Rove Expo 2020 offers easy access to ‘the world’s greatest show’
The only hotel at the Expo 2020 Dubai site officially opens to the public today to coincide with the first day of the world fair.
Stepping into the lobby of the property, it’s obvious this is a social hotel with open-plan dining, soundproof phone booths and modern coworking spaces. There’s also a 24-hour gym, foosball tables and a garden, where al fresco events will take place.
The Daily is the hotel’s huge all-day dining restaurant and there’s a central bar and a grab-and-go Rove Cafe for guests who don’t want to waste any of their time at Expo not exploring the site.
And with complimentary access to all of the 192 country pavilions included for each guest for the duration of their stay, there’s no shortage of things to see and do.
Rove Expo 2020 has 331 rooms and suites, and guests checking into the property will be almost within touching distance of Al Wasl Plaza Dome, the shaded amphitheatre space that has been dubbed the heart of Expo 2020.
Designed in a style that’s in keeping with Rove’s other hotel rooms, Rove Expo 2020 offers four categories of rooms, from the smaller Cosy Rover rooms to the spacious Expo Suites, with interconnecting doors available for families or groups.
Each room has a grey, white and yellow colour palette with sunshine walls adorned with Expo-inspired art that has all been produced by regional artists.
There are motivational sayings and phrases printed on the walls, as well as black and white graffiti-style art in the hallways.
Arabian-style prints adorn cushions and curtains in each of the rooms and blackrimmed doors artfully frame the bathrooms in the largest suites.
From almost every balcony, guests will be able to see what’s happening at Al Wasl Plaza, with the amphitheatre clearly visible beneath the dome’s trellis exterior.
The best view in the house, however, is reserved for the rooftop pool. Beyond a glistening infinity pool lined with turquoise sunbeds and parasols, Al Wasl Dome shines under the sun. At night the dome lights up, putting on its own spectacular show for guests.
It’s here that Expo 2020 Dubai began with a starstudded opening ceremony yesterday, during which images were beamed on to the world’s largest 360-degree projection surface.
The hotel said rooms were almost sold out for launch week. It’s a trend that Paul Bridger, chief operating officer at Rove Hotels, is confident will continue.
“We’re super-excited to be the only hotel on-site at the Expo 2020 and, as part of your booking at the hotel, you will also get full access throughout your stay into the Expo site. We are forecasting the hotel will be full throughout the event period and currently we’re seeing strong demand, as some of the key dates are already starting to sell out.”
Despite the global pandemic, international visitors look set to be among the many Expo visitors over the next six months. Dubai’s two airlines, Emirates and flydubai, have announced they will be giving free Expo passes to all travellers flying with them to Dubai during the event period.
“We’ve already seen strong international demand recently with the Saudi market and, just in the last few weeks, we’ve seen a lot of pick-up from the UK market,” says Bridger.
Rooms at Rove Expo 2020 start from Dh842 ($231) per night for the smallest Cosy Rover Rooms, with average rates being Dh1,000 per night, whichis more than the rates the hotelgroup is typically known for.
But when you’re the only hotel at the “world’s greatest show”, perhaps that’s to be expected.
Other Rove hotels are also being planned across the region. “We’ve got a plan to initially expand to the other emirates, to Ras Al Khaimah and Sharjah,” says Bridger.
“Beyond that we want to expand across the GCC to Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Oman … and Abu Dhabi down the line.”
Rove Expo 2020 offers 331 rooms and suites across four categories, with prices starting from Dh842 per night