Habtoor Palace Dubai presents the best of wellbeing, gastronomy and personalisation in the heart of the emirate
Personalisation, unique experiences and surpassing expectations form the foundation of luxury hospitality at Al Habtoor City (AHC) in Dubai. In an exclusive discussion with Soufiane ElAllam, the Complex Commercial Director, TTN delves into what makes its luxury offerings stand out.
“The hospitality industry is constantly evolving, especially when it comes to the luxury segment,” ElAllam says. “At Habtoor Palace Dubai, LXR Hotels & Resorts, we curate every aspect of our guest’s stay and experience down to the smallest detail, from personalised key cards to their dietary preferences,” says ElAllam.
Prioritise self
AHC’s health and wellness offerings underline all the key ingredients that go into making a robust luxury product. ElAllam says, “With the increase in health and wellness awareness among guests, hotels need to go beyond the standard in-house spa and gym. We now need to think outside the box with personalised fitness regimens. At Al Habtoor City, we are home to three magnificent fitness centres: one at V Hotel Dubai, the second at Habtoor Palace Dubai, and the third at Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City, where trainers inspire guests to enhance strength and performance.
“Hilton Gym offers group classes and incredibly varied class schedules focusing on high-intensity interval training, functional circuits, endurance training, and weightlifting with strength and conditioning. World-class equipment is handpicked by the fitness professionals, from yoga to Pilates to Zumba, we have trainers who specialize in transformations and sports performance. For guests who prefer a more intimate approach to fitness, they can head to the gym at Habtoor Palace Dubai or at V Hotel Dubai.
“After a great workout session, guests can either choose to hit the pool at V Deck, V Hotel Dubai, The Roof Gardens, Habtoor Palace Dubai, or Firefly, Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City, to focus on performance by swimming a few laps at the three rooftop pools. Al Habtoor City also offers a remarkable 6.4km running track at the waterfront and five pedestrian bridges. A stunning waterfront, Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai city skyline with views of Burj Khalifa. There’s easy access to Jumeirah beaches via RTA marine taxis. Al Habtoor City also has its cycling and jogging track connecting Jumeirah Street and Al Meydan. Guests can also rent e-bikes for the day – a station located right in front of the Dubai Water Canal.”
Culinary extravaganza
F&B is another pillar of an outstanding luxury hotel, and ElAllam points out factors that make AHC a popular culinary destination, “Al Habtoor City offers more than 20 dining destinations, including the award-winning World Cut Steakhouse that offers numerous dining experiences, such as the Chef’s table, Coravin night, Zuccardi wine dinner, and much more. We recently launched the brand-new Tea Garden, located in the lobby of Habtoor Palace Dubai, serving a variety of fine tea blends and homemade pastries. The new and improved Zoco has also been relaunched at V Hotel Dubai, serving Mexican and Latin American classics.”
Travel planners are aware that AHC is home to Dubai’s most popular live entertainment show, La Perle. That makes for a top-notch experience, inspired by Dubai’s cultural past, vibrant present, and aspirational future. La Perle is a must-see show put together by the world’s leading theatrical designers, technicians, and performing artists.
Butler service
When it comes to personalised experiences, Habtoor Palace Dubai’s signature service is most talked-about among those in the know. So how does this signature experience personalize at scale? “The Butler Service Desk is responsible for receiving all incoming phone calls and will fulfil, record, dispatch, and follow up on all guest requests. Butler Service Desk Staff will be cross-functional experts, trained in all aspects of the hotel’s programmes, services, and amenities. As such, the staff will be well-equipped to assist guests directly and will not need to transfer callers to other departments,” says ElAllam.
“The butler service also provides packing and unpacking services helping arrange guests’ belongings to make them feel at home. Shoeshine service is yet another offering from our butler’s team. E-butler service means our butler services are not restricted to personal interaction; we are also available on WhatsApp, Emails, and other social media to provide round-the-clock 24/7 bespoke services.”
ElAllam points to the newly opened Executive Lounge, “Step into our brand-new executive lounge on the 30th floor of V Hotel Dubai, Curio Collection by Dubai, offering panoramic views of Dubai and the Dubai Water Canal. As a Diamond member, you are entitled to bring an additional registered guest to your room to join you in the Executive Lounge.”
Mega events
Having been the official hotel for mega events in the city, such as the Expo Dubai 2020, AHC will benefit from the COP28 event. “Occupancy is already at 90 per cent during the event days,” ElAllam tells us.
Looking ahead at the rest of the year and 2024, AHC expects changes in its top 10 source markets to expand from the UAE, Israel, Saudi Arabia, USA, UK, India, Germany, Kuwait, Iraq, and Egypt, which currently bring in 64 per cent of AHC’s guests, to China, Qatar, Russia, France, Iran, Australia, and beyond.