INTERVIEW / ROSEWOOD ABU DHABI
we’re going. Taking that into consideration, I don’t think the industry has that much supply in the market. This is just part of the process,” he says. Gordon is also optimistic that once the meet-
ings and conference business on the island takes root, more international events will be hosted in Abu Dhabi, rendering support to Rosewood and other new entrants in the emirate’s hospitality market. Approximately 50 percent of Rosewood’s core business is expected to come from the UAE and the rest of the GCC region, while 30 percent will likely come from Europe and 20 percent from the rest of the world. Romaniello believes that each hospitality
brand contributes something to building Abu Dhabi as a destination of choice for visitors. How- ever, Rosewood’s “strong DNA for service” is the differentiating factor that sets the brand apart in the UAE’s highly competitive environment. “We really pay attention to our guests, who
they are and what they care about. We give them the kind of service that is genuine and thoughtful. I think we can make a difference in that respect by bringing the Rosewood stamp of service to the UAE,” Romaniello concludes.
CASH INJECTION “The important thing for us is to understand our customers’
needs and make sure we offer the right solution for them. We will pre- sent the pricing preferences based on a bespoke approach,” he says. The price tag for each client solution will undoubtedly reflect
Rosewood’s high-end nature, but Gordon is quick to point out that it will remain competitive, not only with businesses in the UAE, but also those overseas. In addition, the presence of The Galleria underneath Rosewood Abu Dhabi, gives delegates a further incen- tive to consider the hotel as a venue. Romaniello says the retail mix will enhance the hotel experi-
ence for guests. “It will be a synergy between the retail complex and the hotel, with guests able to visit a full infrastructure that offers great brands such as Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Prada, to name a few, as well as a collection of cafés and restaurants,” he says. The retail component also adds a social dimension to the desti-
nation, making it a vibrant landscape where people can visit a large number of boutique shops. Gordon says this will make Rosewood Abu Dhabi accessible to Saudi Arabian leisure visitors, who enjoy the benefit of staying in a luxury hotel with close proximity to a retail venue.
STANDING OUT IN A FIVE-STAR CROWD Rosewood Abu Dhabi’s opening will add another name to the emirate’s growing list of five-star hotels, but an oversupply of rooms in the capital has recently put pressure on many hotels’ occupancy levels and revenues. Under these market conditions, meetme asks Gordon how Rosewood Abu Dhabi plans to dif- ferentiate itself from the competition. ”Our advantage lies in Rosewood’s unique proposition as a
luxury brand in the midst of a bold new island development,” he explains. “This is about the evolution of a destination, in line with the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision, through to 2030. What is interest- ing is to take a macro view of where we are in relation to where
52 / Above: Rosewood Abu Dhabi MEETINGS FAST FACTS
• 2,146 square metres of indoor meetings facilities
• Two ballrooms • Six meeting rooms • Four boardrooms • Pre-function area • Outdoor event space
When Cleveland Clinic opens in the fourth quarter of 2013, it will bring in new business to Rosewood Abu Dhabi in the form of patients and family members, as well as medical meetings’ delegates looking for quality accommodation. Rosewood and Cleveland are owned by the Abu Dhabi government’s investment arm, Mubadala.
Both Romaniello and Gordon see medical tourism as a significant source of potential business for Rosewood.
“There’s going to be good business coming from the Cleveland Clinic for us, from patients to visiting doctors. I believe we complement each other and we’re driven by a common culture of service,” he says.
Medical conferences will likely start flowing into the island following the clinic’s opening. Rosewood and Cleveland Clinic are already discussing how both organisations will handle a possible influx of health conferences into the district.
“The good thing is that the clinic has a reputation for world-class standards and that will be a magnet for conferences and healthcare events,” says Gordon.
ON THE MENU
The dining experience in Rosewood Abu Dhabi caters for the diverse palates of a multicultural city. The hotel plans to open eight restaurants in phases. By the time the hotel launches in December, four fine-dining restaurants will be on line, offering authentic Spanish, Mediterranean, Lebanese and Indian cuisines.
Catalan will feature a menu prepared by a Michelin-starred chef from Barcelona, Spain, while Aqua will be a Medi- terranean-inspired restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch, buffet-style. A Lebanese restaurant, Sambusek, will feature a variety of authentic Arabic cuisine popular among residents and visitors. Rosewood will also open Spice Mela, offering a traditional Indian culinary experience.
In addition to the four Rosewood-managed restaurants, an exclusive wine cellar called La Cava is being launched. Experienced sommeliers will present guests with a variety of wines from obscure and classic vineyards. La Cava’s elegant ambience will remain focused on wine with wall-to-wall cabinets displaying over 7,000 bottles of premium vintages.
Aside from the 189 rooms, the hotel also has 137 full-service luxury residences, a 24-hour fitness facility and Sense Spa.
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