DUSIT Thani Abu Dhabi, Dusit International’s fifth property in the Middle East, has been enjoying a busy year and looks forward to becoming one of the top performing hotels in the city.
General manager Kamal Chaoui says: “Not only are we enjoying support from guests and agents who are already familiar with the Dusit Thani brand, but we are also enjoying tremendous encouragement from the business community and families living around the hotel and strong backing from GCC countries, and new markets from the Asian and European visitors to the city.”
Standing at 37 storeys, boasting the third highest hotel atrium in the world, Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi features a wealth of unique facilities that provide the leisure or business traveller with the ideal destination within its 402 luxurious guest rooms and suites, 131 deluxe serviced apartments and five world-class dining outlets.
The hotel, which held its soft opening in May, has seen a rise in occupancy and RevPar since September. Chaoui says: “For a new hotel to be running 100 per cent occupancy on several consecutive nights during the first six months of opening is indeed a very positive and encouraging sign! In addition, our signature Thai restaurant Benjarong and Namm Spa have been well-received.”
Key international source markets of the hotel are Europe, CIS as well as Asia, specifically China and Japan while regionally, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait have been identified as important feeder markets.
 |
|
Chaoui ... anticipating a busy 2014 for the Mice team |
Chaoui says: “The local market has been a strong supporter and is very important to us. Many travel decisions are made with the assistance of local DMCs, agents and company representatives. Our sales colleagues are very active locally, regionally as well as internationally leaving no stone unturned. Abu Dhabi is a competitive city for hotels with so many wonderful properties operational and under construction.”
At the heart of the facilities is a spacious conference centre with a variety of function rooms that can host up to 2,000 people. This includes the 785 sq m Onyx Ballroom, fully equipped to handle all types of events, conferences, exhibitions, meetings, banquets, weddings or social events. The hotel also offers other meeting room facilities which can be configured into different set-ups, ranging from 210 sq m to 365 sq m.
“Business events are one of the fastest growing segments in the regional hospitality sector, particularly in Abu Dhabi. This is driven by the strategic geographical advantage that the capital enjoys, coupled with its growing significance in the business landscape,” says Chaoui.
One of the highlights at Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi is the glass-panelled Skydome – which is the ideal venue for car launches, exhibitions or similar events. The Skydome, which spans 2,000 sq m, covers one of the largest dedicated pre-function foyers in the region, over two floors which enjoy ample natural daylight. “The unique innovative design of the pre-function area with its impressive Skydome, the elegance and convenience of each function room, together with state-of-art facilities and attentive service make Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi the perfect venue to host memorable events of every size and scale, from major business conventions or product launches to more personal events like weddings or birthday parties,” he adds.
Two boardrooms of 35 sq m each and a fully-equipped business centre complete the range of meeting facilities at Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi. The hotel also features a dedicated, private VIP room, which offers privacy for speakers or dignitaries to prepare before a meeting or for brides before their grand entrance.
In 2014, Chaoui adds that the hotel will continue to promote and establish Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi in the market. “Dusit Thani Abu Dhabi will continue to focus on its core strengths and target markets. With regard to local awareness and community integration, we have a variety of events and themed nights planned throughout 2014. We have started to position the hotel as ‘the’ preferred venue for cultural activities starting with, but not limited to, art exhibitions,” he concludes.
By Shilpa Chandran