New Dubai Hyatt aims to be a meetings hub

WITH Dubai hosting the upcoming Expo2020, the need for conference facilities in the region is at an all-time high. The 464-room Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights, launching this month, is all set to be the definitive destination for meetings and conference tourism in the region.

The hotel is located by the bustling Dubai Creek. Its close proximity to sister property Grand Hyatt is not an accident – this is expected to enable cross-sales initiatives, especially for large corporate bookings.

CORPORATE INCLINE

“The hotel will offer a dynamic Nysa spa concept with Water Temple, a traditional hammam, a state-of-the-art gym, a private pool and male and female gyms, so leisure guests will be well catered for, but our main focus will be corporate travellers,” general manager Mathieu Greppo clarifies right from the start in an interview with TTN.

“We have extensive meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibition facilities, including 13 meeting suites and two spectacular ballrooms, to cater for any scale of event from weddings to corporate functions, all of which are accessible through a separate entrance to maintain privacy and security.

“Guests can choose to hold a function in one of our two deluxe Royal Suites, which comprise the top two floors of the hotel. One Royal Suite on the 34th  floor, has a 360-degree outdoor terrace with unparalleled views, while the other on the top floor has a seven-metre high dome ceiling.

“Our 76 luxury suites will also be perfect for large family groups coming to stay,” says Greppo.

THE OFFERINGS

When choosing to host an event at one of Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights’ 13 meeting suites or two spectacular ballrooms, there will be a dedicated event planner to guide guests from the start to the end, ensuring all guests receive customised space, schedule and exceptional catering.

Guests choosing to celebrate their wedding can relax and let their special day be handled by the professional associates down to the last detail of flowers and music. Each of the venues are well-appointed with state-of-the-art technology infrastructure, offering high-speed internet connectivity while advanced lighting capabilities in each venue meet the demand for hi-tech meetings and social events. 

Apart from the ballrooms and meeting suites, the hotel also presents the concept of a residential-style multi-event enclave; Al Manzil, which is accessible through its own private entrance. Based on the concept of a private mansion, Al Manzil is made up of a collection of six individually styled rooms serviced by two interactive, open kitchens.

“One thing I place above all else is customer service,” says the general manager. “This sounds like a cliché, but Dubai is a competitive market and we need to work hard to stand out. For example, we offer free valet parking, wi-fi and free mini-bar items; these are just little things, but they highlight the level of detail we are going into to make our guests’ stays as comfortable as possible.

“I also take the time to meet with all my staff regularly and we organise a variety of out of work team building excursions, as a happy work force will resonate this good will to our customers.”

CHALLENGES

Greppo’s impressive career of more than 22 years has taken him across Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East and Russia. An eight-year Hyatt veteran, he joins the property from his most recent role as the general manager of Hyatt Regency Yekaterinburg in Russia, where he was responsible for the hotel achieving the top position in the city.

“I love to launch hotels and take over existing properties, which may not be performing as they should, with the bulk of my experience being in Russia and the Post-Soviet States,” he says. 

“Naturally there are high expectations for the new Hyatt Regency and I see it as an exciting challenge for my career.

“There are specific stages with a new hotel, including the launch stage and the steady build-up to occupancy, but of course my aim is to make this one of the top hotels in the region in the near future.”

There are way too many hotels in Dubai and the competition is intense. But Greppo’s job is perhaps made a little easier as the new Hyatt stands out physically in the Dubai skyline with its two striking towers at 164 m high.