A competitive world

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Al Sharq Village and Spa's stunning spa lobby.

It's no easy task for the The Middle East's interior design industry, constantly devising original, functional and attractive new hotel concepts. Lucy Taylor considers the challenge of making the perfect first impression.

First impressions are a key factor in any new relationship - and the one between a hotel and its guests is no different.

It should come as no surprise then that just as a person may be cursorily judged on their clothes and appearance, so a hotel is judged on its interior. Someone turning up for an interview with dirty clothes and messy hair will understandably create a bad impression; similarly, shabby, unkempt décor can put potential guests off a hotel.

Personal taste will also come into play: as different people will not necessarily find the same person attractive, so a hotel interior will appeal to certain tastes more than others.

Ultimately, to capture a guest's interest, a hotel must present itself favourably right from the start of the acquaintance - which is why the right interior design is imperative.

Middle East

The Middle East's hotels boast several notable design successes.

London-based design firm WA International, responsible for hotel interiors such as the Al Bustan Rotana in Muscat and Dubai's Hyatt Regency, is currently working on the Sofitel Al Zallaq Beach Resort, Bahrain. Discussing this recent project, the company's senior designer Adrian Battisby explains: "The motivation behind the concept was to create an experience of being in an authentic Bahraini home, the feeling of a warm, heartfelt welcome. To achieve this, [we] extensively researched Bahraini architecture with site visits to exquisite traditional courtyard homes."

The idea of reflecting local culture and offering an ‘authentic' experience is a popular trend, as Doha property Al Sharq Village and Spa's general manager Hoss Vetry comments.

"The main focus of this project was to make it the ultimate Qatari experience," Vetry explains.

Another big trend today is hotel-serviced apartments, which, as long-term residences, require slightly different handling.

For example Jumeirah Living, Jumeirah Group's luxury brand of serviced residences, says it aims to offer "innovative and truly personal lifestyle experiences unique to each guest, resident and owner with a strong emphasis on effortless living", achieved via the use of state-of-the-art technology, sumptuous finishes and contemporary design, as Jumeirah Living general manager Julie Shields elaborates.

"[We will] incorporate signature services into the design of the properties, including a residents' lounge as well as a lifestyle concierge team on hand to create a personalised and truly unique living experience," she says.

The very first luxury Jumeirah Living property, the World Trade Centre Residence in Dubai, will open in August 2008, with one- to four-bedroom residences spread over 40 floors.

Design inspiration

So with so much choice, how does a hotel settle on one particular interiors concept?

Al Sharq's Vetry firmly believes authenticity should play an integral part.

"I think many hotel designs today are very generic, where you could literally lift the building, put it in another city and you wouldn't notice anything was out of place," he says.

"The great thing about this hotel is that it give a sense of place. And thanks to the amazing architecture and interior decorative touches, it feels truly Qatari."

"The interior design team was an Italian firm called Di Leonardo, and it was all overseen by our owning company," he adds.

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