Tourism & Hospitality | Tuesday 21 June, 2016 12:32 pm |

W Hotels Worldwide, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Inc., today debuted in the UAE with the opening of W Dubai – Al Habtoor City on Sheikh Zayed Road. Owned by Al Habtoor Group, W Dubai – Al Habtoor City redefines the city’s hospitality scene with its electrifying style, signature Whatever/Whenever® service and bold lifestyle programming. 

 

Turning Up the Heat 

Located within Al Habtoor City, the emirate’s first fully-integrated urban resort, the hotel offers insider access to Dubai, with a full calendar of W Happenings showcasing what’s new and next in fashion, music and entertainment. Rising to 33 storeys, W Dubai – Al Habtoor City shines a new spotlight on the pulsating heart of Dubai as the ultimate powerhouse, where guests can enjoy the brand’s iconic Whatever/Whenever® service philosophy that delivers whatever they want, whenever they want it. 

 

Guests checking into the hotel are whisked up 30 floors to W Lounge, W Hotels’ reinterpretation of the traditional hotel lobby. Here a multitude of lounge and entertainment areas set within a multi-tiered floor space will become second home to Dubai’s style set. Within this venue, panoramic views of the city’s stunning skyline and soon-to-be completed Dubai Water Canal are to be enjoyed alongside stylish cocktails and sizzling beats. 

 

Led by Singapore-based firm Silverfox Studios, W Dubai – Al Habtoor City and its 365 rooms and suites boast a bold and contemporary design. Inspired by the hotel’s location, adjacent to the energy and vibrancy of Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road, the interiors feature provocative linear patterns, reflecting the city’s social rhythm and constant flux. Future forward technology and custom furnishings double as abstract art to complement the vivid colour palette against the sleek lines of the minimalist guestrooms. Adding to the bright and fresh mood, the open concept bathroom-to-bedroom creates a fluid flow throughout, while floor-to-ceiling windows frame views of the city and sea.

 

The 449sqm Sensational Suite is centered around a bar, with an adjoining majlis-style lounge, DJ booth, dance stage, bar and kitchenette. The bedroom features the signature W Bed, W pillow menu, a walk-in closet, en suite bathroom, Jacuzzi and steam room. Spanning 690sqm, the Extreme Wow Suite – the W brand’s take on a Presidential Suite – occupies the 27th and 28th floors with panoramic views of Dubai’s dazzling skyline, bustling Sheikh Zayed Road, and the glistening Arabian Gulf. The suite’s sophisticated urban features include a kitchenette, spacious lounge area, multi-event area, wine chiller, bar, DJ station, dance floor, catwalk ramp and pool table. 

 

Peter Katusak-Huzsvar, W Dubai – Al Habtoor City General Manager, said: “We are thrilled to unveil W Dubai – Al Habtoor City to the savvy residents and visitors of Dubai. As one of the most anticipated hotel openings in the UAE this year, W Dubai promises contemporary lifestyle experiences that upend the unexpected and boldly express the city’s constant lust for life. The hotel will also reinforce Dubai’s reputation as a city of life, bringing new and exciting opportunities from the world of fashion, music and design to global travellers and local trendsetters.” 

 

W Dubai – Al Habtoor City’s buzzing B&F venues are set to elevate the city’s dining scene and create the hottest new mingling spots in town. The hotel opens with Level Seven, which serves up Mediterranean flavours from theatrical open kitchens and chef tables, and is inspired by daily market finds and seasonal produce brought together with creative flair in this casual, yet social hot spot. 

 

A vibrant world where culinary innovation, mixology, music, fashion and design meet, W Lounge is destined to become the city’s newest social hot spot where amplified happenings take place while hotel guests and Dubai residents mix and mingle. W Lounge will generate a social energy that appeals to trend setters and seekers looking to be seen and heard. 

 

In July, Namu, the hotel’s destination restaurant opens its doors, presenting original and decisive dishes that mix Japanese and Korean flavours. Later this year, as the city cools down to charge up again, guests will be able to hang out by the pool in glamorous outdoor cabanas and enjoy a flirty fusion of cocktails at the sensational WET® Deck. 

 

Set to become the ultimate hub for ultra-modern and meetings and events, W Dubai – Al Habtoor City offers the stunning oval-shaped 725sqm Great Room and five dynamic studios. Whether to create a striking impression or a provide the backdrop for a stylish setting, the spaces are ideal for parties, events, meetings or intimate gatherings, all amplified by expert event planners to help design an innovative occasion. 

 

Guests can get re-energised 24/7 with a workout at FITÆ state-of–the-art fitness centre or opt for a private in-room session with the hotel’s dedicated yoga instructor. The adjourning FIT Bar serves detoxifying snacks healthy options and refreshing drinks to fuel days of sunshine and late nights. 

 

A first for Dubai, the hotel also offers SPG Keyless, the hospitality industry’s first keyless entry system, enabling guests to use their smartphone or wearable technology as a room key to access rooms with a simple swipe of their device. 

 

Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, Chairman Al Habtoor Group, said; “We are delighted to bring the W brand to Al Habtoor City and celebrate the opening of another hotel within the Hotel Collection. The three hotels within the Collection complement each other, and provide endless choices to business and leisure travellers as well as to residents of Dubai. Al Habtoor City is a leisure destination unlike any other.” 

 

The Al Habtoor City integrated development features two other Starwood hotels also overseen by Complex General Manager, Ignace Bauwens. The St. Regis Dubai opened last November and the soon-to-open Westin Dubai Al Habtoor City complete the Al Habtoor City Hotel Collection along with W Dubai. The landmark development is minutes away from attractions such as Burj Khalifa and The Dubai Mall, a 20-minute drive to Dubai International Airport and 40-minute drive to Al Maktoum International Airport.

 

To mark the opening of W Dubai – Al Habtoor City and the premier of the W brand in Dubai, the hotel is offering a special opening rate with prices starting from AED 899++ per room, per night. This includes early check-in from 12 noon and late check-out until 5pm, complimentary W Lounge welcome beverage upon arrival, breakfast, and complimentary WiFi access. For further information and bookings, visit www.wdubaialhabtoorcity.com or follow on Instagram @WHotelDubai.

 

W Hotels in the Middle East 

W Hotels made its debut in the Middle East in 2009 with W Doha Hotel & Residences in Qatar. Following the launch of W Dubai – Al Habtoor City, the brand is set to rapidly grow its portfolio in the Middle East with four new openings in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, UAE; Amman, Jordan; Muscat, Oman.