SOFITEL Luxury Hotels continues to grow its impressive Middle East portfolio as it prepares for the opening of its newest address, Sofitel Dubai Downtown.
Klaus Assmann, general manager of Sofitel Dubai Downtown, and acclaimed hotelier with over 25 years of experience, comments: “There could not have been a better choice of location for this new flagship city hotel. Downtown is growing, it’s becoming more lifestyle oriented, offering a wide selection of entertainment, shopping, restaurants and bars, whilst also playing host to major events including the Dubai Festival of Lights and Emirates Classic Car Festival. We are very convinced in this choice of location.” Having recently opened Sofitel The Palm Dubai Resort & Spa, and soon launching Sofitel Jeddah, Sofitel Luxury Hotels continue their aggressive expansion – a strategy in line with the UAE’s trend of increasing visitors. “With respect to all our openings, we are creating a unique set of hotels covering all the major areas of interest. From Downtown, The Palm Jumeirah, Jeddah and more, Sofitel continues to offer its guests the opportunity of a prime location combined with five-star luxury,” reinforces Assmann.The timing for the upcoming May 1 launch of Sofitel Dubai Downtown could not be better planned. In ITB Berlin earlier this year, along with many other industry representatives, the New York Times confirmed Dubai as one of 2014’s ‘must-visit destinations’.
The healthy state of Dubai’s tourism was further strengthened by Dubai Department of Tourism Marketing and Commerce (DTCM) who announced a 10 per cent rise in hotel establishment guest numbers from 10 million in 2012 to more than 11 million in 2013. “These figures furthermore confirm the importance of having ‘new hotel development’ as a major strategic focus,” says Assmann. Falling under the umbrella of Sofitel So Hotels – a selection of boutique hotels characterised by a stylish focus on contemporary design by a famous architect and/or embellished by international celebrities from the world of fashion, design or art – Sofitel Dubai Downtown is a magnificent addition to Dubai’s five-star luxury hotels, differentiating itself from other city hotels through its unique op art design. “Our architectural design team, Wilson Associates, drew its inspiration from Victor Vasarely, a French-Hungarian artist, considered to be the grandfather of the optical art design movement,” explains Assmann. The hotel’s 350 spacious rooms and 76 suites showcase stunning views of the Burj Khalifa and the Arabian coast. All rooms feature spacious marble bathrooms, deluxe French amenities and Sofitel’s MyBed concept – an all-feather bed and extra light down duvet. The recent announcement by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the elimination of a pre-entry visa to the UAE was well received by the travel trade industry and seen as being of major significance. “Being a city hotel, meetings, incentives, conferences and events (Mice), and business travellers are very important to us, thus this new ruling supports easier travel arrangements from across Europe,” he says.“In addition to the prime offerings of the hotel itself, one of the biggest assets of Sofitel Dubai Downtown is our location, of which makes the everyday business of our guests very easy. Our privileged position in the heart of the city, bordering Sheikh Zayed Road, gives guests ease of access to Dubai Mall metro station, The Dubai Mall and, of course, the vibrant lifestyle of Downtown Dubai itself.” Offering 14 meeting rooms and a 600-person ballroom, all fully equipped with the latest audio visual equipment, guests can organize large or small-scale meetings and celebrations. “Our outdoor pool area also sets the ideal scenery for any business or social event,” notes Assmann. The top visitor markets were Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar followed by Australia, UK, France and China. “Our top of the line service will make our visitors feel welcomed and pampered. My strong belief was and will always be that we are a people business. And ultimately it’s the people in this business that make the difference. Sofitel Luxury Hotels is very keen on this aspect of hoteling and it makes sure that all ambassadors carry the message of a unique hotel experience.”An additional development step for Sofitel in the GCC market, Sofitel Dubai Downtown is set to be a valuable addition to its already existent luxury hotel portfolio.
By Laura Snook
