AS DUSIT Thani Lakeview Cairo prepares to bring its second rooms phase online, managing director JITI KOBOS spoke to LIZ O’REILLY about the hotel’s first six months and what’s in store for the future.
Following your opening in March how has the hotel been received so far, what have occupancy figures been like and how are bookings looking for the rest of the year?
Dusit Thani Lakeview, Cairo has been in soft opening with a partial inventory of 203 rooms with the remaining 249 rooms opening from October 2010 onwards. The response from the varied market segments has been positive with occupancies in the region of 50 per cent and the bookings are rising for this last quarter which seasonally is a higher demand period for hotels in general.
You’ve had a busy few months with the opening of your new food and beverage venues Tajine and the gourmet pastry shop, how have they been received?
As the occupation of our immediate area of New Cairo is constantly growing we see growing utilisations of our currently operating food and beverage outlets from social and corporate sources. This pattern will continue to strengthen as we move into 2011 as every month companies and residents are moving in.
More rooms are due to come online this month, how many will be opening and what will be their specifications?
Yes, we have 249 additional rooms including 30 residential apartments coming into operation this month, these will be of the same specifications as our current room product. Our standard room size is 52 sq m, one of the most spacious in the city, which is complemented by the contemporary design, generous open-plan bathrooms, in-room technology, floor- to-ceiling window walls and balconies overlooking gardens, pools and lakes.
I understand there are lots of other new developments planned for October too?
The completion of the second phase from October onwards will include a second ballroom of 650 sq m, seven additional private meeting rooms ranging from 80 to 150 sq m, the Ruen Thai restaurant, which will be the signature venue positioned as the most authentic cuisine in the region, along with the Rose Bar, an evening destination in an elegant contemporary setting, and Café des Artistes an all-day and evening outlet with in-door and out-door seating, serving light bistro-style cuisine and a wide selection of shishas.
All of these additional features will further enhance Dusit Thani Lakeview, Cairo as a destination within New Cairo serving the community whatever the occasion may be.
And 2011 is promising to be an exciting time with lots more facilities, including a spa, opening up. Can you tell us about these and when each is expected to be open?
Indeed, there is more to come, the excitement continues, the Dusit Devarana Spa and Fitness Club will be yet another milestone and highly complementary to our surrounding community, a two-story multi-feature facility that will be a strong representative of all aspects of our Thai character.
During 2011 we will also open two additional dining venues which, we believe, will set a new benchmark within the city’s hospitality landscape.
Once this latest lot of new additions are finished, is that it for the time being or are there even more developments planned for the future?
After all this that will be it, we planned the completion phases in conjunction with the development and occupation pace of our neighborhood to support the operating areas more effectively. It is not particularly feasible to have seven restaurants of which only three really work and the positioning is diluted over time. We are in an advantageous location and thus positioned to be an integral part of this growing community.
Are there any special promotions planned to show off the new facilities?
Throughout the year we offer introductory and promotional rates within our rooms, banquet facilities and outlets for guests to come and experience the property and receive good value at the same time.