2004 performance exceeds expectation at the Taj Palace Dubai

Room occupancy all year round last year registered a whooping 92 percent. It scored the highest occupancy record in October during the Gitex exhibition and all other seasons posted higher occupancy ratings compared to 2003.

General Manager Yannick Poupon in a recent employee 'Town Hall' meeting congratulated his entire team for the excellent job done and extended felicitations to both front and back of the house departments. He attributes the successful performance of the hotel to its employees who are both the heart and soul of the business. He adds, 'the continued positive growth of the economy of Dubai and UAE is encouraging in-bound tourism which the hotel is benefiting greatly from. Despite the growing competition in our industry, business remains buoyant and is set to achieve greater heights. Taj Palace Hotel Dubai will continue to deliver the finest services and facilities to make the stay of all tourists and visitors a memorable one. We will also work more with the Department of Tourism Commerce and Marketing (DTCM) as they embark on numerous tourism initiatives to further promote the destination to a greater number of market.'

Footfall traffic to the hotel's four themed restaurants namely Verdi, Sakura, Handi and Topkapi has upped in number with the successful staging of themed food festivals during 2004. Handi once again reinforced its position as the country's Best Indian restaurant, specializing in Northern Indian cuisine.

With growing interest towards travel-less meetings, the videoconference and meetings facilities of the hotel posted the highest revenue increase amongst the hotel's other profit centers. Gaining ground on its outdoor catering services, the Taj Palace Dubai team is fast gaining reputation in town as the preferred choice caterer both for corporate and leisure events.

The 'Taj Spa', with its renowned Ayurvedic spa therapies, is a market leader with its rejuvenating spa treatments. Extremely popular with the Arabs as well as Europeans who form its major clientele, the Taj Spa is gaining popularity in the other markets.

The Taj Palace Hotel offers 147 executive rooms; the largest in the city at 61 square meters with balcony, 12 suites and 90 fully furnished and serviced apartments. It is located right at the heart of the city center, just ten minutes from the Dubai International Airport and walking distance to the major shopping malls. It offers daily shuttle to shopping centers and provide beach access to guests.