Rib Room revamp boosts revenues

Jumeirah Emirates Towers hotel manager Maren Kuehl in The Rib Room

A four-month refurbishment project at The Rib Room at Jumeirah Emirates Towers has resulted in both more covers and increased revenues at the restaurant.

The restaurant re-opened on March 27 with a new look created by DWP Bahrain.

Jumeirah Emirates Towers hotel manager Maren Kuehl said: “One of the reasons [behind the refurbishment] was to increase the number of covers.

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“We previously had 80 covers, we increased to 115 covers, plus a private dining room with 18 covers. The room can be divided into two sections, one will accommodate eight guests, one will accommodate 10 guests, but you can take the dividing wall out and combine the table and accommodate a larger group of 18 guests.”

The Rib Room bar was also refurbished and rebranded as The Agency, formerly located on The Boulevard at Emirates Towers.

“The Agency Bar was redesigned to fit with the design of the restaurant, so we also wanted to create a very sleek and stylish and modern [venue] where business guests and friends could meet for a pre-dinner drink then move to The Rib Room,” said Kuehl

“It could be a standalone unit as a bar, but we wanted something that was also connected to The Rib Room,” she explained. “It made sense to do both places at the same time.”

Kuehl said revenue had increased by 40% across The Rib Room and The Agency for the period from April to June 2011, compared to revenue at The Rib Room for the same period in 2010.

At the restaurant, covers have increased by 20% during the same period.

“Our regular guests as well as new guests have really accepted this restaurant as one they love and our covers have increased, our revenues have increased — it has been a great success financially,” said Kuehl.