The race is on for first St. Regis in Middle East

Three St. Regis hotels are under development in the Middle East and scheduled to open within the next 12 months, but it is not yet clear which property will open first.

At the recent Arabian Travel Market exhibition in Dubai, Hotelier Middle East asked the GMs of the respective hotels if it was “a race” to open.

St. Regis Doha GM Tareq Derbas said: “It is a race. Well, maybe we’re going to open together”.

He said he was targeting a Q4 opening for the hotel, which features 336 rooms and 70 suites, but warned that the opening date would depend on getting the “final detail” right.

“With opening a luxury brand, it’s always the last 10% which takes the most time and the first 90% which is just the bulk set-up, that’s quick, the last 10% which is the final detail — what the guest will see set out in the room and so on — that takes time,” explained Derbas.

“It takes time not from the contractor, more from the operator and sales people who want to mke sure that every single detail is ready and right to showcase. We cannot afford to have a brand like St. Regis coming to Doha and not to make an excellent opening first impression. There is no room for mistakes,” Derbas asserted.

Also targeting a Q4 opening is St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi, a 380-room hotel with 60 suites.

This property has already announced an opening date of November 1, said general manager John Pelling.

“I’ve taken my first group business for 100 rooms coming in on November 6 so November 1 has always been our focus date and everybody’s very confident — the project delivery team, Starwood, St Regis — we’re all very confident that that’s achievable so that’s what we’re shooting for,” said Pelling.

The third hotel to open in St. Regis’ Middle East portfolio will be St. Regis Hotel Abu Dhabi on the Corniche.

This is expected to open in the first quarter of 2012 under the leadership of general manager Oliver Key, who last year was opening general manager for Armani Hotel Dubai.