Managers' favourites
Klaus Assman, GM
1. My colleagues: Eventually we’ll have 444 on our team. I have to say I think I have the best team of professionals here, we have a great community, so the colleagues is definitely number one for me.
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2. The versatility of the property: From MICE groups and business to the surprise that people have when they walk into the hotel and see it’s really different, with the gardens too, it's all green and lush.
3. The old and new: The third thing I really like is that finally somebody, our ownership, became one of the few in Dubai that managed to combine the old and the new. It would have been so easy to tear down the old Aviation Club and build new but the decision was made to keep it so we are actually one of the few buildings in town that’s combined old and new and I think that’s important.
Donald Bremner, hotel manager
1. The fight that I’m going to have with Klaus about our market segments: I think this hotel has got such a diverse appeal from so many different segments. When Klaus showed me the marketing plan a year ago...the percentage was more focused on corporate rather than leisure.
My personal belief is that there are so many drivers, with the access to Madinat and Wild Wadi, the golf club, Aviation Club, Irish Village, the airport, DAFZA and corporate, the conference and incentive business, the 600 people I can put into outdoor banquet space.
I just think this hotel has so much potential and I don’t think we really appreciate that. I think it will be really interesting to see which segments come.
2. Cu-ba Bar: I have a feeling that place is going to be an absolute gold mine. It’s going to be on this side of town, there’s no competition for that type of space, it fits in extremely well to the hotel, I think the views are spectacular, the layout is excellent and I think that’s going to be a big hit and I absolutely love that space.
3. The superior rooms: When potential clients walk into the rooms they see something completely different from what they were expecting and they absolutely love it. It’s a great selling point to the hotel. I think our base product, our entry product to the market is excellent.
Nicky Samson, director of rooms
1. Red accents: I love the way they used the colour red in all the areas, they’ve done it well where it’s not over done but to get that kind of theme around.
2. Spacious rooms: I like the usage of the space, they’ve done a good job at maximising space by using custom made wooden panels in the rooms so the room and bathroom still gives you all the comforts that you could ask for. You don’t feel restricted, it has that open feeling.
3. Complimentary mini bar: Mini bar soft drinks are complimentary and we replenish that every 24 hours, and in order not to have different colleagues coming in throughout the day we’ve merged it so the housekeeping colleagues take care of that while they’re servicing the rooms.
Chris Bateman, executive chef
1. The Cu-ba Bar roof-top pool: It’s just amazing, the cantilevered pool sticks out over the lobby so you can swim and look down. Get yourself a nice salad and a drink and sit and have one of the best views in Dubai in my opinion.
2. Biscotti: I love the fact that its attached to the meeting rooms, it really offers a whole new element of banquet meeting space that you don’t see too much, we even have a small buffet section so you can have lunch here, trying to stick to the Italian theme of course.
3. Nomad: I love the three concepts in one melding it all together, it’s something new and interesting as well. It's all connected.
Restaurants at a glance
Nomad: Nomad incorporates three diverse dining options including a wine bar, 24-hour deli and a signature Asian restaurant.
Cu-ba Bar: A rooftop bar with refrigerated terrace flooring, Cu-ba Bar enjoys unparalleled vistas of the Dubai Creek.
Blue Flame: From steaks to seafood, this signature grill restaurant puts the emphasis on organic produce and sustainable fish stocks.
Biscotti: An Italian cafe with artisanal produce. Biscotti is located in the Training Academy and serves the entire meetings area.
Plumeria: A zesty cafe serving fresh fruit smoothies, energy-boosting juices, wholesome snacks and tasty organic refreshments packed with antioxidants.
Crimson Gallery: A lounge on the lobby level offering a simple menu of light bites and a cake trolley.
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