BUSINESS and leisure travellers will be impressed and delighted with the newly refurbished rooms at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Bahrain.
After six months and an extensive renovation, the 138 rooms on the south side of the three-storey hotel in the Diplomatic Area are a sight to behold.
The new executive suite is a breath of fresh air, thanks to the new carpets, furnishings and fine finish. The spacious and comfortable seating area following the entrance is but a taste of things to come.
Once you enter the bedroom, there is no doubting the quality of sleep that awaits you. On the bedside table is a sleep advantage kit – relaxing aromas to be added to your pillow to promote restful sleep.
Besides the obligatory room service menu, there is also a pillow menu that allows you to choose from.
New to the hotel is a media hub, which allows guests to plug in a USB or laptop to watch movies on the flat-screen TV.
Another new feature is the location of the air-conditioning thermostat, conveniently placed by the sizable and comfortable king-sized bed. The bed dominates the room, which includes a desk with a Herman Miller chair, a mini bar, a fitted wardrobe, TV, tea and coffee making facilities and an en-suite bathroom.
The bathroom is stunning. Soft, neutral tones give a relaxing ambience, complimented by the new rain showers, which are temperature controlled to 45 deg C.
Another new feature is the electronic ‘do not disturb’ sign. Simply flick a switch in the room and a sign illuminates outside to let staff know you want to be left alone. Alternatively, there is a switch to let them know you’d like the room cleaned.
One of the more unique features offered by the hotel is the guaranteed wake-up call. Tell the front desk the time you want to be woken and they will call your room on the dot.
Despite the revamp, the hotel has retained the quintessential features that have made it popular with guests and visitors alike over the years.
For fitness buffs, the hotel has a state-of-the-art facility called bfit, which includes enough gym equipment and weights to keep Arnold Schwarzenegger busy all day.
After visiting the gym, guests may indulge in a fantastic massage in the new massage room. However, with such a selection to choose from, picking one could be more strenuous than your workout.
The most popular option is the Swedish massage, which can be slow and gentle or vigorous, depending on the therapist’s personal style.
The therapist lubricates the skin with massage oil and performs various massage strokes. These movements warm up the muscle tissue, releasing tension and gradually breaking up muscle knots. Swedish massage promotes relaxation, among other health benefits.
The hotel’s popular theme nights are also a must for visitors. Wednesday is steak night and Thursday is seafood night. A stunning array of mouth-watering seafood is available and prepared freshly in front of your eyes by the team of experienced chefs.
Sleek, modern and practical accommodation is a given, but what gives the Crowne Plaza Bahrain the edge over its competitors is the attentiveness of the friendly and courteous staff.
The refurbished rooms are also expected to help the Crowne Plaza in its drive for more business from the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (Mice) industry, for which it offers more than 2,000 sq m of conference facilities, a dedicated meetings team and a range of dining options, in addition to the advantage of being centrally located in the business district, yet just minutes away from the suq, shopping malls and the airport.
By Charlie Holding