New Dubai Ritz-Carlton seeks to entice DIFC diners

The newly-opened Ritz-Carlton in the heart of Dubai’s financial district has launched express lunch options in all three of its restaurants in order to attract the local corporate clientele.

Ritz-Carlton Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) offers express lunch options in Thai restaurant Blue Rain, French bistro Can Can and steakhouse Center Cut, which introduced its lunch at AED 105 for two courses yesterday (March 20).

The hotel’s EAM — food and beverage Antony McNeil said that neighbouring DIFC provided the restaurants’ customer base.

“The main audience would be DIFC; there are 15,000 to 18,000 people working on a daily basis at DIFC. Being financial, they are well travelled, they know their markets, they know price points and they know what they like. So it’s very simple for us to define the marketing programme and how we want to attract those guests into the hotel,” said McNeil.

He explained that the hotel had experienced demand for the lunch options.

“We had a lot of demand to open Blue Rain for lunch from DIFC clients; there’s no Thai restaurant in DIFC,” said McNeil.

It’s very much a destination for lunch diners. The lunch is an express option that comes as a bento lunch or you can go a la carte.

“Lunch had 25 covers on the first day and costs AED 85 for three courses on your plate, you can eat at your own speed,” he added.