Al Bustan Centre and Residence has witnessed the rise of Dubai as a regional hub since being established in 1997. Over the years, it has carved a niche for itself in the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions industry, while also appealing to leisure guests.
The first quarter of 2015 was quite challenging for Al Bustan Centre and Residence with the Russian and CIS tourists on a major decline. The property, however, registered 80 per cent occupancy by offsetting the fall in this segment with long-term and group business as well as by tapping into new upcoming markets. The property has been participating in Arabian Travel Market since its inception in 1997. This year, it will showcase major renovations worth Dh15 million ($4.1 million) to its rooms and hallways, completed during the last quarter of 2014. Moussa El Hayek, chief operating officer of Al Bustan Centre and Residence, says, 'The hotel looks completely new and the service remains exemplary. We keep ourselves up to date with the latest innovation in the market. We have to keep pace with the heightened guest expectations and change as per the market trend offering superior quality product to all our guests.'The renovations bring the property on a par with any new hotel in the city and could significantly contribute to an increase in FITs and group business from the GCC, CIS, Far East and China. Special summer promotions have been launched for these countries, which are the property’s major feeder markets. Al Teaba Food Court at Al Bustan Centre and Residence has been renovated with modern signage, while the entire kitchen has newly laid floor and ceiling.'The latest development at the food court is expected to further enhance our appeal by offering hotel guests, mall shoppers and visitors greater convenience and access to a variety of dining options,' says El Hayek. 'We are also pleased to announce that our food and beverage outlets are now HACCP certified by Dubai Municipality with Grade-A.'Al Bustan Centre and Residence also revamped its website (www.al-bustan.com), which went live on October 20 last year, making it more interactive and in line with the brand. El Hayek says, 'After careful research of our customers, the new website is now smart device and smartphone enabled. In addition to laptops, our guests can browse and make bookings on-the-go with their tablets or smartphones.'Al Bustan Centre and Residence, just 50 metres from Al Nahda Metro Station and a short drive from Dubai International Airport, offers 640 rooms and suites – an inventory so large that it can cater to 2,500 guests at a time. The rooms are spacious too: studios at 350 sqft, one-bedroom apartments spread over 750 sqft, and two-bedroom apartments are 1,095 sqft. The Al Bustan Centre and Residence also boasts an impressive shopping mall with 96 shops that include a diverse range of brands from elegant ladies evening gowns to colourful children’s clothing, accessories and more.Al Bustan Residence Hotel Apartments can be found at stand number UAE3140 and UAE3110.