DUBAI’S Hyatt Regency will be promoting its spanking new look at WTM, according to the hotel’s general manager.
“The UK market is quite substantial for the Middle East, and this year we need to be there to tell people that today we are a new hotel. It’s not the same old Hyatt Regency. We will speak about our refurbishments and present our new look to tour operators and travel agents at the event,” says Andrew Hendrian.
The hotel is aiming to grow beyond its reputation as a leisure property and tap into the MICE market, and has taken a proactive approach with its new Convention Sales department. “Earlier we used to cater to a lot of leisure business and what we plan to tap in is to attract the MICE business. The new department will help improve occupancy as well as the general demographics of the people coming to the hotel,” he says.
Despite new destination hotels MICE facilities in the emirate, Hendrian says that with the renovation, the Hyatt Regency now is more than equal to others in terms of facilities, while boasting several other unrivalled advantages, including a stunning ocean view from every room of the hotel and a proximity to the heart of Dubai’s culture, with the Gold Souk, the Heritage Village and the picturesque Fish Market all close by. “We also have a team that knows Dubai like no one else. Today, we have more than 200 staff who has been working with us for over 15 years and another 50 people who have been here for more than 20 years.”
Facilities include a state-of-the-art set up in the hotel rooms, wireless LAN connections for internet access, a recently refurbished state-of-the-art gym, wireless banquet and conference rooms, daylit breakout meeting rooms and an outdoor Golf Park, among other amenities.
Business-wise the hotel has been doing very well, says Hendrian, who expects to close the year in the mid-70s, the occupancy rate pulled down largely because of the first quarter mourning period in Dubai and Kuwait, an important source market. For the winter, in line with other hotels in the emirate, Hendrian says he’s expecting occupancies of 95 per cent.
Immediate future plans include a focus on wellness facilities for business and leisure guests alike, with a tie-up with an international treatment brand in the offing.
The Hyatt Regency Dubai & Galleria, located on the Deira Corniche close to the heart of the city’s business centre, comprises a 25-storey, 400-room deluxe hotel and 31-storey apartment block, managed by Hyatt International Corporation.
by Clark Kelly