GM INTERVIEW
and offering a feel for elegant travel, “Rosewood is devoted to creating to unique collection of hotels and resorts, unlike another. It is very important to us to have a sense of place. It’s our philosophy to reflect the culture and the history of the local market through the hotel, we always try to fit into the element of the place. You can even see this in the design of the hotel, which looks like a local dhow boat emerging from the water. We have combined our unique traditions with exceptional service and incredible intention to detail. For us there’s nothing more important that offering an intuitive guest experience, we’re really passionate about service.” Although refrencing history and a sense of place, the hotel is nothing if not ultra-modern when it comes to guest-centric technology. Every room at Rosewood Abu Dhabi will have an iPad which can control everything from A/C to the curtains to F&B reservations, room service and other guest services. Despite this, the operators place huge emphasis on people service over modern gadgetry, “We have a Rosewood recognition programme, we are a very good at knowing the needs and likes of our guests and we know what you like.
We prefer to rely on people interaction and passing information to the right person rather than our staff all walking around with a gadget 34 / HOSPITALITY BUSINESS MIDDLE EAST
OCTOBER 2012
We do a fantastic job of replicating all the things you like when you stay with our hotels so you get a similar experience every time you stay,” Romeniello explains. “We are very much a people service, there’s a fine balance between technology and losing touch. We benefit from being a smaller group. We prefer to rely on people interaction and passing information to the right person rather than our staff all walking around with a gadget.” The influx of new brands and large upmarket developments, Romeniello sees as a positive move by the Abu Dhabi government, “It is a challenge and an amazing opportunity. We’re growing the city together and it’s refreshing. It will stimulate the luxury market in a city that’s explosive and growing like Dubai did a few years ago – introducing luxury products to a city that’s more than willing.” The hotel will have 58 fully serviced apartments and 75 unfurnished long term apartments and four penthouses on site, to help cope with the capital’s shortage of central high end rentable living spaces. “There is a big demand for the really quality residential rentals here in Abu Dhabi as it’s developing and more and more professionals are very discerning over the right location. And we’re offering a more updated offering with all the facilities the hotel has to offer,” Romeniello explains. Rosewood sees its Abu Dhabi debut as the start of a Middle East expansion plan. “We have three hotels in Saudi Arabia already but we were purchased by New World Hospitality some time ago and we now want to see our portfolio double in this region, in the next five years. We chose Abu Dhabi because it’s up and coming and recognised globally as an emerging city, we are exploring the right locations, but we are very discerning. We would be excited to open a hotel in Dubai in the next couple of years.”
Rosewood Abu Dhabi’s F&B Aqua – casual and relaxed all day dining, with an interactive kitchen and al fresco dining on the veranda Catalan – Spanish restaurant with décor inspired by a 1900s fine European home, opulent and elegant with refined wood floors and a Michelin starred chef from Barcelona Spice Miller – a fun Indian restaurant with serving progressive cuisine Sambousek – whimsical Lebanese restaurant with a traditional menu with vibrant presentation. Sambousek will also be home to a tiered terrace called The Smoke for shisha and cocktails with a DJ The Hidden Bar – a mysterious hideaway where you can have a quiet conversation, portioned off with veiled drapes and secluded booths Glo – a funky, glam open air al fresco bar, for the city’s lifestyle crowd with a great cocktail and cigar menu Majlis – a beautiful living room feel in the lobby where people can spend time have coffees and pastries La Cava – an intimate, underground wine cellar, which will feature 1,500 different wines. It will be home to wine tasting, private dining and for after work drinks. It will have a walk in humidor, a cognac and single malt bar. There will also be displays of cheeses to go with the wines
Unlike many other larger resort style hotels, staffing for the Rosewood Abu Dhabu hasn’t been an issue. Romeniello says, “We are a smaller company and we have the stigma of being ultraluxurious so people aspire to come to our brand. They’ve heard of our hotels in the States, it’s one of those companies that is known for great service – it’s in our DNA – so we get great interest from some great talents. We also ensure that we spend enough time on the proper training of all our staff – we have hired 600 employees which works out at 2.5 per room and that will include a fleet of butlers for a full butler service so that’s very exciting.”
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