Irish family hospitality finds a market in Dubai Dennis McGettigan’s family are a legend in the Irish pub and hotel business. He explains why they came to UAE with the stunning Bonnington’s Hotel complex Tell us a little about how your firm got involved in Dubai
We have always been looking ahead trying to spot future opportunities and like many others saw Dubai as one of the up and coming leisure and commercial destinations in the world, bridging both Europe and Asia. In the Middle East if you travel 3,500 miles in any direction, you have two thirds of the world’s population within your reach, this was something we were keen to tap into! We identified a market niche for a familyowned & operated luxury hotel in the Emirate and subsequently decided to open the Bonnington Jumeirah Lakes Towers as a mixed-use hotel and service residences development in the up and coming Jumeirah Lakes Towers area in 2005. The free zones established by the government were a great incentive for us to set up business here and this was certainly one of the main contributing factors in our decision. Since starting operations in 2009, we have gone from strength to strength. We were lucky to be able to capitalise on our long history of developing and running successful hospitality ventures in Ireland and the UK and on our strong ties with the Irish community in the Middle East.
The Bonnington has quickly gained a fabulous name – what is it about the hotel that is so special?
What makes it different is that we are not an international brand and don’t have to climb up a corporate ladder to make a decision. We always try to get things done quickly and efficiently- resolve the issue, make the call and move onto the next! The Bonnington is Dubai’s only European family-owned and operated luxury hotel and as such I try to instill the same sense of fam-
Left, Dennis McGettigan, and the Bonnington, the stunning five-star hotel in Dubai
ily within the team. This definitely encourages a personal and caring approach when interacting with guests and customers. There is a genuine sense of community within the hotel, something which our guests can really relate to and appreciate. We want the guests living and staying at The Bonnington to experience excellent 5 star service and hospitality and the team here are fully committed to providing this. We make it a priority to ensure that every guest feels truly welcome and comfortable from the moment they arrive. Your family are well-known in the hospitality industry at home – particularly in terms of the music business. Does The Bonnington and McGettigan’s play a similar role there?
Yes indeed it does, especially with regards to McGettigan’s. We place a strong emphasis and importance on providing the best in live music and entertainment at our venues. Producing successful music and comedy gigs are a key element of the brand and are a vital part of the electric atmosphere we want our guests to enjoy. Pubs in Ireland are renowned for lively entertainment and music and we aim to expand this legacy and reputation across our venues in the Middle East. McGettigan’s Irish Bar, a fabulous night spot with an ‘electric atmosphere’
The ‘pub’ is a very Irish way to spend a
night out – how did you manage to sell that to a region where such entertainment is not part of the culture.
We always put a strong focus on the fundamental elements of ‘a great time out’, i.e. friendly, personalized service, fantastic food, and captivating entertainment. By doing this we have successfully managed to position McGettigan’s at the centre of the city’s multicultural entertainment scene. Our bars portray a modern image of Ireland with clean, bright, and welcoming spaces located at the heart of their local communities – we believe that these are all values that can translate well to any new market place. This ethic and approach has to date paid off with McGettigan’s having recently won Best Pub at this year’s Time Out Dubai Music & Nightlife Awards, of which we are extremely proud. When talking about Ireland to someone in the UAE who intends to travel there, what do you recommend they visit?
Well I’m a big fan of Dublin it being where I grew up and I would always recommend visitors spend at least a few nights of their stay in the city! There are some great restaurants and bars of course and also a rich cultural and historical heritage to explore. You can’t beat a wander around Temple Bar on a nice evening and a visit to Dublin Zoo is always a great day out!
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