EVENTS
Festivals and celebrations in Tokyo and Yokohama in March 2018
Walking through the grounds, enjoying the pleasant temperature and lush landscaping, I could have been in any high class Indian Ocean resort. Bulgari CEO Jean-Christophe Babin gushed that it will be the “third landmark” in Dubai after Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab and whether you agree or not, it’s certainly distinctive with classy Italian residential furnishings and vintage celebrity photos.
F&B looks every bit as sharp as the fixtures with an attractive Lobby Lounge, waterside Il Café, La Spiaggia (beach) and Il Ristorante by Nik Romito, which features a striking steel and bronze oval bar. A seafood Italian restaurant is located in the yacht club, which also contains a 360 sqm ballroom, and Il Cioccolato boutique serves up branded chocolates. Naturally Bulgari jewellery and watches are on display in another boutique.
The attention to detail is pervasive. The Workshop Gym offers one-on-one training programmes, and you’ll find mosaic-lined pools and even branded coat-hangers in the cupboards. The spa contains eight treatment rooms and a 25-metre indoor pool, complementing outdoor ones. The resort marks the fifth Bulgari property globally, with Shanghai due to open this spring.
THE RETREAT PALM DUBAI, MGALLERY BY SOFITEL
The weather outside is uncharacteristically cloudy but the colours in the first MGallery in the region and the first wellness-focused resort in the Middle East are warming me up. accorhotels.com
The Retreat Palm Dubai, MGallery by Sofitel, to give its full title, is clearly something different. No aspect has escaped the wellness microscope, from juices by the hour to sunny, leisure-themed lifts, and that’s before you get to the real health business and talk to the lifestyle consultants on hand to address your personalised needs.
I thought it was directly by the Sofitel Palm but, this being Dubai, there are other developments sandwiched in between, one of which looks near completion. The synergies should extend along the crescent, given Accor and Rixos have now entered into a strategic partnership.
Every MGallery has ‘personality’ touches, and in this case, the novelties included an attractive contemporary art display and curved Feng Shui designs.
The wellness centre is a labyrinth containing consultation and treatment rooms, steam, sauna, spa bath and cryotherapy chambers.
It’s not tucked away, like so many hotels, but just off the lobby level, symptomatic of its pivotal positioning.
The hottest ticket in town will be the DND suites – W’s version of the ultimate cabana.
INTERCONTINENTAL FUJAIRAH RESORT
An enduring hospitality anomaly, that the InterContinental hasn’t had a regional resort, has been put to bed with InterContinental Fujairah Resort recently opening its doors in Dibba. The five-star resort, comprising 190 rooms (44 Club rooms and 38 suites), features a series of low-rise, arabesque, villagestyle buildings and combines Arab influences with contemporary designs.
Amenities include a gym, O Spa by L’Occitane, four meeting rooms, a boardroom and ballroom and two F&B options – Nama (international) and Drift (casual beach bar and grill). Worldly Classics cocktails can also be sipped on the Horizon outdoor terrace. Alongside the family pool is a Kids’ and Teen’s Club. ihg.com
W DUBAI – THE PALM
W Dubai – The Palm, slated to open in June, will house 350 sea-facing guest rooms and suites on the West Crescent of Palm Jumeriah. Designed through the W lens, the Escape juxtaposes the man-made geometric skyscrapers with the organic waves of the desert.
On site will be six restaurants and bars, including WET Deck; Torno Subito by Massimo Bottura (his first venue outside Italy); Akira Back (Korean culinary master); SoBe (rooftop bar with a South Beach vibe and 360-degree panoramic views from sun down to lights up); LIV (Mediterranean offerings) and W Lounge (curated cocktails pre/post dinner).
The hottest ticket in town will be the DND suites – W’s version of the ultimate cabana. Flaunt your style to your heart’s content with a private event within the three exclusive DND suites, elevated hideaways adjacent to the WET Deck.
The first AWAY Spa in the Middle East will contain 11 treatment rooms, a steam room, sauna and hammam. wdubaithepalm.com
ANANTARA SHARJAH RESORT
Minor Hotel Group has announced the US$ 140 million, 233-room Anantara Sharjah Resort will open mid-2020, featuring a selection of deluxe rooms and luxury suites at a prime beachfront location. Among the F&B options will be a speciality dining restaurant located on a pier. Other facilities include a male and female spa and wellness centre, a kids’ club, a pool and a ballroom able to accommodate up to 540 guests. anantara.com ■