TTN

Pullman launches in region

Share  
Chaudet...attracting business

ACCOR recently launched its first Pullman hotel in the region, the Pullman Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel, an upscale property designed to cater to leisure and business travellers as well as to the Mice market.

According to general manager Laurent Chaudet: “Pullman is an upscale hotel serving the niche market of business travellers. Located beside the Mall of the Emirates, the hotel will attract a lot of the GCC family market who want to stay near a shopping mall. However, with our 800 sq m of meeting space, nine meeting rooms with pre-function areas and board rooms, business travellers will continue to be our main source market.”

The Pullman brand was re-launched three years ago to fill the gap between the Sofitel and Novotel brands and currently operates more than 50 hotels across Europe, Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and now the Middle East.

“While the European market is well-aware of the brand; our positioning next to the Mall of the Emirates is expected to attract business and leisure guests from the GCC market as well. This together with our access to Accor’s central reservation system, will play an important role in attracting guests. We expect up to 50 per cent of our clientele to be business guests” said Chaudet.

The Pullman Hotel has 481 rooms and suites – each equipped with modern amenities and providing spaces for both relaxation and work. There are four unique food and beverage outlets – the Sanctuary Pool and Spa Lounge, Vantage cocktail lounge, the all-day-dining Sanabel restaurant and the retro-themed Soda Box restaurant which serves a traditional diner menu as well as an array of ice creams, cotton candies and pastries.

Recreational facilities include the Sanctuary, Pullman’s state-of-the art fitness centre and luxurious spa, two swimming pools with a rooftop pool deck and Jacuzzi. And, as the temperature drops, the rooftop pool deck is expected be a popular venue serving Moroccan teas and shisha.

“There is a lot of focus on attitude as we welcome our guests,” added Chaudet. “Our motto is ‘new attitude hotel for business travellers’ and we have made small but significant changes including a ‘welcomers’ team in the lobby, to ensure every guest gets individual attention, and IT guys as part of out events team to ensure smooth operations during a function.”

The Pullman brand is a specialist in medium-to-large meetings. ‘Co-Meeting’ is the brand’s innovative approach to meetings, conferences and incentive events offering a new take which includes dedicated areas, latest-generation equipment, innovative breaks and special-purpose meeting teams including event manager and IT solutions manager.

With close to 1,000 rooms ready to open in Dubai next month, Chaudet strongly believes that its location and the Pullman’s product offering will be its unique selling point. “It’s also about communication and we are in the process of reaching out to the trade and corporate clients,” he said. “Yes, there is a lot of challenge but with the right product, location, people and rates, we are confident to find a niche in this well-populated market.”

A second Pullman hotel is scheduled to open in Jumeirah Lake Towers in 2012 with further hotels planned in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.

Superior rooms are available for Dh830 ($225) for two people valid until the end of the year.

Spacer