Dukes Dubai on track for Q4 2016 opening

The 506-key Dukes Dubai hotel is all set for a Q4 2016 opening, revealed Dukes managing director Debrah Dhugga, with an emphasis on the property’s F&B and service levels.

Talking to Hotelier Middle East, Dhugga said: “We’re looking at opening in the last quarter of 2016. The hotel’s development is going really well and we’re on track.

“At the moment we have the majority of the executive team on-board and we are on a big recruitment drive to bring on the rest of our staff.”

She said that staff and service are key elements that will make the hotel stand out from the crowd.

“We’re bringing this whole British hospitality experience over to Dubai and that’s going to be our USP. What we want to work on is the service levels and bringing in the right people from all over the world who specialise in their field.”

With regard to specialists, she also revealed that The Great British Restaurant will be headed by executive chef Martin Cahill.

“It’s an all-day experience, but it’s going to be different from a hotel restaurant. It’s going to be a destination restaurant, and the experience will be like The Wolseley in London,” she said.

Dhugga concluded: “There’s great hotels opening all of the time but what’s going to make us stand out is that quintessential hotel experience that we’re going to offer.”