Rove La Mer Beach Redefining Guest Expectations
Rove La Mer Beach is Rove’s first beach resort and is situated in the popular entertainment district on a private and eclectic beachfront in Jumeriah with wonderful attractions such as Mercato Shopping Mall, City Walk, Dubai Aquarium, Underwater Zoo and Wild Wadi Water Park. Paul Bridger from Rove Hotels Management gives more insights to TTJ on the trendy property which marks the newest addition to the growing portfolio of Rove Hotels properties in the UAE.
Tell us about Rove Hotels and what are the brand values of Rove Hotels?
Rove Hotels is an award-winning lifestyle hotel brand, offering welldesigned hotels in connected locations. Designed for the traveller who likes to explore without borders, receive fussfree service, and some touches of local culture. Rove Hotels defines a new niche in the ever-evolving global hospitality sector.
Rove Hotels are reliable, modern, and efficient. Regardless of their location, Rovers (guests) will always find locally inspired modern interiors, relaxed service, and all the essentials to enjoy their stay.
Born in Dubai, Rove Hotels is a joint venture between Meraas Holding and Emaar Properties PJSC. The first Rove hotel opened in Downtown Dubai in 2016, and the brand now has over 4000 rooms open or under development across the Middle East.
Which are the segments that Rove La Mer Beach is ideally positioned to cater to?
Rove La Mer Beach, our brand-new hotel, is set to
redefine people’s expectations about resorts by offering fuss-free hospitality with all the essentials and accessible rates. The hotel is located at the La Mer beachfront, one of Dubai’s coolest ‘playcation’ spots and just 10 minutes away from Downtown Dubai and City Walk.
Therefore we expect the leisure segment in this hotel will be quite strong. However, we do see plenty of interest on our monthly rate packages and social event celebrations. Due to its great outdoor setting, location in the city and relaxed ambience we expect Rove La Mer Beach to be a popular venue for small weddings, celebrations and social gatherings.
Tell us about the challenges of launching the resort in these unprecedented conditions?
Beach properties in Dubai have been performing very well over the last six months thanks to an increase in the demand for staycations. For that reason, we are quite confident about the performance of Rove La Mer Beach from the time of opening.
This property is Rove Hotel’s first on the beach, and it adds a unique value proposition to Dubai’s leisure market. In fact, since we’ve announced the brand new location, we have seen lots of interest in it.
We believe people are fascinated by the idea of an affordable beachside stay. Considering the great location, accessible price point, and quality of the product, we believe Rove La Mer Beach will be a successful opening – attracting staycationers and international travellers alike.
Please highlight the unique facilities, ambiance, and environment that the property aims to offer the guests?
The hotel has modern facilities, a quirky design and a very chilled and relaxing vibe. The main highlight of the property is the beach, where we will also offer a number of activities and watersports. Additionally, there are two Rover Room types, one with skyline views and the other with sea views featuring all the essentials plus a Juliet balcony to admire the city’s picturesque views.
Food and beverage is also an important part of this property. We have various food and beverage options indoors and outdoors at the hotel terrace, overlooking the beach. Guests can grab refreshing beverages at the Drink Truck, vibrant music, cocktails, spirits, and more at the Beach Bar, or enjoy all-day dining at Rover’s favorite, The Daily.
One of the main features of the hotel is definitely its location. The La Mer neighbourhood has plenty to see and do, with a waterpark, cinema, inflatable playgrounds, watersports, boutique stores, 50+ gourmet restaurants, lounges, outdoor sports facilities, and more.
Are there any inaugural offers at Rove La Mer Beach?
Yes! As a special opening offer, if guests book a stay at Rove La Mer Beach through rovehotels.com, they can avail of a special opening offer of AED 299++ per night, including a sea view upgrade, late check-out, and 30 per cent off food and drinks.
What are the new and extensive COVID-19 precautions to be followed at the property post the opening?
At Rove Hotels, we’ve always taken pride in our cleanliness and hygiene standards, but these days, we’re extra careful to make sure our Rovers are as safe and comfortable as possible. Guests must wear a mask at all times and will undergo quick, hassle-free temperature checks to make sure our Rovers (guests) and team are presently in good health. Additionally, our rooms are thoroughly sanitised before guest arrivals, shared spaces are kept spotless at all times, and we encourage our visitors to utilise contactless payment methods.
Due to our strict safety measures, Bureau Veritas, a world leader in testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) services, named Rove Hotels the first mid-scale brand in Dubai to receive its SAFEGUARD Label. This certification means that all guests can be reassured that Rove Hotels have full compliance under global safety, hygiene, and cleaning requirements. It’s truly an outstanding achievement for us at Rove.
As a beachfront resort, what are the other attractions in and around Rove La Mer Beach for the leisure guests?
Rove La Mer offers guests Dubai’s eclectic beachfront right at the doorstep with a waterpark, inflatable playgrounds, boutique stores, and over 50 gourmet restaurants and lounges. La Mer is one of Dubai’s most exciting outdoor destinations, offering plenty of activities to delight solo adventurers and families alike. Rovers can look forward to a world of options and attractions, including Laguna Waterpark and Roxy Cinemas, along with a wide selection of boutique, concept, and department stores, water sports such as jet skiing and kayaking, outdoor gym equipment and a volleyball court, and games like foosball and ping pong.
Tell us if there are any special facilities and innovative concepts for MICE business and events planned at the resort?
Rove La Mer Beach is an excellent spot for those freelancing or working remotely. The hotel has working areas and Dubai’s first-ever co-working space on the beach. Additionally, with the expansive outdoor space in the hotel, Rove Hotels are looking forward to hosting micro-weddings and social events that will be beach-facing.
What has been your biggest challenge in navigating COVID-19 to date?
The biggest challenge for the industries across sectors has been maintaining the operational rhythm, and it has been the same for Hilton Goa Resort as well. We have used this time to elevate our training, priorities guest safety and put measures to enhance the guest experience. Now that domestic travel has resumed and tourism in Goa is bouncing back to pre-COVID times at a fast pace, we have opened the doors and launched the Hilton Goa Resort for guests. Both leisure and business travellers are considering safety as their top priority, and with Hilton’s CleanStay initiative and trust, we have seen significant demand in bookings. While domestic travel demand has put the industry on track, outbound tourism has taken a beating, and the revival of the industry will still take time.
In November 2020, Hilton announced the opening of its third property in Goa which was supposed to be launched earlier in the year but was delayed due to the ongoing pandemic. Located atop the scenic, terraced slopes of Saipem Hills, overlooking the Nerul River, the resort extends Hilton’s signature hospitality and tranquil retreat to leisure and business travellers. Amandeep Grover, General Manager, Hilton Goa Resort, Candolim shares details on the hotel strategies to attract guests and how the hotel is emphasising on ensuring the highest level of safety.
What are you most focused on right now?
The current focus remains on providing safe accommodation to all our guests. We have put all the necessary protocols and measures as part of the global initiative of the Hilton CleanStay program for the safety and well-being of our guests. Another focus area for us has also been to build brand connect and create awareness for Hilton Hotels & Resorts. Being a Hilton Resort
property in India, there is much excitement, and we are focused on familiarising guests with our signature hospitality. We have curated various touchpoints for our guests to ensure they get to explore the unexplored. The priority is also to ensure the safety of team members as well and we are following all protocols required to ensure their safety.
What actions are you taking now to ensure that you are ready to get leisure and business travellers back?
We have also utilised this time apart to study the evolved consumer behaviour and patterns and have put together a slew of measures to welcome guests in the COVID era.
As safety takes topmost priority, we have taken strict safety and sanitation measures at the property. Upon arrival, guests will have to break the
Hilton CleanStay
Room Seal before they enter, delivering complete satisfaction and peace of mind during their stay.
Similar sanitisation protocols follow for sanitisation of public spaces for a worryfree experience.
Hilton Goa Resort is also fully equipped with contactless arrival with Digital Key technology, providing easy access to rooms directly from one’s smartphone.
We also identified that as travel resumes, there is a rise in family travel. Towards this, we have ensured that guests across age groups have a memorable stay experience at Hilton Goa Resort. We have curated handpicked experiences, which can be availed from our round-the-clock concierge service and customised for both on property and destination experiences.
Moreover, we offer the largest room size in the category along with private balconies, making it ideal for family stays. We have also created unique @YourBalcony experiences such as wine tasting, yoga, BBQ, cocktail making, and culinary masterclasses to extend comfort to guests. For guests looking for adventure, the resort offers bicycle trails, underwater escapades, and luxury cruises along the backwaters of Goa. There are many activities for our little guests too with a dedicated Kids club for them.
As our celebratory opening offer, we have introduced special packages that include a two-night stay with complimentary breakfast, airport coach transfers, happy hours, and a 20 per cent discount on food and beverage and laundry. As part of the ‘Great Small Breaks’ staycation package, guests get complimentary breakfast, one meal or INR 1000 resort credit per person, per night, a unique Goan Masterclass experience, and a 20 per cent discount on food and beverage and laundry.