France-based hotel firm Sofitel has opened its first property in Abu Dhabi.


The five-star, 282-room Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche,part of the Capital Plaza building on the emirate’s Corniche Road, opened on March 18.


Speaking at ITB this month, Sofitel CEO Robert Gaymer-Jones told Hotelier Middle East: "There are a lot of hotels opening in Abu Dhabi so you’ve got to start off very strong, differentiating the brand from the competition.

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“The quality of hotels in Abu Dhabi is already good so the new ones have to be really special. We want to create an environment where people don’t just feel they're in Abu Dhabi for business, but they can spend their leisure time there too,” he added.

Online room rates are starting at US $363.24 (as checked March 18 2012). 

The hotel's lobby features a certified painting of a Pierre Soulages, French artist known as "the painter of black" and Jean Cocteau lithographs whilst sculptures inspired by Brancusi are also displayed.

All of the hotel’s 282 rooms  are fitted with Sofitel’s exclusive MyBed concept with furniture inspired by Buren, a French painter and sculptor.  

Furthermore, the property is the first within the GCC to host Sofitel’s signature So SPA and will be accompanied by Sofitel’s So FIT concept. Both concepts feature a full range of the latest equipment and facilities. So SPA offers five treatment rooms (single or double), two hammams with private baths, scrub and deep relaxation room, a dry sauna and a steam room. A swimming pool and whirlpool on the terrace of the hotel complements the offering.

Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche also features 10 conference and meeting rooms, amassing nearly 2600sqm of conference facilities. From the ballroom to board meeting rooms and business centre, a variety of configurations can host up to 1000 people.
 

Click through to the next page for details of the hotel's F&B offering...