InterContinental Hotels Group set to fly UAE flag on global tourism stage with dual developments in Abu Dhabi & Dubai

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With Abu Dhabi's escalating growth in the hospitality sector - the capital's hotel occupation rates during the first quarter of 2007 hit 90 per cent - the UAE now has two cities establishing the country's firm place on the global leisure and corporate travel map.

And with the World Travel and Tourism Council predicting the UAE will be able to accommodate 14 million visitors annually by 2015, state-of-the-art properties in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai are now vital according to InterContinental Hotels Group.

'The new properties in Abu Dhabi and at Dubai Festival City are all expected to be fully operational by the end of the year, with InterContinental Abu Dhabi already receiving guests from all over the world following the major renovations,'

said Tom Rowntree, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, InterContinental Hotels Group, Middle East & Africa.

'Having prestigious properties in both burgeoning markets give us an unrivalled opportunity to offer both regional and international guests the highest levels of service and 'in the know' destination experiences,' he adds.

Abu Dhabi renovation rises to challenge
The re-opening of InterContinental Abu Dhabi comes at a time of rapid economic development for the emirate with the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority aiming to attract up to three million visitors and 25,000 hotel rooms by 2015, a three-fold increase from the current annual average. The planned US$6.8 billion expansion of Abu Dhabi International Airport will support this growth.

Not only are more and more people arriving in Abu Dhabi for both business and pleasure, it is fast becoming an increasingly attractive place to settle with residential and retail real estate sales expected to reach around $2.5 billion this year.

While InterContinental Abu Dhabi has enjoyed four major renovations in the past 25 years, the dramatic developments within the city over recent years meant a radical overhaul was required to cater for an increasingly discerning and exciting market.

Following the multi-million dirham programme initiated by owning company National Coporation for Tourism & Hotels, the majority of the hotel's 390 rooms and suites are now available to guests as the management team are putting the final touches to the extensive choice of lavish food and beverage options and state-of-the-art facilities.

Pascal Gauvin, Director of Operations, InterContinental Hotels Group, UAE & Qatar, said, 'InterContinental Abu Dhabi has been a landmark property in the UAE for over a quarter of a century and has played a major role in the development of the country's capital. The stunning renovation has taken the hotel's facilities to a new level which befits such a prestigious property and will ensure its place in the future of Abu Dhabi as a world-leading travel and business destination.'

'We are extremely proud of the new design concept and results have exceeded our expectations,' added Gauvin.

Returning business travellers are already enjoying superior levels of hospitality at the new and extended Club InterContinental Lounge, which is currently the largest Club Lounge in the UAE and restaurants added to the existing portfolio of award-winning dining options include the elegant 'Piano Lounge' and 'Selections Restaurant', offering a diverse mix of international cuisine.

Dubai development diversifies
While as a tourist destination Abu Dhabi is making fine first steps in attracting a growing number of intrigued visitors and leading business people from around the world, Dubai is making headway at a fantastic pace. With an estimated $100bn worth of projects planned for the near future in Dubai, the city is being dubbed as one of the most important places on the planet.

Dubai is targeting 10 million visitors annually by 2007 and 40 million by 2015, and InterContinental Hotels Group will play a huge part in supporting this growth by operating an anticipated 11 hotels and a total of 5000 rooms in the city within the next three years.

Alongside offering world-class facilities at all of its new properties, the group also understands the importance of tailoring its services to meet changing market trends, one of the most prevalent being resort-style living, which will be available at Dubai Festival City.

Dubai Festival City projects enter final stages
The group's three properties at Dubai Festival City already stand tall on the banks of the city's creek and with opening expected late summer 2007, the focus is now turning to the final touches that will really make the hotels stand out.

On the interior, London-based GA Design International is responsible for the stunning room designs, which balance a luxurious look with practical and modern designs. Hospitality specialists David B.Tokiwa & Associates are contributing sleek designs to food and beverage outlets and 'Super Potato', one of the most highly regarded interior design companies in Asia, is lending its talents to the creation of a contemporary all day dining venue and the multi-station authentic Japanese restaurant.

A real coup for the InterContinental Dubai Festival City was the announcement that Pierre Gagnaire, the three-star Michelin chef, would be bringing his unique style of cuisine to the Middle East through his own signature restaurant at the hotel called 'Reflets' (which translates as reflections). A first for the Middle East, his 'Modern French' menu is set to excite food-lovers across the region as is the news Gagnaire will be based in-house at his new Dubai kitchen - a rarity for 'celebrity chefs' of his calibre.

Outside the hotel, the state-of-the-art conference centre that links the InterContinental and Crowne Plaza properties is almost complete and is set across an impressive 3,800sqm. With the capacity to host up to 1800 guests, the facility will be integral to the city's exploding MICE market.

Lastly, a successful recruitment drive across all departments for all three properties means that, on opening, more than 1200 employees from 45 countries will welcome the first guests.

Speaking about the Dubai Festival City properties, Tom Meyer, Area General Manager, InterContinental Hotels Group, Dubai Festival City, said, 'The prominent hotels already look like new landmarks of Dubai and are set to reaffirm our commitment to the development of the hospitality sector in the UAE and further consolidate our position as a leading hotel operator in the Middle East.'

'As Dubai and Abu Dhabi work together to solidify the UAE's position as a world-class travel destination, InterContinental Hotels Group will continue to support the country's development by anticipating tourism trends and providing world-class accommodation to suit the diverse mix of visitors that continue to discover the enormity of what UAE has to offer,' concluded Rowntree.