BACKGROUND: Traders Hotel is Shangri-La Hotels & Resort’s premium four-star brand, primarily targeting the corporate and MICE markets. The Abu Dhabi Traders Hotel is the latest addition to the Qaryat Al Beri complex, which comprises the Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri hotel, a souk and marina plus the Shangri-La Residences. Traders opened at the beginning of August.
THE ARRIVAL: The hotel is easy to find and ideally located close to the main road into Abu Dhabi from Dubai and around a 15-minute drive from Abu Dhabi International Airport, the city centre and Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). There is a car park and valet parking. The lobby and check-in area is located in a spacious atrium feautring distinctive lime green furnishings and funky light fittings.
Staff members were efficient and friendly.
ACCOMMODATION: The property features 301 guest rooms and suites ranging in size from 32m² for a deluxe room to 70m² for a deluxe suite. We stayed in a Traders Club Floor Premier King, which was very spacious and featured a multi-purpose work station/dressing table featuring all the necessary amenities and facilities — a large flat-screen TV, internet connectivity and a hairdryer. Aside from the king-sized bed there were a table and four chairs and a large wardrobe. The bathroom was a good size featuring a bath and large walk-in shower. One of the perks with this room was complimentary access to the Traders Club.
THE TRADERS CLUB: This is a large club lounge serving breakfast, as well as hot and cold drinks and snacks for all guests staying in Traders Club guestrooms. There are comfy sofas, TVs, books, games and two PCs.
F&B: Traders features one all-day dining outlet, Afya, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The outlet overlooks the beach area and the service is attentive and efficient. Breakfast is buffet-style with hot and cold stations and the dinner service is à la carte offering a wide range of cuisines, from Asian curries and stir-fries to tasty comfort food such as gourmet burgers and pizzas, as well as snacks.
Additional outlets include the lobby lounge and pool bar. Guests seeking more variation have the many F&B outlets at the neighbouring souk and the Shangri-La on tap.
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RECREATION: This is primarily a business hotel so recreation facilities are not a focus. Having said that, Traders has a well kitted-out gym and a lap pool. The pool area has plenty of sunbeds and giant outdoor sofas as well as a pool bar serving drinks and snacks. There is also a small beach and grass area so guests can go for a dip or relax in the sun.
PRICES: Special opening rates lead in at AED 650 (US $177). Traders Club Floor rooms are priced from AED 950 ($258) and the Executive Suite is priced from AED 2150 ($584). The Deluxe Suite is not currently available.
SELLING IT: Travel Agents with an IATA number are eligible for commission after guest check out if they are registered for a commissionable rate.
BOOKING IT: Travel agents can book direct with hotel’s reservations department when they provide an IATA number, company address and fax number.
Visit www.shangri-la.com
EDITOR’S VERDICT
This is a very comfortable premium four-star property that is highly-recommend for the corporate and MICE markets. The quality of the service fixtures, fittings, cuisine and all facilities and amenities is very high and true to Shangri-La’s standards and so Traders compares very favourably to other hotels in this category. When staying at Traders an added bonus are the adjacent F&B and leisure facilities at the Shangri-La and the souk.
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