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New property to showcase Sheraton culture

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Kavanagh ... setting new standards

SIX months into its opening, the Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates in the UAE has already been undergoing a series of transformations. Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and Majid Al Futtaim Properties opened the hotel in March 2013, featuring 481 guest rooms including 94 suites, four restaurants and lounges and nearly 9,000 sq ft of ultra-modern meeting and event space. The hotel recently welcomed its new general manager John Paul (JP) Kavanagh who shared with TTN the ‘Sheraton way’ of operations and plans ahead. 

What are your key objectives as you take charge as general manager?

My key objective is to create a Sheraton icon and establish this new five-star property into the market. The Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel is the new face of the Sheraton brand and we want to introduce the Sheraton brand signatures to the hotel. Such directives will subsequently be rolled out across the region and the globe. We want to build on the success of other Sheratons in the region and build a Sheraton culture. 

As a general manager, I want to bring the service that our staff offer to a new level, hence why we have on-going training.  Ultimately I want to deliver on the hotel’s sales expectations and that is done through offering the best service and product we can. Our hotel also wants to be a new destination for our (Starwood Preferred Guest) SPG guests and ensure their expectations are met and exceeded.

With Sheraton taking over the property, what kinds of changes have been implemented?

As the newest Sheraton in the region, The Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel offers an unrivalled signature experience. This includes the luxurious all-white Sheraton Sweet Sleeper Bed, the Sheraton Club Lounge, the executive business centre, The Link@Sheraton Experienced with Microsoft, and Sheraton Fitness Programmed by Core Performance with state of the art gym equipment and training. Guests can also pamper themselves in the Sheraton Spa & Health Club on the 24th floor, offering a range of innovative spa treatments.

The hotel also recently launched Social Hour, an evening event at Vantage Bar, the hotel’s contemporary urban lounge, with award-winning beverages, tapas and cheese, reflecting the hotel’s core belief that travel should bring people together and bring conversations back to the experience.

Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates

What have been your biggest challenges?

As a general manager I do not see challenges, I see opportunities. Hence the biggest challenge for me is to make sure that on all levels we make the best use of the opportunities that are offered to us – starting from our connection to one of the most popular malls of the region and the diversity in cultures that we encounter in this very dynamic market. We want to learn more about our guests’ different expectations, be able to tailor to them and provide the best customer experience the proper Sheraton way.

What is the hotel’s USP?

I believe one of the unique selling potential has to be the location. The hotel is ideal for business travellers as it is in close proximity to the airport and key business areas. Moreover, the hotel’s connection to Mall of the Emirates, one of the busiest shopping malls in the world, is definitely an advantage for guests with an appetite for retail. The mall also boasts a metro station for convenient travel around Dubai. In addition, one can enjoy truly spectacular and unblocked views of the Dubai skyline and the Arabian Gulf from the modern, spacious rooms and suites, as well as from the Club Lounge, Vantage Bar and Rooftop Pool on the 24th floor.  

What are your key source markets and what percentage of regional versus international tourists have you observed at the hotel?

Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel caters to all types of travellers and is particularly popular with guests from GCC. Moreover, we attract travellers from Europe, US and Australia in addition to our loyal SPG guests with our hotel being the new destination for them in the UAE.

What can guests look forward to this year?

They can look forward to an unrivalled Sheraton guest experience connected to the heart of Dubai with all the entertainment of the Mall of the Emirates at their doorstep. Guests can also enjoy our special packages including Shopping Packages or Family Packages with Ski Dubai.

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