07 April 2003
The landmark Sheraton Abu Dhabi Resort and Towers reopened today after a three-year, $40 million refurbishment.
"The project was ambitious but it has been a massive success. This is a special day for the owning company, for Starwood and the UAE. The property is an integral part of the local community," says Robert van Meerendonk, general manager of the hotel.
Van Meerendonk paid tribute to the "vision" of the property's owning company, Abu Dhabi National Hotels.
Van Meerendonk says the revamped Sheraton Abu Dhabi Resort and Towers "goes beyond a renovation – it's a work of art" and is testimony to the owning company's "total commitment to quality hospitality in the UAE capital."
The general manager stressed that the work was carried out in phases, guaranteeing minimum disruption to guests.
The first stage of the project saw the completion of Palms Resort in the hotel complex. One hundred guest-rooms were refurbished in the second phase while stage three saw the reopening of the magnificent lobby, the conference and banquet area and the restaurants.
Although today is the official reopening, the project will be completely finished next July revealing the final 172 refurbished guest-rooms. A new nightclub Zen-ith, certain to be a trendsetter in the Middle East, will open at roughly the same time.
The architects who oversaw the renovation since the project's inception have a wealth of experience in the Middle East. Hence, they were keen to maintain the exterior's overall look of an Arabic fort as well as the distinguished Middle Eastern interior.
‘We've certainly kept with tradition - it is a renovation after all," says Michael Fiebrich of US architects Wilson Associates, who created the majority of the hotel's ultra-impressive facelift.
"The Sheraton Abu Dhabi Resort and Towers is a famous hotel and the Arabic fort appearance is most definitely a major part of it. Abu Dhabi is such a cosmopolitan city these days so we needed to incorporate that aspect, but we definitely needed to maintain the Arabian culture."
The stunning lobby with its grand staircase is the centrepiece of the new-look hotel.
Says Fiebrich: "The imposing new lobby makes for a much grander arrival. First impressions are vital. We actually added to the existing structure and the result is dramatic.
"We even flew in an artist from California who hand-painted and gilded the ceiling of the lobby. Italian marble has been used in the mosaics in the lobby. There is also a spectacular Arabic feature behind the reception.
"There's a bit of everything in the lobby – traditional, contemporary and international."
An extraordinary dome highlights the main entrance and another nestles above the award-winning restaurant, La Mamma. Local architects Khatib & Alami were recruited to add their expertise and ensure Middle Eastern authenticity.
Guestrooms are very contemporary in style although there is an Arabic mood from the lighting and the photographs on the walls.
Suites are also contemporary, according to the architects, but with a more prominent Arabic leaning, particular in the furniture. Suites boast dining room, two bedrooms and each suite has its own individual décor.
"The ballroom and adjacent syndicate rooms area is much more open and now has a separate entrance," says Fiebrich. This area has six conference rooms, two daylight meeting rooms, a splendid pillarless ballroom and even an open-air amphitheater.
Fiebrich also said the architects wanted to improve access to the hotel’s nine restaurants. They were particularly mindful that La Mamma and El Sombrero are held in such high regard in the UAE.
"These restaurants are fixtures in Abu Dhabi, they're very popular. We've improved access."
"The doors of the Sheraton Abu Dhabi opened 23 years ago and it has set standards of excellence from day one. Today's re-opening ensures the continuation of that proud trend."
The Sheraton Abu Dhabi Resort and Towers has long hosted heads-of-state, sporting superstars and captains of industry.
"Currently, the clientele here is from the business and government sector, but tourism is growing at a rapid rate, mainly families from around the GCC states," adds van Meerendonk.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 750 properties in more than 80 countries and 105,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. With internationally renowned brands, Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts including: St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Sheraton, Westin, Four Points by Sheraton, W brands, as well as Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwood.com/pressclub or www.starwood.com
-Ends-
For more information please contact
Phil Moore or Nathalie Visele at
MCS/Action.
PO Box 20970,
Dubai,
UAE;
Tel.: +971-4-3902960; Fax: +971-4-3908161;
e-mail: philip@mcsaction.com or nathalie@mcsaction.com
The landmark Sheraton Abu Dhabi Resort and Towers reopened today after a three-year, $40 million refurbishment.
"The project was ambitious but it has been a massive success. This is a special day for the owning company, for Starwood and the UAE. The property is an integral part of the local community," says Robert van Meerendonk, general manager of the hotel.
Van Meerendonk paid tribute to the "vision" of the property's owning company, Abu Dhabi National Hotels.
Van Meerendonk says the revamped Sheraton Abu Dhabi Resort and Towers "goes beyond a renovation – it's a work of art" and is testimony to the owning company's "total commitment to quality hospitality in the UAE capital."
The general manager stressed that the work was carried out in phases, guaranteeing minimum disruption to guests.
The first stage of the project saw the completion of Palms Resort in the hotel complex. One hundred guest-rooms were refurbished in the second phase while stage three saw the reopening of the magnificent lobby, the conference and banquet area and the restaurants.
Although today is the official reopening, the project will be completely finished next July revealing the final 172 refurbished guest-rooms. A new nightclub Zen-ith, certain to be a trendsetter in the Middle East, will open at roughly the same time.
The architects who oversaw the renovation since the project's inception have a wealth of experience in the Middle East. Hence, they were keen to maintain the exterior's overall look of an Arabic fort as well as the distinguished Middle Eastern interior.
‘We've certainly kept with tradition - it is a renovation after all," says Michael Fiebrich of US architects Wilson Associates, who created the majority of the hotel's ultra-impressive facelift.
"The Sheraton Abu Dhabi Resort and Towers is a famous hotel and the Arabic fort appearance is most definitely a major part of it. Abu Dhabi is such a cosmopolitan city these days so we needed to incorporate that aspect, but we definitely needed to maintain the Arabian culture."
The stunning lobby with its grand staircase is the centrepiece of the new-look hotel.
Says Fiebrich: "The imposing new lobby makes for a much grander arrival. First impressions are vital. We actually added to the existing structure and the result is dramatic.
"We even flew in an artist from California who hand-painted and gilded the ceiling of the lobby. Italian marble has been used in the mosaics in the lobby. There is also a spectacular Arabic feature behind the reception.
"There's a bit of everything in the lobby – traditional, contemporary and international."
An extraordinary dome highlights the main entrance and another nestles above the award-winning restaurant, La Mamma. Local architects Khatib & Alami were recruited to add their expertise and ensure Middle Eastern authenticity.
Guestrooms are very contemporary in style although there is an Arabic mood from the lighting and the photographs on the walls.
Suites are also contemporary, according to the architects, but with a more prominent Arabic leaning, particular in the furniture. Suites boast dining room, two bedrooms and each suite has its own individual décor.
"The ballroom and adjacent syndicate rooms area is much more open and now has a separate entrance," says Fiebrich. This area has six conference rooms, two daylight meeting rooms, a splendid pillarless ballroom and even an open-air amphitheater.
Fiebrich also said the architects wanted to improve access to the hotel’s nine restaurants. They were particularly mindful that La Mamma and El Sombrero are held in such high regard in the UAE.
"These restaurants are fixtures in Abu Dhabi, they're very popular. We've improved access."
"The doors of the Sheraton Abu Dhabi opened 23 years ago and it has set standards of excellence from day one. Today's re-opening ensures the continuation of that proud trend."
The Sheraton Abu Dhabi Resort and Towers has long hosted heads-of-state, sporting superstars and captains of industry.
"Currently, the clientele here is from the business and government sector, but tourism is growing at a rapid rate, mainly families from around the GCC states," adds van Meerendonk.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 750 properties in more than 80 countries and 105,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. With internationally renowned brands, Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts including: St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Sheraton, Westin, Four Points by Sheraton, W brands, as well as Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwood.com/pressclub or www.starwood.com
-Ends-
For more information please contact
Phil Moore or Nathalie Visele at
MCS/Action.
PO Box 20970,
Dubai,
UAE;
Tel.: +971-4-3902960; Fax: +971-4-3908161;
e-mail: philip@mcsaction.com or nathalie@mcsaction.com
© Press Release 2003
