The Grand Hyatt Dubai is set to become the largest conference hotel in the Middle East when it opens later this year.
The hotel, which is expected to open in the final quarter, aims to lead Dubai in being the most coveted association and convention destination in the Middle East as well as among international venues. The hotel says the Dubai Government's emphasis on diversification of the economy driving it towards the service sector and the efforts exerted to position Dubai as a travel destination, has resulted in creating a welcoming environment, adequate infrastructure and facilities for inbound visitors to the emirate. The new Hyatt is committed to support this endeavour and is spearheading the movement to position Dubai as a leading global destination for conferences, conventions, incentives and meetings, a hotel spokesman said. The property will offer 674 rooms and suites, 14 restaurants and bars, four 340 sq m of conference rooms capable of accommodating up to 2,000 delegates at a time. The Grand Hyatt sub brand is an assurance to conference buyers that the quality of the hotel will reflect their customer's aspirations and international experience in significant convention markets, said the spokesman. The Grand Hyatt has already launched an intensive marketing campaign designed to attract various segments across the GCC, Europe and the rest of the world to simultaneously penetrate a number of markets - conferences, incentives, conventions, exhibitions, meetings and leisure. The market for regional conferences is growing at the rate of five per cent per annum, but is restricted due to 50 to 200 person seating facilities and the regional exhibition market is growing at the rate of three per cent per year. The Grand Hyatt's marketing efforts has been in place of more than a year, unlocking opportunities and building a network of global conference buyers and in the process has tied up with more than 2,000 conference agencies and buyers across 12 countries, according to Roddy Gordon, marketing director at the hotel. Building a hotel of such size might seem ambitious, but general manager Peter Fulton believes the development is in line with the level of growth predicted by the Dubai Government. "It goes hand in hand with the Government's vision of 15 million visitors by the year 2010. if these numbers are achieved, Dubai is not going to have enough hotel rooms," he said. Fulton is not ruling out leisure travelers with the hotel set in about 50 acres of land close to the city centre and the cruise terminal, golf courses and shopping centre, which will make the hotel ideal for holiday makers as well. The new hotel will also offer 186 serviced apartments for short and long term stays, a double-level carpark with 1,500 spaces, two ballrooms of 1,900 and 800 sq m respectively, a rear atrium with four dhows suspended from the ceiling, a water feature at the entrance to the hotel, spa and a 20-metre indoor swimming pool, 8,000 sq m of landscaping, four tennis courts and 23 lifts. Meanwhile, the group's other property in Dubai, the Hyatt Regency, is being refurbished after 21 years of operation in the emirate. The two Hyatt hotels will together offer 1,100 rooms and suites.