Katie Ford, venue manager at Hilton Dubai Jumeirah Resort and Residences’ Pure Sky Lounge, says the terrace bar’s location and service make the venue stand out in the crowd
When did you join Pure Sky Lounge and what is your career background?
I joined Pure Sky Lounge in July, 2013. Prior to Dubai, I worked at the Four Seasons in Sydney as assistant manager at a venue called Grain for roughly nine months. Prior to that I lived in Tokyo, where I was the venue manager at a popular expat bar called Geronimo for six years. I have also lived and worked in Melbourne, London and Auckland.
What are your responsibilities?
As the venue has just recently opened, there have been a lot of initial, start-up tasks like recruitment, on boarding and training that I have been focused on. I also try to make sure that guests are well looked after. It is really important to me to have happy customers and to encourage repeat business. We also get lots of group bookings and events in the venue so I also deal with some logistics surrounding those.
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How will the outlet compete with other lounge concepts on The Walk at JBR?
We actually have a unique concept along The Walk because of our large terraces, resident DJ, outdoor seating and great view from the 35th floor. In one direction you can see down onto the bustling Dubai Marina and in the other you can see the whole of the Palm Jumeirah, Burj Al Arab and beachfront.
So far these features have been instrumental in getting us noticed as a new venue in the JBR area. Of the places I have been to so far in Dubai, I think we offer a good mix of everything — all in one place — the musical element of a lounge, the food of a fine dining establishment, incomparable views, delicious food and really good, professional, personable service.
What are the design and product highlights?
Our terraces each with different views are definitely a highlight and in the evening the lighting is really spectacular. The design of the bar is very unique with bright colours, a backlit bar and funky projectors everywhere, which add to the music and overall atmosphere. There are a lot of different spaces and elements that make the venue unique, like two separate bars, indoor and outdoor seating. We also have some strong themed nights, which are doing well so far. One is a sunset brunch and we also have happy hours daily from 5pm–7pm. We are also planning a unique New Year’s Eve package, which I am sure will offer one of the best vantage points in town to watch several different fireworks displays.
What kind of food is on offer at Pure Sky Lounge?
We serve a sophisticated version of bar food, very high quality ingredients and really innovative and fresh flavour combinations, best described by our chef as “Pure” food. All of our dishes are easy to eat standing up or at a low lounge table. Our brunch has a bit of a different menu with all of the mains served off of the open air BBQ.
What is your approach to guest service?
I like to make sure that all of our guests leave with a positive and memorable experience. I really push the team to deliver the best possible service and that has been probably my biggest emphasis in training them. In Dubai there are a lot of really impressive venues, but I truly believe that the one thing that can really set you apart is the service.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
I love meeting new people and I try to talk to all of my guests at least once in an evening. Especially being new in Dubai, it is such an advantage to get to meet so many new people on a daily basis. I also really enjoy the unpredictability of my days — they never get boring. Planning events is also great fun, watching them come together gives me a lot of satisfaction and we have a good space to accommodate different types of events.
Your five tips for running a successful nightlife venue:
- Competent and friendly staff.
- Solid and consistent training.
- Strong food and drink menus.
- Good atmosphere.
- Interaction with guests to get feedback.
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