one of our biggest overseas campaigns in India. India’s going through a golden period of travel. We’ve seen that with the increase in flights and the increased SEPTEMBER 2023

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Jason Momoa was appointed as the 'chief island officer' at Yas Island; Saadiyat Beach Golf Club; Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi OPPOSITE PAGE: SeaWorld Yas Island Abu Dhabi

spending within travel budgets. India is going to be a huge market for us and so we’ve invested a lot into it. We have 10 people in our Indian office alone ensuring that we work with the trade over there to convert that business,” says Findlay.

Findlay’s assessment of forecasting India as a prime source market for Yas Island is backed up by figures from DCT Abu Dhabi which said that in 2022, the highest number of international visitors to the emirate arrived from India, followed by Saudi Arabia, the UK, and the US. “We focused on the GCC too last year, as

we see proximity travel being a very strong category. We also have offices in China, Russia and Europe.”

Apart from growing its leisure tourism offering, MICE tourism is also one that Miral has developed.

Last year, the Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau entered into a partnership with Miral which led to the creation of the Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau and Miral Joint Business Event Fund to coordinate their efforts alongside those of DCT Abu Dhabi to attract larger meetings and inbound incentive groups to Abu Dhabi.

“We have very lucrative incentive schemes that start from a 7.5 per cent rebate and can increase for bigger groups. A lot of effort over the last couple of years has been put into [growing] business travel. We’re up 400 per cent on 2019 for business on the books for this year, and we expect to have a great year for business travel.

When you come on these incentives or other kinds of mass groups, it’s not just about where you stay, but also what you can do and what you experience,” says Findlay.

With Miral’s success at building out the overall Yas Island positioning and offering, last year, DCT Abu Dhabi appointed Miral to also oversee the destination management of Saadiyat Island. Saadiyat is a cultural gem of Abu Dhabi. The Louvre Abu Dhabi opened there in 2017 and the interfaith complex of the Abrahamic Family House which consists of a church, synagogue and mosque next to each other, opened earlier this year. Other major cultural projects including the

Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and the Foster and Partners-designed Zayed National Museum are currently under construction. Saadiyat’s leisure offerings include a protected ecosystem for animals, an 18-hole beachfront golf course, and a stunning beach as well as large hotels which are all necessary to grow visitor numbers to the island.

With an expanding portfolio of destinations to manage, technology is crucial for Miral to effectively scale its operations. In May, Miral launched its generative AI service which uses ChatGPT through Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI Service to aid in its chatbot services for customers. Miral, over the last few months, also rebranded its logo to include symbols representing zeroes and ones to denote its focus on becoming a data-driven organisation.

“One of the things we did during Covid was to use data to understand where the recovery was going to be, how that was going to happen and what was the opportunity for us.

When we looked at the data back in

it was talking about proximity SEAWORLD 2020, travel. And we therefore really went and the GCC, and it’s ABU DHABI aftbeener India a successful strategy – but it was

183,000 SQM

The total indoor area of the attraction

68,000 The number of marine animals in the Endless Ocean realm

the data that told us to do so.”

With SeaWorld being in the very early stages of its operational phase at Yas Island and several projects under construction at Saadiyat Island including teamLab Phenomena Abu Dhabi and the Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, Miral Destinations has a full pipeline of activations across the two locations.

“We have a five-year vision for what we need to achieve, and we update that every year. We’ve also got longterm plans to increase the length of stay at these destinations. We have huge development plans coming up in our pipeline, which also means we have strong attendance numbers to achieve,” says Findlay. Abu Dhabi’s vision of attracting 24 million visitors to the emirate will be the immediate number that will be front-and-centre of mind for Findlay and his team.

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HOTEL VIEWS

to environmental initiatives. Our expansive meeting and events facilities, including the 22 meeting rooms and grand ballroom, have received high praise from businesses and event organisers, positioning voco Riyadh as a prime destination for both local and international conferences and events.

Moreover, the public’s reception of our award-winning spa and health club further underscores our commitment to providing top-tier services.

BREAKING THE MOULD Mark Allaf, regional general manager of IHG Hotels and Resorts and general manager of voco Riyadh, is at the helm of voco’s first property in Saudi Arabia

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ours was the first voco property to open in Saudi Arabia. What are some of its highlights? voco Riyadh marked voco’s debut in the kingdom. This establishment is full of character and boasts a plethora of F&B choices including six dining venues ranging from Lebanese to Indian and fine dining specialties. The property stands out for its expansive conference facilities, encompassing over 22 meeting rooms and a majestic grand ballroom. Breaking new ground, it also became the pioneer voco property to incorporate an electric vehicle charging station. The hotel features a spa and health club, in addition to a world-class padel court and an outdoor pool.

What are some of the key F&B offerings at voco Riyadh? The hotel’s impressive dining options include Naya Restaurant which showcases the richness of Lebanese and Levant flavours, Anardana Restaurant transports diners to India with its aromatic dishes, while Acacia Italian Ristorante celebrates the essence of Italian gastronomy serving dishes that capture the authentic flavours of a Neapolitan kitchen. Horizon All Day Dining is a culinary journey around the world and is a buffet-style restaurant that hosts themed nights spotlighting the finest dishes from Saudi, Egyptian, and Asian cuisines, as well as a special seafood buffet. Rotunda Lounge is an oasis of calm enhanced by abundant natural light and a central fountain, and Cabana Pool Bar serves SEPTEMBER 2023

an assortment of snacks by a picturesque outdoor pool.

What are the significant challenges that the hotel industry faces within Saudi Arabia?

With Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 initiative aiming to diversify its economy beyond oil, there’s been a surge in tourism and infrastructure projects. While this presents opportunities, it also means increased competition as new hotels and resorts emerge. On the sustainability front, with increasing global awareness about sustainability, there’s pressure on hotels to adopt eco-friendly practices. While we’ve made strides in this area, the broader industry still grapples with sustainable solutions. Despite these challenges, we remain optimistic. The government’s commitment to bolstering the tourism sector and the inherent potential of Saudi Arabia’s rich cultural and historical heritage offer a promising future for the hospitality industry.

What has been the most encouraging feedback you’ve received since the property opened? Since our grand opening, the feedback from industry stakeholders and the public has been overwhelmingly positive. The culinary scene, in particular, has received substantial acclaim. Many have lauded our expansive range of six restaurants.

Stakeholders in the hospitality industry have also recognised our commitment to sustainability, applauding our dedication

What does it mean for the hotel to have been awarded the Best Business Hotel in Riyadh

by Business Traveller Middle East for three years in a row? Winning the Best Business Hotel in Riyadh title from Business Traveller Middle East for the third consecutive year is an achievement and speaks volumes about our sustained commitment to excellence.

This accolade is a testament to the unyielding dedication and hard work of our entire team, whose efforts resonate in every corner of voco Riyadh. Our esteemed guests, both regulars and newcomers, can take this recognition as an assurance that at voco Riyadh, they are experiencing a standard of service that stands out even amidst the best. While we’re profoundly grateful for this achievement, it also serves as a factor to motivate us to continually innovate, ensuring voco Riyadh remains the epitome of hospitality in Riyadh.

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WORDS SHAISTHA KHAN

One of the most culturally diverse destinations in Canada, this mega city has plenty to offer visitors year-round

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ancouver is home to the third-largest film and television production industry in North America.

But apart from bragging rights over celebrity sightings or visiting the stunning locales featured in your favourite films, there are plenty more reasons to visit the ‘Hollywood North.’ The city is not just for cinema lovers, but even for those seeking an adrenaline rush or a moment of solitude amidst Vancouver’s undisturbed wilderness. Shoppers in search of the most unique items at local boutiques and gastronomes on the look out for local specialities or global cuisines will also feel right at home here.

Travelling to Vancouver from the Middle East is now easier than ever – starting October 28, Air Canada will operate direct four times weekly flights between Dubai and Vancouver.

FROM REEL TO REAL LIFE

STOCKSTUDIOX, JAROMIR VANEK, BARRY WINIKER / GETTY IMAGES

Start your Vancouver sojourn in the heart of downtown at the Marine Building. With its Art Deco style façade, the building might stick out like a sore thumb in the ‘City of Glass’. But there’s more to it than meets the eye and it’s with good reason that the building is considered to be one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture. Upon closer inspection, you’ll find an intricate cornucopia of marine life like sea horses, starfish, and seashells engraved into the terracotta. Swirl in through the revolving doors and you’ll find the foyer – with its stained-glass windows, brass elevators, and cosy phone booths – to be a glorious remanent of the 1930s.

Vancouver is home to large diaspora communities – predominantly Chinese, South Asian and Filipino

TOP: Take in the neoclassical architecture of the Vancouver Art Gallery LEFT: Gastown, one of one of Vancouver’s most iconic neighbourhoods OPPOSITE PAGE: The lively area of downtown Vancouver

The Marine Building is also the site of several Hollywood productions, including the 2005 and 2007 Fantastic Four films, called Baxter Building in the franchise.

Further southeast, make your way to what is arguably one of Vancouver’s most iconic neighbourhoods, Gastown. Its claim-to-fame is that the neighbourhood is Vancouver’s first town centre, named after Jack Deighton, an Englishman who set up shop (or shall we say a tavern) in 1867. Over the years, the historic area has seen equal measures of gentrification and revitalisation, and is now a city centre with eateries, boutiques, galleries, and gift shops. After a lesson on Art Deco, take in the Edwardian aesthetic of Gastown. Its cobbled walkways, the Steam Clock, Maple Tree Square (with the backdrop of the Hotel Europe’s flatiron building from the 1900s), quaint storefronts, and cafés all emanate an old-world charm. A few scenes from the 2008 film series Twilight were shot in Gastown.

Next up is the Vancouver Art Gallery, widely regarded for its neoclassical architecture. The museum’s structure is magnificent in its own right – a 165,000 sq ft building that features 12,000 pieces of artwork. The site is also a former courthouse from the 1900s. Walking up the stairs through the north entrance of the museum, you’ll see some of the mainstays of neoclassical architecture – imposing marble columns, granite lions (inspired by those of London’s Trafalgar Square) on either side of the entrance, a gable roof, and a central dome.

The dramatic entrance has been featured in the background, as superheroes try to save the world, in Season 9 of The Flash.

The Robson Square in downtown Vancouver meanwhile is usually lively with entertainment and events. As you spend a leisurely afternoon here, perhaps you’ll get a chance to feature in a superhero saga?

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Vancouver landmark. A 140m-long bridge suspended 70m high over the Capilano River is equally for thrill-seekers as it is for those seeking a moment of quiet. During the winter season, the surrounding forest is transformed into a magical wonderland, with a light display illuminating the river. Some 5km north of the bridge is Grouse Mountain peak. Remember to visit the Grouse Mountain Wildlife Refuge that is notable for its playful grizzly bears, Coola and Grinder.

FROM THE SEA TO THE SKY 28

Among Vancouverites, the city’s appeal probably lies in the fact that despite being a densely populated metropolis, it also has several urban oases that one can escape to. Bang in the middle of the city is the 1,000-acre Stanley Park, where you can run, cycle or skate along the Seawall (a 28km trail along the sea), or simply put down your picnic basket and take in the views of the waterfront. With nearly half a million trees and a further 28km of trails along deciduous foliage, the public park is also described as a coastal rainforest. Several hundred species of wildlife – including coyotes, the bald eagle, and harbour seals – inhabit the park.

In Vancouver, you can go hiking on a mountain in the morning and be back in time to go paddle boating in the afternoon. One of the best ways to do this is to take the Sea to Sky Highway – a 120km scenic route flanked by the Pacific Ocean on one side and the Coast Mountains range on the other – to Whistler, a ski and mountain sports destination.

Ideally, you should spend a few days in Whistler, but if not, make sure to at least make a few pitstops at the picturesque spots and campsites en route. In Squamish (a midway point between Vancouver and Whistler), take the Sea to Sky Gondola for a short, but surreal journey 885m above sea level. As you ascend over Howe Sound summit, you’ll see the glistening ocean, thicket of pine trees, and snow-capped mountains.

For water sports, head south to the Porteau Cove Provincial Park. The spot is particularly famous among divers for its manmade reef and two sunken vessels. As part of its rich marine life, you may spot river otters here too.

If you’re really lucky, you could catch a glimpse of a pod of elusive orcas or humpback whales.

Back in the city and only 15 minutes away from downtown, the Capilano Suspension Bridge is another SEPTEMBER 2023

Like many North American cities, Vancouver is home to large diaspora communities – predominantly Chinese, South Asian and Filipino.

This also makes Vancouver home ABOVE: Capilano to some of North America’s oldest and most vibrant Suspension Bridge community neighbourhoods. Vancouver’s Chinatown, for instance, is the second-largest only to the one found in San Franciso and the Punjabi Market here is North America’s oldest Indian locality. From cultural events and museums to public art and food markets, they offer a plethora of things to see and do.

But the best thing about any ethnic neighbourhood is the restaurants and hole-in-the-wall places that residents swear by. To that end, try the soft yet chewy fried buns with condensed milk at the Hong Konginspired The Boss Bakery and Restaurant, or the flavourful perfectly-balanced ramen Despite being a at Ramen Danbo in Chinatown. densely populated And as with any metropolitan city, metropolis, the city Vancouver is also where different cultures also has several come together to create a new identity. urban oases that one An example is the Japadog, which is now can escape to a Vancouver staple. A Japanese spin on a North American classic, the Japadog is a hotdog with thinly shaved radish, seaweed, and a soya sauce glaze. There’s also Ancora’s Peruvian-Japanese fare that is rooted in sustainability and draws inspiration from the Pacific Northwest. Expect to find a selection of freshly shucked oysters, ceviche, sashimi, bluefin tuna, and mussels.

Sample a British Columbia speciality, the Nanaimo bar (a dessert bar with layers of crackers, custard, and chocolate) at Granville Island Public Market.

If you’re planning to travel to Vancouver during the summer months, the annual Richmond Night Market – popular for Asian and global cuisines – should definitely be on your radar.

WU SWEE ONG / GETTY IMAGES

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E L E VATO R P I TC H

ELE

THE

TOR PITCH

Business Traveller Middle East gives Nabil Khamaiseh, general manager of Courtyard by Marriott Jubail, five minutes to pitch his property to prospective guests

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“Choose from our three flexible meeting rooms [or] expansive ballroom spanning 150 sqm ” SEPTEMBER 2023

Courtyard by Marriott Jubail is the first Courtyard

by Marriott hotel in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia.

Nestled in the vibrant Majd Square of Jubail city, it appeals to both business and leisure travellers visiting Saudi Arabia.

With 165 guest rooms, including 34 suites, Courtyard by Marriott Jubail offers a wide range of accommodation options.

Our spacious Guest rooms are a generous size of 25 sqm. The hotel features king-sized beds in 100 rooms and twin beds in 26 rooms, providing flexibility to accommodate your preferred sleeping arrangements. Our One-Bedroom suites are configured into either 47 sqm or 58 sqm spaces.

Additionally, our Superior rooms, each spread across 40 sqm, feature kingsized beds and a spacious living area.

Each room is furnished with

contemporary decor and comforting amenities. Whether you prefer the cityscape views or the breathtaking plaza overlooking Majd Square, the choice is yours.

Our commitment to your wellbeing extends beyond the rooms.

Indulge in relaxation and rejuvenation at our fully-equipped fitness centre, sauna, and adjacent indoor pool and spa bath.

Also, savour an exquisite dining experience at Kitchen and Barista, our main restaurant, where international cuisine takes centre stage. From buffetstyle spreads to personalised à la carte options, our culinary offerings cater to many tastes. Kitchen and Barista provides both indoor and outdoor seating, allowing you to enjoy your meal while taking in the charming views of the city. For a quick snack, our Coffee Bar offers speciality brews and light bites throughout the day.

For business travellers, our hotel offers versatile spaces for meetings and events. Choose from our three flexible meeting rooms ideal for conferences, presentations, or social gatherings.

Our expansive ballroom, spanning 150 sqm, can be divided into two separate rooms. Our dedicated events team is ready to assist you in creating a memorable occasion.

Take advantage of our prime location and explore the nearby Cenomi Al Jubail Mall, where shopping, dining, and entertainment converge.

With exceptional service, stylish accommodations, and a warm ambience, we ensure that your visit will be nothing short of extraordinary.

Experience the perfect blend of comfort and convenience, tailored to exceed your expectations. We look forward to welcoming you to Courtyard by Marriott Jubail, your home away from home.

AIR MILES

Paul Evans INTERVIEW VARUN GODINHO

AIR MILES WITH

The co-founder and CEO of Solutions Leisure Group conceptualises, develops, and operates several top dining, nightlife and entertainment concepts in the Middle East

an existing F&B outlet. With almost 50 concepts under our belt, we’ve made some epic moments in our two decades.

ow would you sum up your memoir When I Woke Up? My life story, as written by my friend and business partner Carolyn Coe, it tells the events of starting rough, making mistakes, and the personal suffering and raw grit it took to get back up when life dealt the heaviest of blows. From battling relentless bullying as a child, dying on the operating table and living in a parallel universe whilst in a coma, and becoming a wrongly convicted fugitive imprisoned in a Cairo jail to building a multimillion-dollar business, twice, the book inspires the belief that you can survive anything.

What is the new deal you’ve recently signed with Hyatt Hotels? Recently revealing a US$3 million refurbishment of the multi-awardwinning restaurant and bar, Asia Asia, at its flagship Pier 7 Dubai Marina location, the elevated concept interior and menu were unveiled ahead of the introduction of the portfolio’s fourth venue. Set to open in Q4 2023 on Palm Jumeirah, launching in partnership with Wasl Asset Management Group’s Andaz Dubai The Palm, part of the World of Hyatt Boundless Collection, we’re introducing a new league of Asia Asia with Hyatt Hotels at the boutique hotel.

As we enter a new era of Asia Asia following its expansion from Dubai Marina

H

Give us an overview of Solutions Leisure Group and its current operations. With over two decades within the global hospitality sector, Solutions has risen to be one of the UAE’s most awarded F&B groups. Founded on the shores of Hurghada, Egypt, in 2001 over a gentleman’s handshake with my partner Freek Teusink, the brand expanded to Dubai in 2011. Today, our portfolio of bars, restaurants and family entertainment destinations partner with some of the world’s greatest hospitality groups. We can conceptualise, develop, and operate new concepts from scratch, or re-activate

into Business Bay and Abu Dhabi, I can think of no greater tribute to mark our tenth anniversary in the UAE than announcing the first of many partnerships with Wasl Asset Management Group’s hotels.

Asia Asia Palm Jumeirah is proposed to open in October of 2023 and will see the concept take on a whole new position in the market. The 929 sqm venue will redefine accessible opulence, and include a dedicated dining room, bar area and terrace.

If you could relive one travel experience, which would it be? Maldives. I recently spent a month there with my kids and partner.

Nothing else in the world helps me to reset and realign like that place.

What is your choice of in-flight entertainment?

I mainly travel at night so that I can get some sleep. If I’m not using the time to catch up on emails and WhatsApp messages, then I’m probably watching Top Gear.

How do you spend your air miles? Upgrades.

What’s the grand picture of success for Solutions going to look like? We never looked at success as something we were aiming for.

Every day, we get to bring epic moments to life for people across the UAE, moments that create unrivalled memories in venues we have poured our hearts and souls into. For me, success is the opportunity to be able to do that day in and day out. If there was one thing we would further expand on, it would be an international licensing agreement with a like-minded partner to bring some incredible concepts to the world, something we are putting all our focus into in the last quarter of 2023. It’s been a huge three years for us, but we’re ready to go bigger.

SEPTEMBER 2023

31

OPINION

Room for growth With several hundred thousand hotel rooms being planned for the Middle East, what is the extent to which the hospitality industry in the region can expand?

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SEPTEMBER 2023

foster a competitive business environment.

Collection brand, highlighting the focus on Similarly, Saudi’s Vision 2030 outlines providing unique, distinctive offerings a comprehensive roadmap to becoming to cater to evolving customer preferences. a leading global tourism hub, aiming to Key cities in Saudi Arabia are also still create unique destinations and attract experiencing notable expansion, particularly international investments. in the premium and Traditionally a extended stay hotel An additional destination for luxury segments, while secondary 180,000 keys are travel, the Middle East cities are attracting is now seeing serious investments in midscale expected to enter growth in the more and economy brands. the region over the affordable hotel sector too.

The region’s massive next five years Elie Milky, vice president growth in hospitality of Development for the has been driven by Middle East, Greece, huge investments by Cyprus, and Pakistan for Radisson Hotels, governments, focusing on says there is ample room for growth. tourism, infrastructure and Radisson’s current focus is on initiatives to deliver worldmore affordable, upscale leading destinations. resorts, lifestyle hotels and According to Hala Matar branded serviced apartments.

Choufany, president for the Middle Additionally, the company is East, Africa and South Asia, at global targeting secondary cities in consulting firm HVS, the Middle East has Saudi Arabia for expansion. By catering to experienced exponential growth over the last diverse traveller preferences and emerging 15 years supported by a massive increase in markets, Radisson aims to capture untapped hotel supply across different categories. The opportunities and contribute to the region’s number of quality hotel rooms in the region overall development. The company’s current grew fivefold from circa 100,000 in 2010 to portfolio is 52 hotels and 11,600 keys, 540,000 in 2022, with occupied room nights with 26 hotels and 5,089 keys under growing from 27 million to 135 million. development, with a target of 150 hotels An additional 180,000 keys are expected in the region by 2030. to enter the region over the next five years, Maya Ziade, chief development officer for which is forecast to increase occupied room Premium, Midscale and Economy Division nights to 184 million by 2028. Significant for the Middle East, Africa and Türkiye at government budgets have played a key role Accor, which currently has 137 properties in encouraging private investments and in the region, also believes there is still attracting foreign direct investment in the opportunity for growth, with several region. Today, the Middle East is expected untapped locations and brands. In the to achieve higher growth compared UAE, innovation is being embraced, as to other regions, presenting attractive evidenced by the positive feedback on financial returns and providing long-term Accor’s recently-launched Handwritten investment opportunities.

MUHAMAD CHABIB ALWI/GETTY IMAGES

W

ith more than 600,000 hotel rooms under development or in the pipeline, some may wonder if the Middle East’s hospitality sector is about saturated with new hotels, or is there still scope for more?

In the lead up to the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) 2023, taking place in Abu Dhabi from September 25-27, I spoke to key industry leaders and event partners about this, with insightful feedback and opinions that all lead to one conclusion: there is still unprecedented potential for further growth.

Guy Hutchinson, president and CEO of Rotana, points out that the region’s travel and tourism industry is thriving, and untapped potential remains across key markets including Saudi Arabia and the UAE thanks to the strong visions set by their leaders. With inspiring initiatives such as ‘We The UAE 2031’ vision, the UAE continues to enhance the country’s sustainable infrastructure and

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A resort just for you From well-equipped business facilities to stunning leisure offerings, there are plenty of reasons to book a stay at the new Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah, Dubai

P

alm West Beach, located on the trunk of Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, has become a stretch synonymous with high-end hotels and spectacular dining concepts.

For hotels wishing to set up camp there, they need to bring their A-game in order to stand out from their peers. That’s exactly what Marriott did when it opened its Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah, Dubai a few months ago. That property marked the first Marriott Hotel’s brand resort in

SEPTEMBER 2023

the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the 50th property to join Marriott Bonvoy’s portfolio in Dubai.

The 602-key property has 46 suites, including two presidential suites, and two penthouses. Several of its rooms and suites are interconnected, which can therefore host larger families in adjacent rooms.

There are a total of 10 food and beverage concepts here spanning an eclectic mix of cuisines from Japanese and Mexican to Italian and Levant specialities. For accompanying children, several of the restaurants also have a dedicated kids’ buffet. Some of the standout restaurants include Señor Pico, a colourful Californian-Mexican beachfront restaurant, as well as Italian restaurant Cucina. Most of the dishes at Cucina are

offered in small or sharing-size portions depending on the number of people it is being ordered for (thereby reducing wastage by doing away with standardsize portions). Watch out for the indoor vertical farming set-up at Cucina which reimagines the farm-to-table concept. A DJ is present at dinner to keep the mood upbeat. For similar vibes, head to Myami Pool Bar and Lounge during the day where you’ll find succulent soft-shell crab sliders and wagyu burgers. If you’re after a refined Nikkei experience instead, the new Above Eleven is where you should be. The breakfast buffet meanwhile at Levantera is extensive and is in itself worth waking up early for each morning.

There is no dearth of leisure amenities here. These include a 7,000 sqm of private beachfront, outdoor swimming pools, one of which is a 75m pool with spa baths and a swim-up bar, a well-equipped gym and a large Saray Spa that features four treatment rooms for men and five for women, two express rejuvenation centres, another suite for couples, two relaxation areas and a thermal suite with a sauna, steam room, spa bath and ice station.

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For business travellers, there are eight meeting rooms as well as one grand ballroom. There is also an indoor majlis space and a 1,000 sqm outdoor terrace where events can be held. The 14th floor of the property is home to M Club which has a small meeting room, dedicated breakfast and snacks for M Club guests.

Now, for a limited time only, the property has designed two special offers keeping in mind its domestic audience as well as those visiting from outside of Dubai. The first is the UAE Residents Staycation offer that encourages those from within the country who aren’t flying outside for the summer to instead visit the property. The offer includes a room

as well as a breakfast and choice of lunch or dinner in select venues (Dhs150 dining credit in lieu of a buffet) for two adults. Also, up to two accompanying kids under the age of 12 can avail of the buffer breakfast in Levantera, a choice of lunch and dinner at Myami, Levantera, Cucina or Señor Pico and even unlimited soft drinks and ice cream (all made inhouse at a dedicated ice cream station on the property itself) and can enjoy complimentary access to the kids’ club.

The second offer is called Suite Dreams and is valid on the higher-end accommodation offerings on the property including its Palm Suites, Executive Suites, Presidential Suite, Palm Penthouse

and Royal Penthouse. Guests availing of the Suite Dreams package will receive complimentary access to the daily buffet breakfast at Levantera, a 25 per cent discount on the total bill in select restaurants and bars across the property, Dhs400 spa credit which can be used for massages, facials or body treatments and 24x7 access to M Club lounge which offers its own breakfast, light bites during the day, a grab-and-go menu, and evening canapes and cocktails.

Whether you’re a UAE resident or a visitor to the country, a business traveller or leisure seeker – or somewhere in between all of these – Marriott’s latest resort could offer you a great opportunity to find what you’re seeking.

For bookings at Marriott Resort Palm Jumeirah, Dubai call +971 4 666 1111, or visit marriottresortpalmjumeirah.com. The UAE Residents Staycation starts from Dhs880 per room per night and can be booked using the code ZJL, while the Suite Dreams starts from Dhs1,530 per room per night and can be booked using the code HDK.

SEPTEMBER 2023

G R O U N D T R A N S P O R TAT I O N

The first and last mile The start and end of a business trip can often be the most stressful part of the journey. We look at how to make it a better experience

AZMANL/GETTY IMAGES

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Y

ou’ve caught the same early flight 100 times and you know the drill – pack light, make sure you have enough time for a shot of caffeine in the lounge, board early to stow your hand luggage, then sit back and relax for take off. But what about the two hours before that moment? Being at the airport is easy – how you get there is another matter.

Carolyn Pearson, CEO of Maiden Voyage, an inclusive business travel consultancy, agrees the first part of the trip is stressful: “The first mile I’m thinking what have I forgotten? I’m constantly checking my bag and thinking of a The transport option Plan B.” you choose usually Ground transport is a part of the business depends on the trip that is reliant on destination and the traveller making the time of day the right decision for themselves, and their company, when they are stressed, tired, and in the case of the last mile, probably in an unfamiliar place. What could possibly go wrong?

The first dilemma is which mode of transport to take. Do you jump in an Uber, order a local cab, book a chauffeur, catch a train, WORDS drive yourself, take the Tube or try out an e-scooter? And what drives SEPTEMBER 2023

FELICITY COUSINS

MAIDEN VOYAGE’S TOP TIPS FOR NAVIGATING THE LAST MILE ■ Always have a Plan B. If your driver doesn’t turn up, what will you do?

■ Avoid having your name on a placard as someone could steal your transfer pretending to be you.

■ Check for public transport strikes in your destination before you go.

■ If you have colleagues in the destination you are visiting, ask them for tips about local transport options.

■ When hiring a car, get to know the road rules in each country. For example, in Holland if someone is turning right out of a junction, they have the right of way ahead of you.

■ Have the address of your hotel written down in the local language to avoid any communication barriers.

■ Choose a TMC with a 24/7 helpline so if things go wrong they can fix it for you.

■ Try to aim for daytime arrivals in an unfamiliar destination.

this decision? Speed, cost, safety, ease, sustainability, or perhaps company travel policy?

Understanding ground transport options at an unfamiliar destination is a familiar pain point. Business travellers may face language barriers, different travel systems and tricky payment options.

According to a recent Business Traveller survey, 40 per cent of travellers would take the fastest option, while company travel policy was way down on the list at just 7 per cent.

The survey also showed that 16 per cent of respondents chose transport depending on their knowledge of the destination, while 13 per cent said it depended on the time of day.

Pearson says: “My choice [of transport] would depend on the destination and time of day. If I was going to Lagos, for example, it would be the safest and most expensive – presuming more money means safer.”

George Haysom, chief commercial officer at Idwal Marine, has been a frequent business traveller for 20 years. He says: “During my earlier years of business travel and when China was less developed, I needed to take a 275km journey from Qingdao to Weihai. It was my first time in China and I had no idea how to arrange a safe transport provider. I felt the safest, most reliable option was to opt for a Shangri-La hotel car (at relatively vast expense). It was a SEPTEMBER 2023

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G R O U N D T R A N S P O R TAT I O N

4.5 hour journey and it still felt fairly ropey. Today you can do [the same journey] in just over 1.5 hours on a high speed train.”

COHESION IS KEY

MARTIN-DM, SERTS, SAKLAKOVA/ISTOCK

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Sandra Green, strategic client solutions director at TakeTwo, a global boutique travel management company (TMC), says booking the first and last mile with a TMC gives a co-ordinated approach to your trip.

Green says: “This is important in case your flight is delayed or any other issues arise, in which case your TMC can manage any changes on your behalf. You don’t want to turn up, possibly late, into an unfamiliar location without any idea how you get from the airport to your hotel.”

But travel managers cannot possibly know or research every city and its transport systems, and there are plenty of business travellers without access to a TMC, so the responsibility has ultimately fallen on the business traveller.

Wouldn’t it be Uber has debuted a great if all transport options were in new UK feature that sync? Thankfully enables users to technology is helping book flights directly to fill this gap. Today there are plenty of through its app apps that can help you find the best way around a public transport system almost anywhere in the world (see box).

Uber, which disrupted the ground transport space when it arrived in 2009, is also aiming to provide a one-stop-shop for a seamless journey.

This summer, it rolled out new features in the UK for users to book flights directly through its app. You can already book Uber Rides, train journeys across the National Rail network, Eurostar and coaches with National Express and megabus.

Whether it’s Uber, Bolt, Lyft, FREE NOW, Careem or Gett, ride hailing has shaken up the ground transport sector with its on-demand SEPTEMBER 2023

availability, ease of payment and trusted service. More traditional services have had to adapt to this more flexible way of travelling.

Blacklane, which offers high-end private car services for business travellers, recently launched its “chauffeur hailing” app in New York and Dubai to fit the increasing demand for instant ride-hailing.

GREEN TRANSFERS

It might be more expensive to take a private car but according to the Business Traveller survey only 16 per cent said price was a consideration.

Even lower on the radar was sustainability, with only 8 per cent of respondents saying it affected their choice of ground transport.

After all, a bleary-eyed traveller arriving in an unfamiliar city is unlikely to jump on an e-bike. At most, they might use Uber’s Green option, which provides EV and hybrid ride options. Haysom says the problem is there aren’t many sustainable options. “If I’m getting a cab, I try to use Uber’s Green

option where possible (and it’s often marginally cheaper than UberX), but the problem is that they only tend to have good availability in the bigger cities in Europe.”

However, things are changing, and with the EU Green Deal making it mandatory for companies to publish their ESG reports from this year, sustainability issues for travellers will become more of a focus.

Blacklane has introduced a city-to-city programme across 11 countries with the idea that taking a car between two cities is less hassle, and greener, than catching a domestic flight. With France restricting domestic flights to encourage more sustainable options, Blacklane has filled the gap with 29 city-to-city routes across the country. There are also 36 city-to-city routes in the UK. The company is also transitioning to electric vehicles with the goal of delivering 15 per cent of its global rides via EVs by the end of 2023.

In London one in every four rides this year has been delivered in an electric vehicle.

If city planners had their way we would all be moving towards a more fluid, sustainable system for urban mobility. UK PACT (Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions), funded by the UK Government, is pushing for last mile urban journeys to move away from cars altogether.

According to the website: “Our first and last mile journeys must be seamlessly integrated with public transport to provide travellers with a convenient ‘door-to-door’ experience.

This is critical to supporting a shift away from private car use and designing for a low-carbon society.

One way cities are tackling this is through ‘mobility hubs’. These offer strategically located integration points that allow for multimodal travel, amenities and technologies to support last-mile connectivity.”

With so much to consider when choosing ground transport, preparation is key. But even the best-laid plans can’t predict travel chaos caused by strikes, volcanic ash, or a global pandemic. Haysom recalls one memorable journey: “I had an interesting experience in Gujarat when my driver was run off the road by an ox cart, resulting in a puncture and missing my flight out of Rajkot.”

Sometimes you have to hold your hands up, and hope for the best.

USEFUL GROUND TRANSPORT APPS

■ Citymapper is well known for helping travellers navigate cities and their public transport systems. It covers Europe, USA, Canada (Toronto, Montréal, Vancouver) and cities in Asia (Singapore, Hong Kong, Seoul, Tokyo, Taipei), Australia (Melbourne and Sydney) as well as Mexico City and São Paulo. The news section is useful for strikes and updates on different public transport systems.

■ Cabify is a ride-hailing taxi service available in more than 90 cities across Spain and South America.

■ Eurail will help you with your train travel across Europe. You can find stations, train times and plan routes. It works offline too.

■ Gett is similar to Uber and has partnered with 2,000 ground transport options around the world, covering Dubai and Zurich as well as cities in the UK, Israel and Germany. Gett claims the average wait for a pick up is four minutes and you can integrate it with your company’s travel management systems and choose green options. It offsets all rides in the UK and has the biggest fleet of EV vehicles in London.

■ Mapway offers transport apps for 24 of the busiest cities in the world, with journey planners as well as information on travel and delays. There’s an app for each transport system, and each city.

■ Moovit covers 112 countries and 3,500 cities for ground transport options. You can plan routes on any mode of transport.

■ Trainline gives you live train updates in the UK for delays and diversions.

■ Transit is a real time public transport app, which can be used in 18 countries and more than 300 cities.

■ ROLZO is a chauffeur service which offers private rides across 100 countries, 750 cities and 1,000 airports. It has EV options too.

SEPTEMBER 2023

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SOME OF THE LEADING HOTEL SPAS LOCATED ACROSS THE MIDDLE EAST

WORDS AKANKSHA MAKER

Access tranquillity SEPTEMBER 2023

HOT EL SPA S

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Longevity Hub by Clinique La Prairie at The St. Regis Marsa Arabia Island, The Pearl Qatar

The Spa at Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, Abu Dhabi

This iconic hotel offers a world-class spa experience to its guests. The spa is adorned with dim lanterns, bubbling water features and vibrant wall mosaics, blending Moroccan and Oriental wellness. With a mix of Eastern healing traditions and ancient Arabian therapies, The Spa presents itself as a contemporary oasis steeped in tradition. It features nine private treatment suites, each of which is unique. Signature treatments include hammam rituals, massages, body treatments and advanced facials – with the Cryo Globe Energy facial being a favourite to increase microcirculation and detoxify the skin. mandarinoriental.com/abu-dhabi/ emirates-palace

The St. Regis Marsa Arabia Island, The Pearl Qatar is now home to the newest Clinique La Prairie Longevity Hub. It is the third Longevity Hub worldwide – and the first in the region – offering visitors the chance to learn their Longevity Index and select cuttingedge treatments where they will receive a carefully customised

wellness package. The concept offers comprehensive evaluations together with medical, aesthetic, and wellness services. In addition to smartly designed resting spaces, the premium facility has a lounge, a Movement lab, two exercise centres, and 20 therapy rooms. Wellness technology rooms with an IV room, a cryo chamber, an infrared light dome therapy bed, and a separate aesthetics section are also available. marriott.com

SEPTEMBER 2023

HOT EL SPA S

Raffles Spa at Raffles Doha

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The Raffles Spa features elegant and well-appointed wet and dry treatment areas, relaxation lounges, steam showers, saunas, hammams, spa baths and hydrotherapy facilities. It offers a diverse range of treatments inspired by traditional healing practices from around the world, as well as modern therapeutic techniques. It includes a mix of bath rituals, pool therapies, fitness coaching, meditation sessions, nutrition counselling and more. The beauty treatments use scientific skincare and advanced beauty products from Dr Burgener Switzerland. Guests can choose from a variety of massages, facials, body scrubs, wraps, and more – each designed to promote the highest levels of relaxation, rejuvenation, and overall well-being. raffles.com/doha

Awaken Spa at Atlantis The Royal Dubai

Awaken Spa is a tranquil refuge with streams and waterfalls encircled by an earth-toned stone walkway that leads to a collection of treatment rooms. There are 27 treatment rooms in total, as well as an additional private Royal Spa suite. The therapies at Awaken are of a high calibre featuring top-tier skincare products

The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Kuwait at Burj Alshaya

The spa and wellness facility located in the centre of Kuwait’s capital, overlooks a stunning skyline. The bustle of the outside world is all but silenced as you enter the sanctuary’s softly curving Yabu Pushelberg-designed walls. In addition to a steam room, sauna, and tranquil whirlpool, there are ten treatment rooms. Additionally, the spa offers you a remarkable selection of beauty services and skin care products, including from France’s Biologique Recherche. fourseasons.com/kuwait SEPTEMBER 2023

on the menu, including facial and body treatments from Augustinus Bader. For technology-infused wellness, you could choose between options from Dr Burgener or Proverb, which offer individualised anti-ageing advantages. You’d do well to combine any of that with a gym ession to boost your levels of performance and wellness. atlantis.com/atlantis-the-royal

Talise Spa at Jumeirah Gulf of Bahrain Resort and Spa

The Talise Spa at Jumeirah Gulf of Bahrain Resort and Spa roots its treatments in a customised dermo-cosmetic diagnostic after examining your skin. There is a spa bath, an indoor pool for women and a tropical shower experience. Therapies are a mix of face care, body massages, Indonesian treatments, a signature hammam experience and skin enhancement treatments. One of the most elaborate treatments is the Talise Experience which includes a body scrub, followed by a 60-minute massage and capped with a facial treatment customised to match your skin type. jumeirah.com

The Ishtar Spa by Resense at Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea, Jordan

The spa at this luxury resort infuses mineral-rich waters and muds, filtered UV light and elevated oxygen levels to nourish mind and body. The natural healing powers of the Dead Sea are an integral element in each of the treatments. Highly recommended is the Dead Sea Hammam which offers the ultimate cleanse. A fullbody black soap cleanse is followed by an application of the intensely nourishing Dead Sea mud. You can also consider the Dead Sea Purifier Facial and the Dead Sea Salt Massage.

Other experiences include a blend of Polish, Thai and Arabian rituals. kempinski.com/hotel-ishtar SEPTEMBER 2023

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HOT EL SPA S

Banyan Tree Spa at Banyan Tree AlUla, Saudi Arbaia

The Banyan Tree Spa is the ideal setting for a physical and mental reboot. The holistic methods used at the spa combine Arabian and Asian customs, and are based on the use of natural, indigenous substances. The Banyan Tree’s spa concept places a strong emphasis on wellness, and the spa treatments – massages, facials, and body scrubs – are skillfully performed in tranquil settings with walls made of compacted sand that mirror the desert’s shifting hues throughout the day. Soon, sound baths, yoga, and meditation sessions as well as treatments in a secret cave will be available. The spa experience includes the breathtaking Rock Pool, nestled amid the sandstone mountains of the Ashar Valley. banyantree.com/saudi-arabia/alula

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The Spa at The Ritz-Carlton Ras Al Khaimah, Al Wadi Desert

Six Senses Spa at Six Senses Zighy Bay, Oman

The Six Senses Spa in Oman is encircled by lime bushes and date palms. The steam room, sauna, ice cave, and two hammams are built in the traditional Arabian style and can be found past the opulent welcome lounge and boutique shopping area.

Making your way to the spa is itself a calming experience that helps you SEPTEMBER 2023

to then fully enjoy the relaxation room that wraps itself around you.

Guests are also encouraged to visit the Six Senses Alchemy Bar where they can create their own skincare and aromatherapy products. Apart from the nine treatment rooms, guests can even spend time in the indoor fitness facility or head to the outdoor jungle gym. sixsenses.com/resorts/zighy-bay

This premium spa experience is made possible by the use of herbs and spices grown nearby, as well as skilled therapists, and restorative hydrotherapy facilities. The resort, with its desert setting, provides the opportunity to completely unplug and achieve mindfulness and peace.

The Rainforest space transforms the area into a restorative haven by fusing European hydrothermal culture with Middle Eastern bathing customs. It features a plunge pool, therapy bath, steam room and separate men’s and women’s lounges. Therapies one can choose at the spa include body scrubs, body wraps, facials, and massages, among others. ritzcarlton.com

Photograph by Joachim Guay

EXCLUSIVE PAINTINGS, SCULPTURES, PHOTOGRAPHY AND TIMEPIECES FROM AWARD-WINNING INTERNATIONAL ARTISTS Limited Edition Clock by David Galbraith

Painting by Andrew Vicari

WORDS DIVSHA BHAT

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REWIRED TECHNOLOGY Travel gadgets that should accompany you wherever you go

GoPro Hero11 Black

G

et ready to capture epic moments like a pro with the Hero11 Black. This GoPro gadget automatically sends highlight videos straight to your phone. With its larger image sensor, you will experience higher quality and wider shots. Share your vertical masterpieces on social media in seconds.

The HyperSmooth 5.0 technology is packed with AutoBoost and Horizon Lock, guaranteeing your shots are super smooth. Night Effects allow you to get creative even after the sun goes down, while the 10-bit colour breathes life into all your videos. The Hero11 Black comes with all the essentials you need such as a carry case, battery, mounts and more. Don’t forget to grab a microSD card to complete the package.

Price: Dhs1,479

SEPTEMBER 2023

TR AVEL G AD GE TS

FIND YOUR PHONE...

EVEN WHEN IT’S ON SILENT MODE

Tile Pro

Camry luggage scale

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he Camry luggage scale is a nifty little gadget that comes in a bunch of cool colours. It is perfect for those who love to travel without having to worry about possible overweight baggage fees. This portable scale is super easy to use, with a backlit display that shows your luggage weight in big, bold numbers. It can handle up to 50kg, so you can weigh even your heaviest suitcases. But wait, there’s more. This handy device also tells you the temperature, keeping you in the know wherever you go. It’s built tough with a sturdy clasp and a strong nylon strap, so it’s sure to last you for many adventures. Price: Dhs23

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DATA LOCK — FOR EASY READING

ay goodbye to losing things and hello to stress-free tracking.

Tile Pro is your ultimate tracking companion. With its innovative features, you will never lose your belongings. The device’s sleek design fits perfectly on your key ring, bags or luggage. Download the app and when your Tile is nearby, ring it with a simple tap on your phone. Meanwhile, if you are far away, the app will show you where your Tile was spotted on a handy map. It is compatible with both iOS and Android devices and seamlessly works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri. With its water-resistant build, long-lasting battery and impressive Bluetooth range, Tile has got your back.

Price: Dhs104

47 IT CAN HANDLE UP TO 50KG SO YOU CAN WEIGH EVEN YOUR HEAVIEST SUITCASES

Kindle Paperwhite

I IT’S WATERPROOF, SO YOU CAN ENJOY YOUR FAVOURITE BOOKS ANYWHERE

ntroducing the Kindle Paperwhite 16GB. It is a cool reading companion that’s packed with great features. First off, it has a 6.8-inch display with thinner borders, so you can immerse yourself in an ebook. The adjustable warm light is a game-changer, allowing you to customise the screen shade for maximum reading comfort.

With its impressive battery life, you can forget about constantly charging it – it lasts up to 10 weeks. Plus, it’s waterproof, so you can enjoy your favourite books anywhere from the beach to the bathtub. And don’t forget, you have access to over one million ebooks, including a great selection of Arabic titles. If you opt for the Signature Edition,, you will get wireless charging and 32GB storage. Price: Dhs629 (for the 16GB model)

Anker 737 Power Bank

GIVES YOU NEARLY FIVE FULL CHARGES

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IMAGES: SUPPLIED

he Anker 737 Power Bank (GaNPrime PowerCore 24K) is a total powerhouse when it comes to portable charging. It’s got features such as Power Delivery 3.1 and bi-directional technology, which means it powers up lightning-fast, giving you a whopping 140W of charge to devices. With a massive 24,000mAh capacity and a handy digital display, you’ll always know how much power you’ve got left. The manufacturer has even thrown in a USB-C to USB-C cable and a travel pouch to sweeten the deal. Price: Dhs423 Note: Prices can vary across retail outlets

SEPTEMBER 2023

Jason Atherton, British chef and owner of multiple Michelin Starred restaurants, has a global culinary empire. He’s now bringing a fresh twist to Dubai’s dining space

SIGNED, SERVED, DELIVERED WORDS VARUN GODINHO

GASTRONOMY

“Y

HYKU DESESTO; NEIL CORDER; VITALII HONIUKOV

ou have to keep up with trends without being trendy, because being trendy means you’re going to have a short shelf life. You have to be current and have your finger on the pulse without being too on the pulse.

It’s a fine line to walk,” declares Jason Atherton, the British chef, restaurateur, and TV personality, who’s spent over three decades walking that fine line.

Here in the Middle East, Atherton started working on the concept of Gordon Ramsay’s Verre restaurant at Hilton Dubai Creek in 1999. Not only was it Ramsay’s first overseas restaurant, but it was widely regarded as among the first restaurants by a celebrity chef to open in Dubai. “The culinary landscape in Dubai was completely different to where it is today. It was a lot harder to get good produce and trained staff back then. I think the work we did opened the floodgates for many people to come forward and continue that culinary journey in Dubai today,” says Atherton.

During his stint at Verre, there were a handful of restaurants in the emirate that he distinctly remembers.

“The chefs’ after-work hangout was Rock Bottom in Bur Dubai. Burj Al Arab had just opened, and so we used to flock to Al Mahara, the seafood restaurant in the basement. The Noodle House too was a brand-new burgeoning concept at the time and so all of us chefs used to go there. Back then, there weren’t loads of Michelin Star chefs opening restaurants [in Dubai],” notes Atherton.

Atherton, who was the head chef at Verre from 2002-20005, returned to London in 2005 to work on another Ramsay project, Maze, which is where he tasted Michelin success when the restaurant earned its first Star. Atherton eventually branched out a few years later to set up his own entity called The Social Company. “We have seven properties in London and growing,” says Atherton. Two of these, Pollen Street Social and City Social, have one Michelin Star each.

“We have 17 restaurants globally. We have a portfolio of multiple styles such as French bistro, modern British brasseries, fine dining, Michelin restaurants and cocktail bars. We’re a family business – my wife runs the accounts and I’m the culinary director. As a global hospitality group, we operate in places including Shanghai, Mykonos, St. Moritz, New York and AlUla in Saudi Arabia. We’re based out of London, of course, but Dubai is a second home for us.”

Atherton returned to Dubai’s dining landscape with the opening of Marina Social at the InterContinental Dubai Marina in 2015. That space eventually closed this year. But far from exiting the city, he has now instead debuted an all-new four-in-one dining and entertainment concept at Grosvenor House, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Dubai.

City Social House, spread across the 43rd, 44th and 45th floor of the property, incorporates four concepts: City Social Dubai, Jazz By City, 7 Tales and Row on 45.

He says he worked closely with Pam Wilby, complex general manager of Grosvenor House Dubai and Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort and Spa, to convert the former nightclub – Embassy – into City Social House. “This house offers everything from a fantastic brunch on a Saturday at City Social Dubai to multifaceted experiences in different areas. You can be at the bar and listen to the DJs or sit out on the terrace in the winter months. You can enjoy a family meal or put your glad rags on and listen to great music [accompanied by] European food with Japanese flavours.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: City Social Dubai; Aged beef tartare; Jazz By City OPPOSITE PAGE: Jason Atherton at work in his restaurant's kitchen

GLOBAL AMBITIONS

Atherton's The Social Company operates 17 restaurants around the world in places including Dubai, Shanghai, Mykonos, St. Moritz, New York and AlUla in Saudi Arabia SEPTEMBER 2023

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Miso cured Scottish salmon with king crab at City Social; 7 Tales; Row on 45

SEPTEMBER 2023

“On Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, Jazz By City comes alive as a sophisticated steakhouse with live jazz music. If you want to dance the night away, you can do so in 7 Tales which has fantastic Japanese-inspired cocktails and modern funky music.

“When it’s your birthday, book in at Row on 45, which has a 17-course fine dining menu. It’s very exclusive and you move to three different rooms as you go through your menu. Each room has a different ambience, different crockery, and a different menu. It’s probably one of the most exciting spaces I’ve ever opened.”

While City Social Dubai, Jazz By City and 7 Tales are already open, Row on 45 – inspired by sister restaurant Row on 5 which will soon open on Saville Row – has only 22 seats and will debut this month.

Beyond Dubai, here in the Middle East, Atherton turned his attention to Saudi Arabia and opened Maraya Social in AlUla on the rooftop of Maraya which is the world’s largest mirrored building. The restaurant, which opened in 2021 and is operational during the winter months, is easily accessible to guests from many of the top-end luxury resorts which are establishing themselves in AlUla.

As for expansion plans, Atherton isn’t in a rush to open a streak of restaurants in the region. “We believe in the Middle East and the way it’s growing. We certainly want to operate more in the Middle East. I always like to let the business grow organically and let people choose us rather than us trying to choose them. When people choose to work with you, they choose you for the right reasons and then that relationship flourishes,” says Atherton.

Beyond building a global culinary empire, Atherton’s celebrity profile has only ascended with his TV appearances. Some of the most prominent were when he co-hosted the UK series, My Kitchen Rules, appeared as a guest on MasterChef Australia and hosted BBC’s The Chef ’s Brigade. In July, his latest show – Dubai Dishes – which explores some of Dubai’s little-known culinary talent, debuted on UK’s ITV network. For Atherton, there were aspects of Dubai’s culinary universe which he discovered for the first time when researching the show.

“Chef Hattem Mattar has a restaurant called FIYA, and he cooks a lot of food outdoors. We hadn’t heard of it until we started research for the show. He’s cooking amazing authentic Middle Eastern food over an open fire, giving it a new twist. I think concepts like this showcase how versatile Middle East cuisine can become,” notes Atherton.

While the 52-year-old Atherton can spot emerging talent, and even mentor them as he has in The Chef ’s Brigade TV series, he can also identify a flash in the pan. “It’s important to remember that everybody wants to be somebody really fast. But you should take your time, because if you learn your craft properly, you can be around for a very long time.

“You have to look at the greats, the Jean-Georges, the Thomas Kellers, the Alain Ducasses – they’ve been around forever, and they’ll be around forever. It’s because they understand quality, luxury and their guests,” says Atherton who has refined his craft alongside the likes of Ferran Adrià, Marco Pierre White and Pierre Koffmann.

“Now, you can be a flash in the pan and at the age of 23 be that hit chef that everyone wants. But your offer is limited because of your knowledge. You have a very successful three-four years, and then remember that you’re not the only hit chef in the world – there are another 5,000 that appear around the corner. How do you sustain the challenge of those people? How can you take something trendy and turn it into something more meaningful and sustainable over time?

“I’ve made mistakes. My restaurants have been almost too trendy and super busy for two-three years and then they start to fall off a little bit. The customer base changes quite regularly. We’re always trying to find new customers and understand their likes and dislikes. Never take for granted that your restaurant is busy today. We have a motto that every new guest is always a potential regular, and if you don’t treat them that way and just see them as a number coming through that door, you won’t be in business for very long.”

Coming from someone who’s been in business for over three decades, Atherton puts his money where his plate is.

VITALII HONIUKOV; NEIL CORDER

GASTRONOMY

SPONSORED

A rewarding stay Palazzo Versace Dubai’s newly-launched ORO Rewards programme has plenty of incentives to build a loyal fan base

R

esembling an opulent 16thcentury Italian palace, Palazzo Versace Dubai which opened in 2016, has since then been a landmark property for guests seeking an ultra-luxury stay in Dubai.

With its neoclassical architecture, high ceilings, sprawling landscaped gardens, and expertly-crafted Italian furnishing, the property is a treat for guests.

In order to further its appeal and incentivise its guests, Palazzo Versace Dubai introduced its ORO Rewards programme in June this year.

The brand-new guest loyalty programme allows members to avail of an array of benefits during their stay at the property and also the ability to earn and redeem rewards while they do so.

Members of the new ORO Guest Recognition Program can immediately unlock exclusive privileges and offers the moment they sign up. It comprises three membership tiers – Emerald,

Ruby, and Diamond. Each of these tiers offers varying perks from complimentary breakfast and discounted rates on rooms and suites to dining and spa credits.

The ORO Emerald tier, issued on the first stay at Palazzo Versace Dubai, offers a 10 per cent reduction on the best available rate of a room or suite. Also, it offers a 20 per cent discount on F&B (except Q’s Bar and Lounge and brunches), a 20 per cent discount on massages at The SPA, a 10 per cent discount at The Flower Shop and complimentary breakfast too.

The ORO Ruby tier, available to guests on their fifth stay at the hotel, offers a 10 per cent reduction on the best available rate for rooms and suites, access to ORO Lounge, complimentary breakfast, one 30-minute spa massage with private jacuzzi access or Dhs250 spa credit (a minimum two-night stay is required), late check out until 3pm, a 20 per cent discount on F&B (except Q’s Bar and Lounge and brunches), a 20 per cent discount on massages at The SPA and a 10 per cent discount at The Flower Shop.

The most rewarding tier, ORO Diamond, is issued on the tenth stay at Palazzo Versace Dubai. It has the most

extensive range of benefits including exclusive room or suite rates, two personalised Palazzo Versace bathrobes, VIP amenities on arrival, complimentary breakfast, guaranteed upgrade to the next room category (up to Grand Suites), access to ORO Lounge, a dedicated cabana at one of the hotel’s pools, complimentary lunch or dinner at Vanitas or Enigma (once during the stay) or Dhs500 F&B credit per room per stay (a minimum two-nights stay is required), late check out until 4pm, 25 per cent off on F&B (except Q’s Bar and Lounge and brunches), a 25 per cent discount on spa massages and a 15 per cent discount at The Flower Shop.

The guest recognition programme is designed to be progressively rewarding with increasing stays and visits every year, allowing members to avail of several add-ons when booking a qualifying rate through the Palazzo Versace website too.

A stay at one of Dubai’s grandest hotels just got a whole lot more rewarding.

Palazzo Versace Dubai, Al Jaddaf, Jaddaf Waterfront, Dubai; +97145568888; ororewards.palazzoversace.ae

SEPTEMBER 2023

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SPONSORED

The Macallan releases The Colour Collection

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Introducing a new range of exceptional whiskies exploring The Macallan’s commitment to natural colour and sherry seasoning

he Macallan, founded in 1824, has nearly two centuries of cultivated pedigree and craftsmanship in creating single malt whiskies.

The Colour Collection showcases a new range of exceptional age statement whiskies exclusive to travel retail celebrating the brand’s commitment to natural colour and reflecting the influence of sherry seasoning.

The Collection is a collaboration with US graphic designer David Carson who created a unique set of designs which feature on the Colour Collection’s packaging showcasing his signature collage style. He drew inspiration from the landscapes and natural colours of Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, which is reputed for its historic vineyards and fine wines where The Macallan’s sherry seasoned oak casks are crafted.

“The expressive wonder of colour is something that never gets old. You just can’t beat nature’s palette. I see Jerez as one huge, white canvas, its mysteries waiting to be discovered. It’s really inspiring to experience the shapes, colours, textures, and soil from Jerez de la Frontera. This is where every one of The Macallan’s sherryseasoned casks comes from. This is the soul of the Colour Collection. It all starts here,” says Carson.

Crafted to The Macallan Whisky Mastery Team’s exacting specifications, the sherry-seasoned oak casks are shipped to Scotland where they are filled with The Macallan’s spirit. Those casks

are the single greatest contributor to the natural colour, distinctive character, aromas, flavours, and quality of The Macallan’s single malts.

The Colour Collection features a series of five aged expressions – 12-, 15-, 18-, 21- and 30-years-old – and marks the return of age statement whiskies to The Macallan’s global travel retail offering.

The Macallan Colour Collection 12 Years Old has notes of sweet oak, lemon peel with vanilla biscuits and pear on the nose, syrup sponge with citrus curd, orchard fruits and a hint of nutmeg on the palate and a medium with sweet oak and citrus peel finish.

The Macallan Colour Collection 15 Years Old has notes of vanilla toffee and crystalised ginger on the nose, citrus pastry with creamy vanilla custard and baked peaches on the palate and a toasted oak with citrus and cinnamon finish.

The Macallan Colour Collection 18 Years Old meanwhile has notes of clementine, pana cotta, and baked apples with sultanas sweet oak on the nose, vanilla sponge, milk chocolate with orange, citrus peel, oak and honeycomb on the palate and a medium with sweet oak and orange finish.

The Macallan Colour Collection 21 Years Old has notes of crème brûlée, candied orange and lemon, sweet aged oak with caramelised pineapple on the nose, tropical fruits, candied ginger, coffee creme, hazelnuts, dark chocolate orange and cardamom on the palate and a

finish of medium with balanced oak spices.

The Macallan Colour Collection 30 Years Old has flavours of pineapple, dried mango, caramelised banana, crème brûlée with sweet aged oak and orange oil on the nose, tropical fruits with almond, a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg intertwined with creamy baked custard and crystalised lemon peel on the palate, and a finish of medium with sweet woodspice and tropical fruits.

Carson noted that the collaboration with The Macallan was one of a mutual exchange of ideas. “Working with The Macallan is like having a conversation with an old friend – one who happens to be an excellent craftsman.

They’ve spent two hundred years refining their processes to create the best whisky possible, and the knowledge they have is really incredible. At the same time, they’re very open to new ideas, especially when it comes to art and design. I listen to them, and they listen to me, and there’s a mutual understanding there,” adds Carson.

A series of immersive art exhibitions celebrating The Macallan’s exclusive partnership with David Carson are scheduled to take place in London, Shanghai, Dubai, Singapore and Los Angeles.

The Colour Collection will be available in The Macallan Global Boutiques and in key airports and travel destinations around the world from September 2023. For more information, visit themacallan.com SEPTEMBER 2023

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LIFESTYLE

COMPILED CAMILLE MACAWILI

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SEPTEMBER 2023

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As you wind down your summer break and settle back into the office, these are the smart-causal essentials to help you look ready for the part

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Knitted Cotton Blazer Dhs2,560 Thom Sweeney thomsweeney.com

Jordaan Horsebit Leather Loafers Dhs3,880 Gucci gucci.com

SEPTEMBER 2023

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SPIRITS

At your service

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MMI Diplomatic, a dedicated division of the Dubai-headquartered MMI, caters to diplomatic missions in major markets across the Middle East, Africa and Indian subcontinent

M

MI, headquartered in Dubai, is a leading import, sales, marketing, distribution and retail organisation operating across several major markets.

Its history dates back to more than 100 years when its founders Gray Paul & Co first began trading in the region from Basra, Iraq.

Later rebranding as Gray Mackenzie & Co in 1862, they eventually moved their business to Dubai in 1916.

More recently, MMI became a subsidiary of the Emirates Group in 2000. Currently, it has operations in 42 countries across key geographical regions including East Africa, the Middle East, Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia.

MMI is now best known as a world-class beverage distribution company. Apart from actively operating a number of its own retail stores, as well as supplying travel retailers and Duty Free operators, one of the lesser-known divisions of its business is MMI Diplomatic.

SEPTEMBER 2023

Since 2007, MMI Diplomatic has been serving diplomatic missions, embassies, consulates, military bases and diplomats in the Middle East, Indian subcontinent and Africa from its state-of-the-art temperaturecontrolled logistics hub in Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai.

MMI’s market advantage extends to the fact that it has access to exclusive premium brands, and is able to source directly from brand owners thereby ensuring quality, provenance and access.

In 2008, MMI launched Le Clos, a fine wine and luxury spirits retailer that has an extensive range of prestigious wines and spirits sourced directly from producers and also stocks several limited-edition products.

Through its luxury boutique Le Clos, MMI also offers En Primeur wines, a system to purchase rare and coveted wines from esteemed makers in Bordeaux, before they are bottled. They offer top fine wine storage facilities at Eton Park, ensuring perfect cellaring conditions.

MMI also reportedly represents seven of the world’s top ten spirit companies, with more than 400 brands from over 40 countries. Key global agencies including Bacardi Martini, Pernod Ricard, BrownForman, Moët Hennessy and Edrington all have long-term partnerships with MMI. MMI’s stock includes in excess of 4,000 wines from more than 35 countries.

In collaboration with Sirocco, it has also become a major beer and cider distributor in the UAE, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar.

All of these partnerships, ventures and expertise on behalf of the MMI parent company, feed into making MMI Diplomatic an equally successful sub-division.

In the UAE, MMI Diplomatic has been servicing the diplomatic community since 2007, supplying various missions across the country. MMI Diplomatic also has dedicated teams to build partnerships and service embassies as well as consulates, and also has a customer service team that specifically handles Diplomatic orders and supports events.

The advantages of MMI Diplomatic, beyond its vast product selection, also lies in its cultivated expertise in accurate forecasting and inventory management to ensure the right stock levels. Clients placing orders online can enjoy door-to-door delivery service with the added advantage of diplomatic privilege for their shipment.

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TR IED AND TE S TED F LIGHT

Flydubai Boeing 737 Max (business class) Dubai–Olbia

TR IED AND TE S TED HOTEL S

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Holiday Inn Riyadh The Business District

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Al Ain Rotana

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AKI Hong Kong – MGallery

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R48 Hotel and Garden, Tel Aviv

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TRIED & TESTED FLIGHT

FLIGHT TIME 6 hours 55 minutes

Flydubai Boeing 737 Max business class

SE AT WIDTH 19.8 inches (when seated) 21.3 inches (in bed mode)

DUBAI–OLBIA

BED LENGTH 75 inches

SE AT RECLINE

B A C K G R O U N D Flydubai has steadily

increased its routes recently, with a strong focus on European and seasonal flights that offer connectivity to destinations without existing direct lines from Dubai. For summer 2023, this included adding a flight to Olbia Costa Smeralda airport (OLB), operating as a thrice-weekly service until September 30, 2023. This gateway to the northern region of Sardinia operates on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and is serviced by a Boeing 737 MAX aircraft with 156 enhanced economy seats and 10 business class seats.

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C H E C K - I N With flydubai’s close ties to Emirates, business class passengers benefit from access to the Emirates business and first class check-in at Dubai International airport’s Terminal 3. There are self-service and staffed check-in counters for both business and first class passengers. For a 7.25am departure, a 5.30am arrival is ample time to enjoy a swift check-in, with baggage affixed with priority tags to ensure they are returned first at the other side. Then, it’s straight through the smart gates. The full process from arrival to airside took just under 20 minutes.

L O U N G E The perks of the Emirates

and flydubai partnership continue at the Emirates lounge. The impressively large lounge features several beverage stations where guests help themselves to hot drinks and water, as well as buffet stations serving hot Western and Asian delicacies and continental bites too. As it’s early morning, there are also pastries to-go for those in a rush; and for those with a bit more leisure time, a separate Moët & Chandon lounge is well populated with guests enjoying a preflight glass of bubbles.

T H E S E A T Business class features 10

seats: two in a 2-2 configuration and the middle row in a 1-1 configuration. The seats

SEPTEMBER 2023

Fully flat

Seats 2B and 2E come with large storage spaces and no neighbours are all designed in smart shades of grey with flydubai’s signature blue accents, with ample storage, a discreet tray table, a widescreen TV and plenty of sumptuous space to spread out. A plump pillow, headset and water are nice touches that await each guest. The TV is touchscreenenabled, and there’s a vast array of entertainment available. Adjacent to the screen, a USB port ensures gadgets are fully charged upon touchdown. There are controls for both the seat – which reclines fully – and the footrest.

B E S T S E A T Seats 2B and 2E are the ones to book, as these come with large storage spaces and no neighbours. Also, you don’t have to pick between a window and aisle seat, as you can benefit from both.

T H E F L I G H T Despite being on one of the first flights of the new route, the outbound flight was almost entirely full. Inbound was

much quieter, which PRICE is to be expected, Internet rates in as operations had September for a oneonly begun the week way Dubai-Olbia flight prior. The friendly, start from Dhs8,260 professional flight attendants were CONTACT quick to pass around flydubai.com welcome drinks of water and fresh juice, and hand out fluff y blankets. The entertainment selection was impressive, although more locally inspired content would benefit inbound travellers coming to Dubai, as this section was limited. Staff were quick to refill glasses and frequently passed by to check on guests, refraining from disturbing those who were sleeping.

F O O D A N D D R I N K Guests can choose from soft and alcoholic drinks. Snacks are also frequently offered, from bags of nuts and dried fruit to crisps. There were two hot main options, catering to vegetarians and meat eaters, both served with a warm bread roll, side salad and chocolate pudding. Sadly, the pasta dish I ordered was lacking in flavour, although the presentation on a white napkin over the tray table was a nice touch.

A R R I V A L We were given a 30-minute

warning ahead of landing, with all remaining drinks and blankets cleared 20 minutes before hitting the tarmac. A slightly bumpy landing had us arriving in Olbia around half an hour behind schedule at 1pm.

V E R D I C T Flydubai’s business class offering impresses across the categories of comfort, service and entertainment.

The food is the only area that needs a little elevating to align with the rest of the experience. Alice Holtham

TRIED & TESTED HOTEL

Holiday Inn Riyadh The Business District B A C K G R O U N D IHG Hotels and Resorts is massively bullish about its prospects in Saudi Arabia. It currently has around 39 operational hotels in the kingdom across five brands including InterContinental, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Staybridge Suites and voco. Notably, it has another 30 properties set to open in the next three-five years. In June, it opened this hotel in the country’s capital. Business Traveller was present on the very first day that it opened to the public.

W H E R E I S I T ? The new-build threestorey hotel is located in The Business District. It’s a 15-minute drive from the city’s international airport and a short distance from the Riyadh Front Exhibition and Conference Center. Although there is no BEST FOR Its convenient access to the international airport

DON’T MISS Spending time in the bright, spacious and wellappointed lobby

easily accessible public transport from The Business District, a 30-minute Uber ride will get you to downtown Riyadh.

mix – think chia seeds body lotion, parsley stem body wash, kale shampoo and maca root conditioner.

W H A T ’ S I T L I K E ? The property has pioneered Holiday Inn’s Open Lobby concept for the Middle East. This Holiday Inn certainly feels like a much more premium offering compared to other Holiday Inn hotels. The triple-height ceilings that greet you as you enter make the already expansive lobby area look even more so. The check-in desks are to the right, and to the left is a living room-styled space with artworks and books along the walls, as well as couches and velvet armchairs. It serves as a great space to meet with visitors if you’re staying here.

Further down the lobby, the area is flanked by an all-day café to your left and a small media lounge with access to computers to your right – with more couches in between that you can occupy throughout the day.

F O O D A N D D R I N K The main restaurant at the hotel is Casa Oliva (whose name is a nod to the Olive trees which you’ll see as you drive into the hotel). It’s open throughout the day and there’s a well-stocked buffet breakfast with a live cooking station to take specific requests. The à la carte menu for lunch and dinner includes pizzas, lasagnas and risottos. There’s a Josper oven in the restaurant if you’re looking for grilled meats including a veal steak or beef tenderloin.

The L’Espresso Bar in the lobby offers coffee and light snacks throughout the day, and the hotel also has a room service menu with food delivered from Casa Oliva.

Holiday Inn is forging a new path for itself in Saudi and the Middle East R O O M S The 118-key property includes 18 suites with kitchenettes which will likely appeal to long-stay guests. I stayed in the King Standard Balcony room which looked out over a vast expanse of barren land. Art is hung over the bed, there’s a two-seater couch with a coffee table in front of it, a separate work desk with a wireless charging station, and also a TV neatly recessed into the wall. Half length-leather panelling along the wall behind the headboard of the bed and wall-to-wall carpeting along the main living area of the room lent a distinctive upscale vibe. USB charging ports are located on one side of the bed, or you can plug your device into the fixed-line phone at the other side of the bed which also doubles up as your alarm clock and radio. Meanwhile, the Soak bathroom amenities are an interesting

M E E T I N G S On the ground floor, there

are two large ballrooms, separated by a pre-function area. Guests of the ballrooms have a dedicated entrance via the prefunction area. They have provisions for audio-visual presentations and the rooms can be configured in various seatingstyle arrangements depending on the number of guests. There’s a separate 12-seater boardroom for smaller executive gatherings too.

L E I S U R E There are two open-air

swimming pools on the property – one is outside Casa Oliva and the other is beyond the lobby on the ground floor itself. There’s also a fully-equipped gym that’s open 24x7.

V E R D I C T This property perhaps showcases a new era of Holiday Inn properties – one that isn’t content with being in IHG’s Essentials Collections and instead reaches out towards its Premium Collection which includes brands such as voco and Crowne Plaza. Holiday Inn is forging a new path for itself in Saudi and the Middle East, and you’d only have to check in here to witness that new direction. Varun Godinho

PRICE Internet rates for a midweek stay in September start at SAR770 for a King Standard Balcony room

CONTACT King Khalid International Airport Road, Riyadh; +966 11 512 3000; ihg.com SEPTEMBER 2023

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BEST FOR Getting away from it all

DON’T MISS Dinner at Min Zaman

PRICE Internet rates for a midweek stay in September start from Dhs410 for a Pool View Room with Balcony

Al Ain Rotana

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B A C K G R O U N D First opened back in 1999, the five-star property recently underwent extensive renovations along with the addition of a new wing. That wing includes over 100 rooms, chalets and villas, many of which include balconies that overlook the hotel’s resort-style pool.

W H E R E I S I T ? The oasis city of Al Ain is located at the foot of Jebel Hafeet in the UAE, an outlier of the Hajar Mountains.

Within easy reach of the Omani border, the garden city is set amidst a vibrant expanse of greenery and is renowned for its peace and tranquillity. The hotel is adjacent to Al Jahili Fort and is a short drive from Al Ain Oasis and its revolutionary falaj irrigation system.

W H A T ’ S I T L I K E ? The renovation’s emphasis on contemporary design has created a sleek and modern feel. The centrepiece of that renovation is a cavernous lobby, with its neutral colour palette, stylish use of mashrabiya, and impressive feeling of expansiveness. Wooden latticework features prominently throughout the hotel and there’s a sense that the Al Ain Rotana effortlessly straddles two worlds – that of the leisure seeker and the business traveller – both of which are complemented by staff that are attentive and considerate.

R O O M S The hotel has 242 rooms and suites, studios, chalets, and two-storey bedroom villas. We stayed in a Pool View room, replete with a balcony and king-size bed. Decked in contemporary Europeanstyle furniture, including a sofa and a small SEPTEMBER 2023

circular table, the well-appointed room also features a kitchenette, 48-inch flatscreen TV, and two generous bedside tables. A much-needed rain shower was the highlight of the compact ensuite bathroom, while the daily housekeeping and turndown service ensured our room was spick and span.

F O O D A N D D R I N K There are six dining options in total, including Min Zaman, which serves Lebanese cuisine on a terrace overlooking the pool, and the French-Polynesian restaurant, Trader Vic’s. All-day dining is offered by Zest and there’s a handily-located poolside bar called Aquarius. Our first evening was spent at Min Zaman, where we enjoyed meshwi bahria (marinated tiger prawns, grilled lobster, hammour and calamari)

The renovation’s emphasis on contemporary design has created a sleek and modern feel

CONTACT and kheshkhash Zayed Bin Sultan kebab (minced Street, Al Ain; +971 3 lamb served with a 754 5111; rotana.com spicy tomato and garlic sauce). For lunch the following day, we headed to Trader Vic’s and tucked into a memorable brunch, enjoying dishes such as papaya crunch salad with chicken lemongrass strips and spicy Thai shrimp cake. For our final night, we popped to Zest, where we sampled a variety of dishes from a dizzying array of live cooking stations.

B U S I N E S S There are two meeting rooms, each with a capacity to host between 25-60 people. The hotel also has three ballrooms capable of hosting between 55 and 300 guests – all three can be combined to host between 90 and 1,200 guests. The rooms are fully equipped with audiovisual equipment from LCD projectors and monitor speakers to channel mixing consoles. There is also a business centre with professional secretarial support and complimentary wifi.

L E I S U R E The focal point of all leisure

activity is the pool. With an array of loungers and parasols, it’s big, deep and catered to by Aquarius. We spent a sizeable chunk of our weekend there, but if you’re looking for an extra slice of relaxation, head to Zen The Spa, where you can rejuvenate.

There’s also the Bodylines Fitness and Wellness Club, which includes a fullyequipped gym, steam room and sauna, and five padel courts.

V E R D I C T Al Ain Rotana delivers on its promise to provide a ‘redefined oasis of tranquillity’. It is quiet, relaxing and, thanks to its successful renovation, both elegant and stylish. Iain Akerman

TRIED & TESTED HOTEL

AKI Hong Kong – MGallery B A C K G R O U N D MGallery is Accor’s boutique hotel brand, with more than 100 properties globally. Opened last July, this is the second of the brand’s design-conscious hotels in Hong Kong following the opening of the Silveri in Tung Chung in June 2022.

W H E R E I S I T ? Located away from the

main Wan Chai bustle on a quiet corner of Jaffe Road, the hotel is a ten-minute walk from the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), five minutes from Wan Chai MTR station and a threeminute stroll from the new Exhibition Centre MTR station. It’s well-placed to explore the many bars and restaurants along Lockhart Road and the sleek malls of Causeway Bay.

W H A T ’ S I T L I K E ? Housed in an impressive glass structure, AKI Hong Kong channels a Japanese minimalist aesthetic with light natural wood tones throughout. Tall ceilings and an abundance of natural light deliver a welcoming sense of space. The black and grey entrance feels wonderfully discreet, and from there guests whizz up to the reception area on the third floor. A Zen garden will also be added to the entrance by the end of the year, decorated with lanterns, stones and sand drawings. The reception features a lobby lounge and small co-working space, with two tables and a bar area offering remote working options. Billed as a sustainable hotel, AKI’s smart living function automatically shuts off the air conditioning to conserve energy when guests leave their rooms.

R O O M S Set over 25 floors, the 173 rooms come in five categories: Classic, Superior, Superior City View, Deluxe Studio, and, in a first for Hong Kong and rarely seen outside Japan, 20 Deluxe Tatami rooms, which feature king-size beds atop tatami mats.

The most spacious accommodation is the 26 sqm Deluxe Studio room, which I stayed in. It features a separate sitting area with a sofa and a striking yellow and white check feature wall behind the bed. Separated from the bedroom/living space by shoji sliding doors, the bathroom features a unit with two separate sinks and mirrors, along with

Rooftop bar Uncle Ming’s offers guests more than 80 whiskies to choose from Malin+Goetz toiletries and glasses from local ceramics brand Loveramics to place your toothbrush in. To the left is a cubicle featuring a rainforest shower and standalone bathtub, while another cubicle houses a Toto toilet. In a further nod to sustainability, there is a recycling bin inside the cubicle for paper and plastic, though every time I went to put something in it, the toilet detected my presence, the lid lifted up, and set off the selfcleaning routine. All rooms feature a tablet control panel to adjust the blinds, curtains and temperature to your preference.

Amenities include high-speed wifi, a safe, 50-inch Smart TV with Chromecast, a mini

fridge with complimentary glass bottles of water, Nespresso machine, and a teapot and cups, which you can brew the signature MGallery tea in.

F O O D A N D D R I N K The signature all-day dining restaurant/sake bar Tangram, which features the same minimalist vibe as the rooms, offers Japanese and Western breakfasts. I opted for the AKI Eggs Benedict and enjoyed perfectly poached eggs in a truffle Hollandaise sauce served atop avocado and a muffin. Whisky fans can head to rooftop bar Uncle Ming’s, which offers more than 80 whiskies. I arrived at midnight, when it was just about to close, and definitely missed out.

M E E T I N G S There’s no official meeting facilities, but the co-working space at the reception features a communal table where up to eight guests can plug in their laptops.

L E I S U R E The hotel has a 24-hour gym on the top floor with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto Victoria Harbour.

V E R D I C T Exuding chic minimalist vibes,

this hotel is well placed for anyone looking for a relaxing stay in one of Hong Kong’s most popular and well-connected districts.

Helen Dalley

BEST FOR A distinct Japanese aesthetic and cosy co-working space

DON’T MISS Japanese whiskies and Victoria Harbour vistas at Uncle Ming’s

PRICE Internet rates for a flexible midweek stay in September start from HK$2,492 for a Deluxe Studio room (HK$1,695 for entry-level)

CONTACT 239 Jaffe Road, Wan Chai, Hong Kong; +852 2121 5000; aki-hongkong-mgallery.com SEPTEMBER 2023

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R48 Hotel and Garden, Tel Aviv

DON’T MISS

B A C K G R O U N D While the hotel opened only in March, the building dates back to the 1930s. One of a new wave of luxurious boutique hotels in the city, R48 is the second hotel of R2M Group, the Tel Avivbased hospitality group led by Ruti and Mati Broudo.

Spending time in the room – you should enjoy everything from the quirky tech to the complimentary locally-made snacks

PRICE Internet rates for a midweek stay in September for a suite start from US$940 per night

W H E R E I S I T ? Located on Tel Aviv’s famous Rothschild Boulevard, it is situated in a tree-lined street within easy reach of the beach, restaurants, shopping districts and business centres.

CONTACT 48 Rothschild Boulevard, Tel Aviv, +972 3-556-0011; r48.co.il

W H A T ’ S I T L I K E ? Seamlessly blending the old and new, this early 20th-century building holds all the character of a period property coupled with all the mod cons of the most futuristic hotel in keeping with Israel, the ‘high-tech nation’. Simple but elegant, R48 is refined minimalist chic at its best. Set on one of the city’s most vibrant streets, it feels like an urban sanctuary even amidst the hustle and bustle of the busy boulevard below.

suite’s televisions which randomly turned themselves on. Each suite also offers a generous range of complimentary locallymade snacks, chocolates and soft drinks.

R O O M S All of the 11 rooms are suites, and each is designed to feel like a small Tel Aviv apartment. Mine was set within the original structure of the building so it oozed character with the Bauhaus wraparound balconies outside the living room and bedroom. Tech plays a big role in the rooms from heated toilets to tablet-controlled sound, lighting and temperature systems.

However, this can be a pro and a con, as during the one night I was there, I was woken not once but twice, by each of the

F O O D A N D D R I N K The hotel restaurant, Chef’s Table, has become one of the hottest new spots in the city. When I stayed at the hotel in April, the wait list already ran into August. The breakfast is worth getting up for. A beautiful à la carte selection includes more unusual dishes such as a delicious smoked mackerel in addition to the traditional fare. Staff are happy to cater to personal taste too – I was able to get superb gluten free bread and satisfy my avocado toast craving.

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BEST FOR The location. It is within easy reach of the food market, Shuk HaCarmel, and the Friday craft market, Nahalat Binyamin

The staff made me feel like I was in someone’s home rather than a hotel

B U S I N E S S The hotel has a small meeting room which can seat 14 people and has an 85-inch TV. The refreshments include coffee, tea, mineral water, soda and pastries with the option to add breakfast, lunch and cocktails at an additional charge.

L E I S U R E There is a very impressive sized gym for the size of the hotel, as well as a beautifully landscaped rooftop pool area with space for a handful of guests.

Designed by revered landscape architect Piet Oudolf, best known for The High Line gardens in New York City, every space is created to blend art, design and luxury.

V E R D I C T This is a high-end hotel with service to match. The staff are very warm and made me feel more like I was in someone’s home rather than a hotel. Like many places in central Tel Aviv, it is not a place for light sleepers, but the hotel has that covered with a handy pair of ear plugs placed by the bed just in case. Melanie Swan

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POSTCARD

Walk the line

Three-time Slackline World Champion, Jaan Roose, recently undertook one of his toughest challenges yet. The Estonian Red Bull athlete successfully traversed 150m across an LED-lit slackline connecting the two towers which form a part of the Raffles and Fairmont hotels in Doha. In crossing the line which was just 2.5cm wide and strung across more than 185m off the ground (nearly twice the height of London’s Big Ben), Roose completed his feat – titled “Sparkline” – in his first attempt and set a new world record for walking the longest LED-lit single-building slackline.

Managing director of Raffles and Fairmont Doha, Christian Hirt, said, “The project serves to underline our commitment to showcasing high-calibre talents that defy the impossible. As this daring athlete ‘Sparklines’ across our towers, we hope it captivates the world and inspires others to push their boundaries.”

SEPTEMBER 2023

VOLODYA VORONIN / RED BULL CONTENT POOL

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