Millennium Corniche Hotel in Abu Dhabi repositioned

Abu Dhabi: Millennium and Copthorne Middle East and Africa (MEA) has unveiled its newly renamed and repositioned property in the capital, the Millennium Corniche Hotel Abu Dhabi.

The 305-room hotel occupies a prime location in the city’s prestigious Corniche area and was the first Millennium and Copthorne branded property to debut in the region, opening its doors in 2002.

“Our Abu Dhabi hotel was the group’s first foothold into the Middle East hospitality market, and over the last 12 years has been a brand ambassador for our internationally acclaimed hospitality and service,” said Ali Hamad Lakhraim Alzaabi, President and CEO, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels MEA.

“The decision to rename the property is twofold: to assert its position in a highly sought-after location in the heart of Abu Dhabi city and, as we grow our brand presence in the capital, to ensure that our guests can identify with the specific offering and get the most out of their stay with us,” he added.

Its prime location on the Corniche, with close proximity to major downtown retail and entertainment options, as well as being within easy reach of Shaikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Ferrari World, Yas Waterworld and the beautiful beaches of Saadiyat Island,support its positioning as an upscale leisure destination, ideally located for tourists eager to experience all that the city has to offer.

A new general manager, James Wilson, recently appointed, is leading the team in its new phase of development. An experienced international hotelier with a track record of successful openings and strategic brand relaunches, Wilson has worked in senior executive roles for leading hotel groups in Asia, Europe and the Middle East.

“It’s part of my mandate to take the hotel through to the next decade, we have introduced a raft of new offerings for our guests including wireless iPad check-in, our newly revamped Italian restaurant — now called Biscotti — which is a casual Italian dining concept with an authentic ‘neighbourhood’ feel, and we are also in the process of relaunching our coffee lounge concept,” he said.

“Abu Dhabi is on an upwards trajectory both in terms of hotel occupancy levels, and achieved almost double digit growth year-on-year in 2014, with RevPAR also climbing over the same period. This supports our strategic expansion vision for the Emirate and indeed the UAE, and with a firmly established presence in the region, we are confident of our own rapid ascent to become one of the major players in the hospitality sector,” added Alzaabi.

business@khaleejtimes.com