EXCLUSIVE: IHG expands Reflets par Pierre Gagnaire

InterContinental Dubai Festival City is planning significant changes to its F&B portfolio, including the expansion of its fine-dining restaurant Reflets par Pierre Gagnaire.

The restaurant, which has been operating in partnership with French three Michelin starred chef Pierre Gagnaire since the hotel opened five years ago, is renowned for being one of the best eateries in Dubai.

InterContinental Hotels Group area general manager Yannis Anagnostakis told Hotelier Middle East that the original fine dining concept would remain, with an additional dining experience set to open outside on the terrace.

“We’re also expanding our operation of Reflets by Pierre Gagnaire so very soon we hope to be in a position to inaugurate a different dining environment in Reflets at the terrace. We have a beautiful area outside. It’s a big secret but we want to present something different,” he said.

“Reflets is staying as is of course, but the terrace operation is going to be something different, complementary of course, to the existing operation but appealing to slightly different clientele we hope.”

Anagnostakis said the menu would offer “a lightened up version of Pierre Gagnaire’s masterpieces”.

Other projects in the pipeline at InterContinental DFC include the renovation of Vista Lounge and Bar to create “two completely separate concepts”.

“We want to give them a destination identity,” asserted Anagnostakis. “We don’t want to operate just a hotel bar or a hotel lobby lounge.”

The replacement concepts are being created in-house, however, the hotel is also in talks with some third party restaurant operators for other venues across the four-hotel complex.