World’s tallest hotel opens doors in Dubai (The National)
DUBAI // Hot on the heels of the unveiling of Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, the world’s tallest hotel officially opened.
But the operator, Abu Dhabi-based Rotana, says it is the US$180 million (Dh661.1m), 333-metre Rose Rayhaan’s alcohol-free policy that will attract most of its guests. The GCC is its main target market and its alcohol-free status reflects hoteliers’ efforts to differentiate themselves in what is an ever more competitive industry in Dubai. The building has been certified by the Guinness Book of Records as the tallest hotel in the world, superseding Dubai’s Burj Al Arab, which is 321 metres. The Ryugyong Hotel in North Korea, on which construction started in 1987, is 330 metres, but it has yet to be completed. “There are certain elements that need to be added, such as a new restaurant and modifications to the rooms,” said Omer Z Kaddouri, the senior vice president of UAE operations for Rotana. “If anything, rates will go down,” he said. “With the increase of [new] hotels coming in, the hunger that every hotel has to [keep occupancy high] is driving rates down. However, you have to keep in mind that the rates we are selling at today are still very acceptable worldwide.” To fill them, Mr Kaddouri said the company was also aiming to attract business from new markets such as China, Eastern Europe and South America. Rotana is expanding rapidly throughout the Middle East, with signings in countries including Iraq, Syria, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The National
“Research indicates this category’s huge potential due to its inherent appeal in the Middle East,” said Daniel Mathew, the general manager of Rose Rayhaan.
The Rose Rayhaan, located on Sheikh Zayed Road not far from the Dubai International Financial Centre, adds another 482 rooms to the emirate’s burgeoning supply. To help it compete, the hotel’s promotional opening rate is just Dh400.
While the official inauguration took place yesterday, the Rose Rayhaan actually received its first guests last month.
It carries a four-star rating under Dubai’s classification system, but Rotana and the owner, Bonyan International Investment Group, are planning to upgrade the hotel to a five-star rating within the next year.
Construction of the Rose Rayhaan was actually completed at the end of 2008, but to secure all the licensing necessary to open the hotel took some time, Bonyan said.
Dubai saw a sharp drop in room rates last year as hotels reduced prices to keep attracting guests amid increased competition and a downturn in global tourism. Mr Kaddouri said he expected the trend to continue this year.
Rotana said it was the largest operator by number of hotels and rooms in the UAE. It now has 11 hotels in Dubai, totalling around 3,500 rooms.
The company has two more openings planned for Dubai: the budget Centro hotel in Barsha on March 1 and the long-delayed Amwaj Rotana at Jumeirah Beach Residence by April 1.
Its next alcohol-free hotel, the five-star Khalidiya Palace, will open in Abu Dhabi near Emirates Palace on April 1.
The web portal, Eye of Dubai, yesterday said it had seen a 300 per cent increase in the amount of hotel reservations made through its website around the opening of Burj Khalifa.
