WTM is the world’s leading travel and tourism trade fair where exhibitors and industry related businesses are able to showcase and experience the latest products and initiatives of the global travel trade industry. WTM 2008 takes place in London, November 10 – 13.

This WTM it was announced that The Monarch Dubai is set to join the exclusive Leading Hotels of the World, the prestigious luxury hospitality organization representing over 450 of the world’s finest hotels, resorts and spas.

General Manager Henning Fries says The Monarch Dubai differentiates itself from other hotels in Dubai by providing dedicated personal service consistent with its underlying philosophy of being a hospitality industry leader.

“With a staff: guest ratio much higher than many leading European hotels, we are more than ready to exceed our guests’ expectations,” he said.

“For example, the superb fine cuisine available in each of our eight restaurants and lounges can become a private banquet served in their suite by their own private butler who is on call 24/7. Personal trainers are on hand in the lavishly appointed gymnasiums to provide wellness assessments and individual fitness plans, while exquisite massages unique to The Monarch Dubai in the Middle East are on offer from the world-leading Mandara Spa.”

The 33-storey hotel has 236 rooms, suites and serviced residences, with some of city’s most luxurious accommodation provided by The Monarch Suite, Sky Suite, two Presidential Suites; eight restaurants and lounges, full conference facilities and select retail outlets.

Mr Fries says an inimitable experience awaits those staying in The Monarch Suite. Located on the 32nd and 33rd floors, the 1130m2 Monarch Suite features two Majlis, dining room, private movie theatre and library, three en-suite bedrooms and an extensive outdoor area with private terrace, pool, steam room and sauna.

“The view from the suite overlooks the length of Sheik Zayed Road and truly makes the guest feel on ‘top of the world’. The freedom of walking out onto the outdoor terrace, along with the inside-outside pool, provides an oasis for relaxation nestled in the middle of the busy Dubai business world,” Mr Fries says.

The entire 31st floor comprises of two Presidential Suites. Ranging from 220 to 227m2, each suite has two en-suite bedrooms; a king-size master and a twin guest room; separate sitting and dining areas, a kitchenette and a small cloakroom on entry.

In keeping with the décor throughout the hotel, the suites provide a stylish interior with an Arabic touch, suitable for entertaining, as well as relaxing. Once again the view is also a highlight and the lofty feeling blends well with the aspirations of many who would enjoy such sophisticated design.

Situated on the 29th and 30th floors the 258m2 Sky Suite is suspended between the hotel and office tower. The lower level has a sitting room, separate dining room and kitchenette. A staircase takes guests up to a king-size bedroom, en-suite marble bathroom and galleried landing which overlooks the sitting room below. Every detail, from the dual access robe cupboard from room to bath; through to the chandeliers – a work of art on their own – clearly illustrate the style The Monarch Dubai has introduced to the region’s accommodation offerings.

There are 53 studio, one, two and three bedroom serviced residences offering access to all of the hotel facilities, including serviced offices.

“Each of these enjoys the pampering fit-out of a hotel suite, but with the practicalities required for longer term stays,” says Mr Fries. “The furnishings have been chosen to enable apartment guests to simply move in and feel at home, yet also acknowledge the level of taste that encourages both entertaining and comfort.”

The dedicated Conference and Events floor has 13 meeting rooms and two boardrooms, an open-plan business centre, business offices and conference butlers offering the very best in personal service.

Each room is named after a world famous diamond, the precious gem establishing once again the quality of service expected in each. Meeting organisers are able to choose from select rooms enhanced by the view from the front of the building, or more muted rooms suited for concentrated training. The Nur Al Ain meeting room overlooks the foyer and can be opened to encourage the sights and sounds during a cocktail evening, or closed off by discreet windows giving complete soundproofing, but still offering the outlook to the palm trees and people below.

Accessible by a winding marble staircase, the hotel’s Al Massa Ballroom covers more than 1000m2 and accommodates 500 guests for a formal dinner and up to 800 for a stand-up reception. The chandeliers feature subtle colours and highlights lending an ambience usually missing in larger venues.

The Monarch Dubai’s layout provides a totally separate entrance-way to the ballroom, so guests attending a private function are not required to walk through the whole foyer to access the venue. This, coupled with the hotel’s own multi-storey car park, offers privacy to both event organisers and hotel guests alike.

The hotel has eight restaurants and lounges, featuring European, American Steakhouse and Japanese cuisine with pride of place going to the seafood fine dining restaurant the Empire. Its prize-winning chef has promised to create new dishes fitting the image, sophistication and choice of The Monarch Dubai’s guests, while at the same time being able to concoct anything the guest might desire.

For working out or winding down, the hotel’s Quantum Health Club and world-renowned Mandara Spa provide a variety of recreational and relaxing options. The Quantum Health Club features an outdoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and a gymnasium with a range of specialist fitness equipment.

About Refad Hotels & Resorts

Refad Hotels & Resorts is a wholly owned subsidiary of Efad Holding, a major Kuwait conglomerate. Refad Hotels & Resorts’ head office, located in the State of Kuwait, provides hotel management, development, ownership investment as well as financing worldwide for a variety of innovative hospitality products. Refad Hotels and Resorts own and operate a range of hospitality solutions across the region as well as overseas. It has five international properties in operation and a further six under construction. As an emerging international hospitality group, the company plans to acquire 30 new properties over the next five years. Refad’s unifying aim is the provision of exceptional hospitality services to corporate individuals and groups, ensuring that the Refad brands are recognized globally as being synonymous with absolute excellence.

For further information: www.refad.com

For more information, please contact:
Ms Yvonne Luedeke
Director of Communications
The Monarch Dubai
Tel : +971 4 501 8888
Fax : +971 4 501 8899
Email : luedeke@themonarchdubai.com

Or

Ms Sufeena Hussain
Senior Consultant
Cicero & Bernay Public Relations
Phone : +971 4 334 2966
Fax : +971 4 334 2977
Email : Sufeena@cbpr.ae
www.cbpr.ae

Keeping in line with The Monarch Dubai’s overall theme emphasising intimacy, personalisation and luxury, Empire is set to inspire the pallet in a way previously unfound in the city.

Head Chef Axel Godefroid, who comes to Empire after running one of Dubai’s award winning fine dining seafood restaurants, describes Empire as the “diamond” of the hotel’s culinary service.

“Empire offers more than just a meal, it’s a complete dining experience,” he says. “While nothing less then the best ingredients can be expected from a restaurant of this calibre, Empire combines this with presentation, atmosphere and a personalised service which amounts to a feast for all the senses.”

“Empire is truly special. We wanted to create a service, an experience, which goes beyond the meal and becomes a personal, intimate courting between us and our guests,” says Tim Hansen, Director of Food & Beverage. “Empire is such that its reputation sits on the mouths and pallets of those who experience it… People come for the experience they’ve heard so much about but it’s everything – the personal service, the intimate atmosphere and of course, the food, that they come back for.”

As well as greeting guests at the door and preparing dishes tailored to a guest’s preferences, based on familiarity, if this is the guest’s second visit, Chef Axel will host Dubai’s first and only Chef’s Table.

“Much like the great cruises of old where guests were invited to dine with the Captain, the Chef’s Table will be an honour reserved for few. It provides a unique experience in a world class kitchen; to dine with the chef at his own private table in the midst of the action,” says Hansen.

As Head Chef to this new and bold statement in fine dining, Chef Axel ’s role has expanded beyond the realms of the traditional to make Empire what it is.

“I will greet guests at their table as they arrive and go through the evening’s options with them,” he explains.

Unique to Empire’s brand of fine dining, half of the menu will change on a regular basis – “ensuring regular cliental, or a guest of the hotel on an extended stay, is able to enjoy a different meal with every visit”.

“I will be able to offer the day’s menu, as well as any special recommendations I might have if they have dined with us previously,” says Chef Axel. “Of course, I can take any special requests which I will do my utmost to fulfil.”

If the guest is a repeat guest, Chef Axel will know what they have chosen in previous visits as all preferences, dislikes and comments will be tracked and added to the daily reservation sheet.

Also, revitalising an all-but-extinct concept, Empire will return the nearly forgotten art of classical table side work. Flambees, Tranchees and other table side work will be performed and revived as no other restaurant in Dubai offers the same variety with this unique, personal touch.

“With its intimate personalisation and location within The Monarch Dubai, Dubai’s fine dining experience has confirmed its world leading status,” says Hansen.

Empire Entrance

Empire Restaurant

About Refad Hotels & Resorts
Refad Hotels & Resorts is a wholly owned subsidiary of Efad Holding, a major Kuwait conglomerate. Refad Hotels & Resorts’ head office, located in the State of Kuwait, provides hotel management, development, ownership investment as well as financing worldwide for a variety of innovative hospitality products. Refad Hotels and Resorts own and operate a range of hospitality solutions across the region as well as overseas. It has five international properties in operation and a further six under construction. As an emerging international hospitality group, the company plans to acquire 30 new properties over the next five years. Refad’s unifying aim is the provision of exceptional hospitality services to corporate individuals and groups, ensuring that the Refad brands are recognized globally as being synonymous with absolute excellence.

For further information: www.Refad.com
For more information, please contact:
Ms Yvonne Luedeke
Director of Communications
The Monarch Dubai
Tel: +971 4 501 8888
Fax: +971 4 501 8899
Email: luedeke@themonarchdubai.com

Or

Mrs Dalal Demachkieh
Media Relation Consultant
Cicero & Bernay Public Relations
Phone : +971 4 334 2966
Fax : +971 4 334 2977
Email : dalal@cbpr.ae
www.cbpr.ae

Or

Tabassum Farooq
Consultant
Cicero & Bernay Public Relations
Phone: +971 4 334 2966
Fax: +971 4 334 2977
Mobile: +971 50 910 7003
Email : tabassum@cbpr.ae
www.cbpr.ae

The Monarch Dubai, one of Dubai’s leading luxury hotel’s, was named Middle East leading new hotel and its exclusive Monarch Suite has been named as the Middle East’s leading suite.

For the past 15 year’s the World Travel Awards have been recognising the world’s leading hotels. This year, more than 500 Middle East travel and tourism companies and organisations from across the region, representing every industry sector, took part in the ceremony.

The Monarch Dubai General Manager Henning Fries, said that as a flagship project, a lot of hard work and dedication had gone into getting The Monarch Dubai to this stage, where it is beginning to be recognised by its industry peers as a leader in its field.

“We are very proud of what we have achieved here as a team,” he said. “For a flagship operation to be included in such a prestigious event and even come away with honours, within just a year of opening, is a huge achievement and it proves that the Monarch concept is set for a bright future.”

Located at Dubai’s premier location of One Sheikh Zayed Road, The Monarch Dubai is positioning itself as a luxury hotel with a difference aimed at business and leisure travellers.

Fries says The Monarch Dubai differentiates itself from other hotels in the city by providing dedicated personal service consistent with its underlying philosophy of being a hospitality industry leader.

“With a staff:guest ratio much higher than many leading European hotels, we are more than ready to exceed our guests’ expectations,” he said.

“For example, the superb fine cuisine available in each of our eight restaurants and lounges can become a private banquet served in their suite by their own private butler who is on call 24/7. Personal trainers are on hand in the lavishly appointed gymnasiums to provide wellness assessments and individual fitness plans, while exquisite massages unique to The Monarch Dubai in the Middle East are on offer from the world-leading Mandara Spa.”

The Monarch Dubai has 236 rooms, suites and serviced residences, with some of Dubai’s most luxurious accommodation provided by The Monarch Suite, Sky Suite, two Presidential Suites; eight restaurants and lounges, full conference facilities and select retail outlets.

About Refad Hotels & Resorts
Refad Hotels & Resorts is a wholly owned subsidiary of Efad Holding, a major Kuwait conglomerate. Refad Hotels & Resorts’ head office, located in the State of Kuwait, provides hotel management, development, ownership investment as well as financing worldwide for a variety of innovative hospitality products. Refad Hotels and Resorts own and operate a range of hospitality solutions across the region as well as overseas. It has five international properties in operation and a further six under construction. As an emerging international hospitality group, the company plans to acquire 30 new properties over the next five years. Refad’s unifying aim is the provision of exceptional hospitality services to corporate individuals and groups, ensuring that the Refad brands are recognized globally as being synonymous with absolute excellence.

For further information: www.refad.com

For more information, please contact:
Ms Yvonne Luedeke
Director of Communications
The Monarch Dubai
Tel: +971 4 501 8888
Fax: +971 4 501 8899
Email: luedeke@themonarchdubai.com

Or

Ms Sufeena Hussain
Senior Consultant
Cicero & Bernay Public Relations
Phone : +971 4 334 2966
Fax : +971 4 334 2977
Email: Sufeena@cbpr.ae
www.cbpr.ae