Dubai, UAE – February 8, 2012 - A symbol of
Dubai’s resurgence and its growing importance at the centre of the
global business crossroads will emerge later this year when the
1,608-room JW Marriott Marquis Dubai opens its doors to guests in Q4
this year.
A stunning addition to Marriott International’s JW
Marriott world-class luxury hotel brand, the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai
will open in two phases, with the first section featuring 807 rooms and
numerous restaurants and lounges. At a height of 355 meters (1,164
feet), the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai is the tallest dedicated hotel
building in the world and is just 26 meters (85 feet) shorter than the
Empire State Building in New York.
In addition to serving the luxury business traveler, the hotel
is targeting the lucrative and increasingly important MICE (meetings,
incentives, conferences and exhibitions) market, which currently does
not have a hotel of sufficient scale to host such large groups. In
addition to all the dining and entertainment options, the hotel will
have two ballrooms, 24 meeting rooms and a total of 5,100 square meters
(54,895 square feet) of event space.
“The potential to cater for the growing needs of the global business
community is huge and we believe the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai is
uniquely placed in that regard,” said Rupprecht Queitsch, general
manager. “The hotel will fill a long identified gap in the market where
groups, meetings and conventions of up to 1,000 people can meet, sleep
and dine under one roof, in one location. There are businesses of this
size choosing various cities around the world in which to meet, but
until now, Dubai has not had a single location of this size to
accommodate this type of group. In simple terms, we will establish
Dubai on the global conference market landscape.
To give this market some context, the United States’ MICE segment,
which will be one of the key targets of the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai
team, contributes $106 billion to that country’s GDP – higher than
automotive manufacturing ($78 billion), performing arts/spectator
sports/museums ($71 billion) and information and data processing
services ($76 billion).
Dubai’s excellent air service, especially with the emerging BRIC
(Brazil, Russia, India and China) economies, are expected to create
further opportunity. Nasser Saidi, chief economist for the Dubai
International Financial Centre (DIFC), has already noted the growth in
Chinese firms coming to Dubai to set up a hub to access the African
markets, and China is becoming an increasingly important export partner
for the UAE. In the first quarter of 2011, for example, China exported
AED10.68bn worth of goods to Dubai and was the emirate’s second biggest
export partner during that period.
“As for general business, Dubai is perfectly positioned, with its
proximity to huge growth markets such as India and the fact it has
literally billions of people within a five-hour flight range,” said
Queitch. “What those business travelers are looking for is a hotel that
has everything they could possibly need under one roof and we truly
believe this iconic new property will set a new standard in business
hotels, not just in the region but globally.”
Dining, Entertainment & Wellness Options
The JW Marriott Marquis Dubai will offer an enticing
array of nine restaurants and five lounges and entertainment venues.
The Vault lounge will sit on the 71st and 72nd
floors with panoramic views of the city; a yet-t0-be named late-night
music venue will offer live music daily. Restaurants will range from
Prime 68, a boutique steakhouse, to Atul Kochhar’s Rang Mahal Indian
restaurant, Positano for Italian coastal cuisine, an Arabic restaurant
and La Farine, an attractive boulangerie and social meeting spot.
The 1,500 square-meter (16,000 square-foot) Saray Spa draws inspiration
from the caravanserai silk route across Arabia, with treatments
designed to ensure mind and body renewal. Treatments include the
signature milk and honey treatment, an Arabic coffee awakener, a lemon
and mint body polish and pomegranate renewal treatment. For sun
worshippers, an enormous pool deck covers the seventh floor of the
hotel with a 32 meter swimming pool and deck with elegant cabanas,
lounges and umbrellas.
The Marquis endorsement is reserved for iconic properties in the
Marriott International portfolio, defined by their scale, grandeur and
location. The new JW Marriott Marquis in Dubai will be the first JW
Marquis branded property outside of North America (after the JW
Marriott Marquis Miami) and sends a strong signal about how Marriott
International views Dubai’s growing importance and global influence.
About JW Marriott
JW Marriott is part of Marriott International’s luxury portfolio and
consists of beautiful properties in gateway cities and distinctive
resort locations around the world. These elegant hotels cater to
today’s sophisticated, self-assured travelers, offering them the quiet
luxury they seek in a warmly authentic, relaxed atmosphere lacking in
pretense. JW Marriott properties artfully provide highly crafted,
anticipatory experiences that are reflective of their locale so that
their guests have the time to focus on what is most important to them.
Currently, there are 53 JW Marriott hotels in 22 countries; by 2015 the
portfolio will encompass 80 properties in 29 countries. www.marriott.com/jw-marriott/travel.mi.
The “Marquis” designation is reserved for select downtown
properties that offer the highest level of comfort, technology,
personal service, meeting facilities, privacy and world-class amenities.
Visit Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) for
company information. For more information or reservations, please visit
our web site at www.marriott.com, and
for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com.
