Opening in 2018, Aloft Dubai City Centre Deira will Cater to the Evolving Global Traveler with Modern Style, Accessible Technologies and Live Music Events
Doha Qatar - Majid Al Futtaim and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced they have signed an agreement to open an Aloft hotel directly connected to City Centre Deira, the Middle East's first integrated shopping, leisure and entertainment destination. Scheduled to open in 2018, Aloft Dubai City Centre Deira will bring a vibrant social scene and tech-forward mindset to hospitality in Dubai.
Aloft Dubai City Centre Deira will feature 304 spacious guest rooms, including 29 suites, with plush platform beds, large walk-in showers and complimentary Bliss® amenities. The hotel will also feature an outdoor rooftop VOX Cinema and a cinematic themed floor of rooms and suites. Designed with the needs of the savvy next-generation traveller in mind, the hotel includes SPG Keyless, Starwood's industry-first keyless entry system that enables guests to use their smartphone or Apple watch as a room key, as well as fast and free Wi-Fi throughout the property.
Simon Barlow, Chief Executive Officer of Hotels at Majid Al Futtaim - Properties, said: "We look forward to welcoming Aloft Dubai City Centre Deira to our world-class hotel portfolio. The hotel will offer guests an exceptional experience not only because it will combine Majid Al Futtaim's development expertise with the operational excellence of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, but because it will be directly linked to the iconic City Centre Deira and feature an outdoor VOX Cinema. It is this integration, which sits at the heart of our business model, that sets our hotels apart from the competition and ensures we always fulfil our vision of creating great moments for everyone, every day."
Aloft Dubai City Centre Deira will increase the number of hotels operated by Majid Al Futtaim in the United Arab Emirates to 11. This deal also strengthens Starwood's position across the country where the company currently operates 26 hotels with 17 more properties in its pipeline.
Neil George, Senior Vice President, Acquisitions & Developments, Africa and Middle East, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, also commented: "The United Arab Emirates is our strongest growth market in the Middle East with Dubai being an integral part of our expansion strategy in the region. Aloft hotels continue to spearhead Starwood's growth in the mid-market segment and is expected to quadruple its portfolio in the Middle East by 2020."
The property will be home to the brand's signature W XYZSM Bar, a social public space where guests can mix and mingle over good music; a speciality dining restaurant; Re:FuelSM by Aloft, the 'grab and go' eatery open 24 hours a day; and Re:Mix Lounge, where light bites will be served. Additional amenities include Re:ChargeSM, the fully equipped fitness centre that will allow guests to maintain their workout routine while travelling; spa with Bliss Spa products; and a refreshing outdoor Splash pool. For events and conferences, Aloft Dubai City Centre Deira will offer a 200 sqm space featuring four meeting rooms equipped with the latest audio-visual technology.
The construction contract at Aloft Dubai City Centre Deira has been awarded to Laing O'Rourke and work commenced at the start of June 2016. The project is expected to be completed in Q1 2018 and will become the fourth hotel partnership between Majid Al Futtaim and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, which already includes Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates, Le Meridien Bahrain City Centre, and Westin Bahrain City Centre.
Aloft made its debut in the Middle East in 2009 with Aloft Abu Dhabi. The signing of Aloft Dubai City Centre Deira reinforces the momentum behind the brand's rapid expansion in the Middle East, where there will be 14 Aloft hotels by 2020 in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and the UAE.
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Disclaimer: All facts and figures in this release are accurate at the time of issuance.
About Majid Al Futtaim
Founded in 1992, Majid Al Futtaim is the leading shopping mall, retail and leisure pioneer across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
A remarkable business success story, Majid Al Futtaim started from one man's vision to transform the face of shopping, entertainment and leisure to 'create great moments for everyone, every day'. It has since grown into one of the United Arab Emirates' most respected and successful businesses spanning 14 international markets, employing more than 33,000 people, and achieving the highest credit rating (BBB) among privately-held corporates in the Middle East.
Majid Al Futtaim owns and operates 19 shopping malls, 12 hotels and three mixed-use communities, with further developments underway in the region. The shopping malls portfolio includes Mall of the Emirates, City Centre malls, and also four community malls which are in joint venture with the Government of Sharjah. The Company holds exclusive rights to the Carrefour franchise in 38 markets across Middle East, Africa and Central Asia, and with the Hyperstar brand in Pakistan, operates a portfolio of more than 160 outlets in 14 countries.
Majid Al Futtaim operates 183 VOX Cinema screens and 24 Magic Planet family entertainment centres across the region, in addition to iconic leisure and entertainment facilities such as Ski Dubai and iFly Dubai, among others. The Company is parent to the consumer finance company issuing 'Najm' and "Voyager" credit cards, a fashion retail business representing international brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch, AllSaints and lululemon athletica, and a healthcare business that operates a network of City Centre Clinics. In addition, Majid Al Futtaim operates Enova, a facility management company, through a joint venture operation with Veolia, a global leader in optimised environment resource management. The Company also owns the rights to The LEGO Store in the Middle East and operates in the food and beverage industry through a partnership with Gourmet Gulf.
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About Aloft Hotels
With 100 hotels in 16 countries around the world, Starwood's Aloft brand delivers a fresh approach to the traditional staid hotel landscape. For today's (and tomorrow's) connected, curious and communal evolving global traveller, the Aloft brand offers a tech-forward, vibrant experience and a modern style that is different by design. For more information, please visit www.alofthotels.com/experience. Aloft, like all brands within Starwood's portfolio, is proud to offer the Starwood Preferred Guest(R) program, the industry's richest loyalty programme. To learn more, please visit www.spg.com
Press Contacts:
Chandan Belani Dana Sleiman
Regional Director of Communications ASDA'A Burson-Marsteller
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Middle East Tel: 971-4-4507600
Tel: +9714 307 9919 starwood@bm.com
Chandan.Belani@starwoodhotels.com
© Press Release 2016
