Most hotel projects start with a rooms-based operation and then extend into other revenue-generating sectors, such as food and beverage, spa facilities and health clubs. However, the Aviation Club Dubai started as a recreational club and has slowly grown into a mammoth leisure project, spanning 15 food and beverage outlets, a health club and gym, and the recently opened Akaru Spa. It seemed only natural, then, for general manager, Gerard Kearney, to want to slip in a five-star hotel project to complete the offering.
The hotel development is still somewhat under wraps, as Kearney told Hotelier Middle East in early January that the tender was almost completed and he was working on a shortlist of construction companies. Construction on the 250-room, 10-storey hotel breaks ground in March, and will follow a tight building schedule in order to open in time for the Dubai tennis championships in February 2008.
“We plan to be open at least two months before the tennis in 2008,” Kearney said. “Yes, I know we are cutting it fine, but I believe it is manageable from a construction point of view.The property will boast ten floors over ground and two floors under ground. It will offer between 240 and 250 rooms, with an average room size of 54m², making them among the largest in the city. What is more, at ten storeys, the property will also command views of the Dubai Creek, and is in close proximity to the airport, all big selling points according to Kearney.
“We will offer views to the Creek and to the Creek Park. The hotel itself will have front and rear access, so it will be easy to get here, and with the proximity to the airport, it will be a seamless journey from landing to checking in,” Kearney explained.
Naturally, with 15 F&B outlets already part of the complex, restaurants do not factor largely in the hotel master plan. “We will have an all day dining environment, a lobby lounge and one bar, possibly more. However, I think the rooms are the most important thing for us,” Kearney said.
“We will be five star deluxe and I am focussing on space as a luxury. There are many city centre hotels putting in small rooms, whereas we will be quite generous, and the whole facility will be generous to match.”
The hotel will also focus on the MICE market, with one conference room and five ancillary meeting rooms. “We will be very business orientated, because of our proximity to the airport, close access to the new rail system and the new Garhoud bridge.
“We will primarily target the European business traveller, but hope to get a leg into the international market too. We figure there will be a lot more long haul movement in the future, and want to target the Australian input, as well as the US, and Asian markets,” Kearney explained.
As to who will manage the hotel, Kearney is still playing his cards close to his chest. An ex-hotelier, he is not ruling out operating it as an independent, and is determined to serve up a unique hotel experience.
“There is a possibility to bring in an international operator. But first, we want to build our hotel. We want it to stack up against any in the world, both front and back of house, and will make sure that whatever we are doing exceeds international standards. That way, it will be an attractive proposition to any hotel operator, but we don’t want to bring the operator in too early,” he said.
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