Relaxation, Discovery, Adventure Most Important Qualities in Selecting Luxury Holiday Destination: YouGov
Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Dubai will retain its status in 2015 as the most popular travel destination for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region because it offers the combination of relaxation, discovery and adventure that travellers are looking for, according to one of the leading hotels in the emirate.
According to a YouGov survey last year, Dubai was the favourite upscale destination in the region, with four out of five luxury travellers citing relaxation as the most important element in a luxury holiday, followed by interest in discovery, 58 percent, and adventure, 43 percent.
A separate survey from American Express showed that 33 percent of respondents in the UAE expect to spend more on luxury goods and services in 2015, with 59 percent prioritising luxury experiences, including holidays.
"For 2015, we firmly believe that Dubai will retain its status as the most popular luxury destination in the region. Dubai is a truly unique experience, combining old-world charm with the attractions of a modern city.. Travellers want to come to a destination that is both uplifting and enriching and where they can make the most of their stay." said Stephan Vanden Auweele, General Manager of Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers.
Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers, which has been extending warm hospitality to residents and travelers alike for the past 36 years, is situated within the iconic Dubai Creek area, originally the central hub of the Emirate.
The Creek is home to some of the oldest buildings in the city, including Dubai Museum, located in Al Fahidi Fort, which was built in 1787 and is the oldest existing building in Dubai. The Dubai Dhow Wharfage area is still in active use today, and visitors can also explore the nearby spice and gold souks.
"In line with last week's announcement by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum to rejuvenate the Creek and nearby areas, we are delighted to be at the forefront of the leading culture and heritage centre in the region. This project comes at a fantastic time for our hotel as we recently renovated our historic property. We are very excited what lies in store for what we like to call 'original' Dubai," added Vanden Auweele.
According to the YouGov survey, the key aspects respondents sought from their hotel upon arrival are a good view from their bedroom and fine dining restaurants. Popular activities include visiting museums and cultural exhibitions, shopping in malls and traditional markets, sightseeing and going to the beach, all of which are on hand for guests at Sheraton Dubai Creek.
Vivaldi by Alfredo Russo, the hotel's premier Italian restaurant, offers breathtaking views of the historic Dubai Creek. Other exquisite dining experiences in the hotel include Ashiana by Vineet, where famed Vineet Bhatia's culinary team offers diners a taste of India, as well as Creekside Japanese Restaurant - the hotel's theatrical Asian restaurant.
Sheraton Dubai Creek is a short drive away from some of Dubai's leading shopping malls, including Deira City Centre, Burjuman and Dubai Mall, the world's largest shopping mall.
Dubai will also benefit from an increased focus on technology in the travel industry, according to Auweele, with online booking and customer loyalty programmes becoming increasingly popular.
"Dubai is very closely linked with technology, with a young tech-savvy population and a strong drive toward mobile devices here," Auweele said. "People are used to transacting online and we are seeing this trend reflected in strong demand for our loyalty programme."
Sheraton Dubai Creek's management company, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., operates one of the leading loyalty programmes, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG). Starwood Hotels last year partnered with Emirates Airline on a new loyalty programme, Your World Rewards, for existing Emirates Skywards and SPG members.
About Sheraton Hotels & Resorts
Sheraton helps guests make connections at more than 400 hotels in 70 countries around the world and recently completed a $6 billion global revitalisation and is now in the midst of an $8 billion global expansion over the next three years. Sheraton is owned by, and is the largest and most global brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1,162 properties in nearly 100 countries and 171,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft® and Element SM. The Company boasts one of the industry's leading loyalty programmes, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
© Press Release 2015
