The first hotel complex on the Dubai Marina, Grosvenor House Hotel and Apartments, West Marina Beach Resort by Le Meridien, is scheduled to open in late 2004.
According to Pam Wilby, the general manager, the grand-deluxe Grosvenor House is set to be the exclusive address in the upcoming Dubai Marina - echoing the global standing of its London-based namesake. "I make no bones when I say that Grosvenor House will create new dimensions in the industry, not just because of its stunning interiors but also in the quality and style of service," said Wilby. "From the foundations up, the stunning hotel will be custom-designed to reflect the essence of Arabia fused with the very latest in technology, design and luxury. "But just as the property design and construction will set new benchmarks, so will the staff's commitment to service at every level,'' she said. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of Emirates airline and president of Dubai Civil Aviation, is the man behind the multi-use, 45-storey complex, named Grosvenor House. Sheikh Ahmed was one of the first to appreciate the potential of tourism as a growth engine for Dubai, initiating the construction of the first new beach hotel for more than a decade with Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort & Spa some nine years ago, said Ali Al Mubarak Al Soori, head of the Chairman's Office and Facilities Management at Emirates airline and the owner's representative of the Grosvenor House project. Wilby said the interiors of the hotel and apartments will be ultra-luxurious, distinguished by superb décor and outstanding amenities beyond the expected. Grosvenor House will have 218 rooms and suites in the luxurious, self-contained hotel tower, as well as 206, one-, two- and three-bedroom butler-serviced apartments. All residents will have sweeping views of the skyline, marina and the Arabian Gulf. She said the project team has also focused on creating innovative personal grooming, health and spa facilities exclusive to Grosvenor House residents. There will be a dedicated conference centre, which like both the hotel and apartments, will have a separate entrance. It will feature cutting-edge technology, with a huge multi-use ballroom, boardrooms, syndicate break-out rooms and a service-driven, quality-aware business support centre.