KEMPINSKI Hotel Mall of the Emirates in Dubai, UAE, will have lots of news for the travel trade at this year’s ITB Berlin, says Nasser Fawzi, Kempinski’s new area director of sales for the Arabian Gulf.
“This year at ITB, we expect to meet new partners from all around the world,” says Fawzi, who is also responsible for sales and marketing at the hotel.
He continues: “In particular, we are looking to set up appointments with tour operators and partners from new and emerging markets for us at Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates including Latin America. In addition, we will also be meeting all our existing partners to nurture our business relationships and take the opportunity to let them know what is coming up in 2014 and to learn from them what’s new and upcoming in their respective markers.
“ITB is one of the biggest travel trade exhibitions worldwide and a great opportunity to meet our valuable industry partners face to face, meet new contacts and establish new partnerships. It is an important event on our annual calendar and Kempinski will be present with representatives from a number of hotels and regions in which we operate. ITB is a very important trade show for us and we would be looking to generate about Dh10-15 million ($2.7-$4 million) for the hotel per year.”
NEW RESTAURANT
The property recently opened a new authentic Spanish restaurant, Salero Tapas and Bodega, and will highlight it to all its partners during ITB, says Fawzi, who has been with the Kempinski brand since 2001.
“Additionally, we refurbished our lobby and completed the extension of our driveway, which has given the hotel a new look, so we have lots to talk and update our travel trade partners on.”
Launched in late November last year, Salero Tapas and Bodega takes its name from a popular Spanish expression meaning flair and grace. “When we started working on the concept of a new restaurant for the hotel, we noticed a demand in the city for authentic Spanish food,” says Konstantin Zeuke, general manager, Kempinski Hotel Mall of The Emirates. “We created a trendy authentic tapas restaurant, which brings a bit of Barcelona, Madrid and Seville to Dubai. We worked with the top industry consultants for this project, hiring a Spanish interior designer and branding agency from Barcelona to ensure the authenticity of the restaurant.”
 |
GREEN PROMISE
At ITB Berlin, the hotel will also highlight its commitment to the environment following its Leed (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Silver certification from the US Green Building Council (USGBC) last year.
Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates became the first hotel in the UAE and wider Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region to obtain the esteemed Silver certification. The certification is in the Existing Buildings Operations & Maintenance category and the hotel achieved this through the implementation of changes to make its operations more sustainable.
“As per the Global Business Traveller Survey 2013, 47 per cent of business travellers said they prefer to patronise green hotels when staying out of town for work, which is a great advantage for us,” says Zeuke. “We recognise the importance of sustainability and want to reflect this in our day to day operations.”
The Leed certification is expected to bring a significant reduction in the impact the hotel has on the environment as well as reduced energy costs. In 2012, Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates saw a 9 per cent reduction in energy and water usage as a result of the changes the hotel applied in line with Leed requirements.
Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates offers guests innovative experiences with some of the most unique and stylish room products in the region. Fifteen Ski Chalets offer views of the Arabian Gulf on one side and ski slopes on the other. The sleek executive tower suites and the luxurious presidential suite are an exercise in modern elegance.
Each of the hotel’s 393 rooms and suites is equipped with a large plasma flat-screen TV with access to 80 international satellite channels, as well as a DVD and multi-media player. In addition, all rooms have fully furnished dining areas, as well as stylish and well-appointed marble bathrooms.
“We have closed the year 2013 with very positive figures,” says Fawzi. “Our average occupancy for the year was 79 per cent and we finished with a revenue growth of 10 per cent over last year.”