St. Regis debuts in Dubai
St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, has announced the opening of The St. Regis Dubai. Owned by Al Habtoor Group, the hotel introduces a signature hospitality service, eight culinary venues, the first Iridium Spa in Dubai, a fleet of Bentleys and the first Bentley Suite in the Middle East (launching in 2016).
The St. Regis Dubai is located within the highly anticipated Al Habtoor City, the Emirate’s first fully integrated urban resort. As the newest address on Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Habtoor City will feature two other Starwood hotels under the distinct W Hotels and Westin brands, three residential towers, and a water-themed show by Dragone – the leading cultural creation company – located along the upcoming Dubai Water Canal.
The French beaux-arts architecture and neo-classical interiors of The St. Regis Dubai pay homage to The St. Regis New York, the brand’s original hotel which opened in 1904 on the corner of 55th Street and Fifth Avenue. Upon entering, a chandelier comprising 1,200 pieces of hand-cut crystal welcomes guests, illuminating a majestic grand staircase. St. Regis’ commitment to art and design is brought to life with artwork throughout the hotel, including a vintage Bentley inspired mural in the St. Regis Bar.
The St. Regis Dubai features 234 guestrooms, including 52 suites, each offering a bright, airy ambience with impeccable details such as chandeliers, marble bathrooms and signature St. Regis beds. Spanning 913m², the three-bedroom, two-story Royal Suite is located in the central dome of the building, featuring a rooftop plunge pool, vast living room with an elegant dining room, study, lounge area and spacious majlis.
The hotel’s custom-designed one-bedroom Bentley Suite, inspired by the bespoke craftsmanship of the Bentley Mulsanne, is the first of its kind in the Middle East. Offering an expression of luxury, the leather finishes, colours, patterns and wood veneers combine the glamour of Bentley with the elegance of the St. Regis brand.
“We are proud to partner with Al Habtoor Group and to launch Starwood’s largest hospitality project in the region as we open the first of three hotels in this prestigious development,” said Michael Wale, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. “The entry of our ultra-luxury St. Regis brand in this important market strengthens Starwood’s presence in the United Arab Emirates as we remain on track to double our portfolio in the region by 2019.”
The St. Regis Dubai extends culinary excellence across its eight dining venues. Brasserie Quartier is a modern interpretation of a French brasserie serving redefined French favourites, while J&G Steakhouse offers a sophisticated collection of steakhouse classics as reimagined by the ‘greatest hits’ of cuisine inspired by Michelin-starred chef, Jean-Georges Vongerichten. Set amongst lush gardens, The Roof Gardens is an intimate outdoor venue with stylish cabanas for in-house guests, Cafe Fleuri is reminiscent of a 1930’s Parisien cafe while Le Patio evokes idyllic moments in a rustic courtyard cafe surrounded by olive trees.
Following the tradition of the Bloody Mary cocktail, which was first created at The St. Regis New York, the St. Regis Bar offers the Golden Mary, a sweet and savoury cocktail made with yellow tomato juice with gold leaf accents. In The Champagne Lounge, sommeliers perform the St. Regis evening ritual of champagne sabering. Guests can enjoy the signature St. Regis afternoon tea at Sidra alongside uninterrupted views of landscaped gardens.
The Iridium Spa consists of six treatment rooms (three male, three female), two hammams and separate female and male wet areas with steam room and sauna. The hotel also features a 24-hour fitness centre, two rooftop swimming pools and a private helipad. Meanwhile, the Astor Ballroom offers 800m² of meeting and event space.
“The unveiling of The St. Regis Dubai marks an important milestone for the brand as we rapidly grow our profile in the Middle East,” said Jim Petrus, Global Brand Leader for St. Regis Hotels & Resorts. “This debut represents our fourth property in the region since the opening of The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort in Abu Dhabi almost four years ago, and with The St. Regis Dubai, we are thrilled to be able to offer the renowned St. Regis experience to luxury travellers from around the globe.”
The brand will enter Jordan with The St. Regis Amman in 2016, and will open its first polo resort in 2018, The St. Regis Dubai Al Habtoor Polo Resort and Club, in partnership with Al Habtoor Group.
