Strengthen ties with Millennium & Copthorne

THE Grand Millennium Dubai will be wooing the European market this March at ITB Berlin as part of the Dubai stand in the UAE pavilion.

“According to ITB World Travel Trends Report, the European market continues to expand, with a 3 per cent rise in overseas trips in 2013 and 5 per cent during the first eight months of 2014, with city breaks up 10 per cent,” director of sales, Shadi Karameh says.

“Europe is by far the largest market worldwide in volume, long-haul travel from the continent is up, city breaks are becoming more popular and the winter sun is also growing in popularity, all of which represent good opportunities for us at the Grand Millennium Dubai.”

The hotel, which offers deluxe value-priced accommodation including apartment options, is ideally suited for both business and leisure visitors, with easy access to beach, golf and shopping facilities, said general manager, Peter Mansourian.

“Although Dubai is on target to achieve 20 million visitors by 2020 with airlines such as Emirates and flydubai launching new routes and terminal four set to open this year at Dubai International Airport, every hotel has to face up to new competition given the fact that the number of rooms in the city is set to double within six years,” Mansourian says.

By sourcing new contacts and maintaining our links with key travel partners in Europe, as well as looking to new markets such as China, Russia, Africa and South America, Grand Millennium will remain a preferred option in Dubai for both first-time and repeat visitors.”

FLAGSHIP PROPERTY

Meanwhile, Millennium Corniche Hotel Abu Dhabi has repositioned to reflect its prime location with a newly appointed general manager spearheading the change. Its newly renamed and repositioned property in Abu Dhabi, is the 305-room hotel that occupies a prime location in the city’s prestigious Corniche area. It was the first Millennium & Copthorne-branded property to debut in the region, opening its doors in 2002.

“Our Abu Dhabi hotel was the group’s first foothold in the Middle East hospitality market, and over the last 12 years has been a brand ambassador for our internationally acclaimed hospitality and service,” Ali Hamad Lakhraim Alzaabi, president & CEO, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels MEA said.

“The decision to rename the property is twofold: to assert its position in a highly sought-after location in the heart of Abu Dhabi city and, as we grow our brand presence in the capital, to ensure that our guests can identify with the specific offering and get the most out of their stay with us,” Alzaabi added.

Its prime location on the corniche, with close proximity to major downtown retail and entertainment options, as well as being within easy reach of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld and the beautiful beaches of Saadiyat Island, support its positioning as an upscale leisure destination, ideally located for tourists eager to experience all that the city has to offer.

PRIME LOCATION

The hotel’s prime location also makes it a popular choice for business travellers and meeting and event planners, particularly with the active calendar of corporate and conference business held throughout the year in the UAE’s capital. The demand from China and India reflects Abu Dhabi government’s strategic focus on cementing its reputation as a world-leading meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions destination.

A new general manager, James Wilson, is leading the team in its new phase of development. “It’s part of my mandate to take the hotel through to the next decade, we have introduced a raft of new offerings for our guests including wireless iPad check-in, our newly revamped Italian restaurant – now called Biscotti – which is a casual Italian dining concept with an authentic ‘neighbourhood’ feel, and we are also in the process of relaunching our coffee lounge concept.”

Next for Abu Dhabi will be the 667-room Bab Al Qasr Hotel, which will be located at the opposite end of the corniche with unrestricted views of the Gulf and Emirates Palace.

Millennium & Copthorne has three upcoming properties in UAE, totalling over 1,000 rooms due to be open by 2016. It is targeting 50 properties by 2017, including 20 hotels in Saudi Arabia.