Starwood Strengthens Footprint in UAE with the Launch of Sheraton Grand Hotel, Dubai

Prime property on Sheikh Zayed Road draws on the 36 year legacy of the Sheraton brand in the UAE

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates--()--Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) has opened the Sheraton Grand Hotel, Dubai. Developed in conjunction with the Abdulsalam Alrafi Group, this hotel signifies the first new-build for Sheraton in Dubai in more than 30 years. Located at forefront of Dubai’s most prominent thoroughfare, the hotel connects guests to the heart of the booming business district and the city’s main tourist attractions—ensuring that the property will become a local landmark.

A towering beacon of 54 stories, the Sheraton Grand Hotel launches as part of a three-tower, mixed-use development that features a comprehensive business centre, a rooftop swimming pool, three restaurant and lounge concepts, and signature offerings like the Shine Spa for Sheraton™, the state-of-the-art Sheraton Fitness®, and a Sheraton Club.

“We are thrilled to build on the brand’s proud heritage in the region as we open the sixth Sheraton in the Emirates and the first new build in Dubai in more than 30 years” said Michael Wale President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa, and Middle East. “The Sheraton Grand Dubai highlights our commitment to the region and to our development pipeline as we strive to grow our portfolio by 75% in the Middle East by 2017.”

Strategically situated on Sheikh Zayed Road, the property is conveniently located within walking distance of the Dubai Metro station, a central railway terminus which offers travellers easy connections to a variety of destinations—including Dubai International Airport, the Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai World Trade Center, as well as the iconic Dubai Mall and Burj Khalifa leisure attractions.

“Drawing on its expertise in bringing people together, Sheraton provides an opportunity for guests to experience the best of their destination with a like-minded community of travelers” said Elena Mendez, Vice President, Sheraton, Westin and SSB brands in Europe, Africa and Middle East. “The Sheraton Grand Hotel aims to deliver dedicated authentic experiences to the Dubai’s bustling business and social scene for global explorers and UAE residents alike.”

The Sheraton Grand Hotel boasts a range of accommodation options with 416 luxurious guest rooms and 58 suites—including two Presidential Suites—as well as 180 premium serviced apartments, which range from one to three bedrooms, and offer a separate entrance to the main hotel lobby. The room design conveys a sense of simplistic modern style, with a complementary colour palette and stylish light fittings and furnishings. All rooms promise magnificent views of Dubai and are equipped with signature Sheraton amenities, including the Sheraton Sweet SleeperTM beds, as well as free WiFi connection, LED TVs, tea and coffee-making facilities and comfortable work spaces.

The hotel’s business and meetings centre caters to groups of all sizes, and features six meeting rooms all with natural daylight, and one size-adaptive ballroom, which can be used for conferences and events. As part of their stay at the hotel, guests will have access to the StarMeeting Concierge Service—a team dedicated to adding that extra level of personalised service, for any requests and queries, whether it is a meeting, event or private party. Business travellers will also have an option to book the Sheraton Club, on the 31st floor, which gives complimentary access to refreshments throughout the day, and a quiet space to work and gather.

On the 52nd floor, the 1,000m2 Shine Spa offers nine spacious and separate-gender treatment rooms, and one couples suite—for the ultimate in relaxation and rejuvenation. The Shine Spa also features a sauna and steam room, an ice fountain, an indoor vitality pool, as well as a relaxation area overlooking Dubai’s landmarks.

International guests and day-visitors to the hotel can choose from a range of cuisines and dining experiences, which all feature the Color Your Plate™ “Nutrition Color Code” designed to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and balance indulgence with nutritious dining. Visitors are welcomed to dine at Feast; an exciting live cooking experience from around the world, where breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served; Link@Sheraton Café in the lobby, a place for friends and colleagues to connect with premium WiFi; and Dawn & Dusk, the rooftop pool and lounge which makes the most of the laid-back, pool-side vibe, and gives fantastic views over the city.

Sheraton Hotels & Resorts

Sheraton helps guests make connections at more than 430 hotels in over 70 countries around the world. The brand recently completed a $6 billion global revitalization and is now in the midst of an $8 billion global expansion over the next three years. Sheraton is owned by and is the largest and most global brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 1,200 properties in 100 countries and over 180,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, , Westin®, Le Méridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, Element® and the recently introduced Tribute Portfolio™. The Company boasts one of the industry's leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG®), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood recently announced plans to spin off its Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc. business, a premier provider of world-class vacation experiences through villa-style resorts and privileged access to Starwood brands, into a standalone public company by the end of 2015. For more information, please visit http://www.starwoodhotels.com.

About the Abdulasalam Alrafi Group LLC

AbdulSalam Alrafi Group LLC was originally formed as a privately held company in 1959. The company primarily was involved in trading, however in 1970 it expanded into real estate development and property management. The company has grown into one if the largest most successful property developers in the UAE with a portfolio of over 30 properties. Its’ portfolio consists of commercial and residential towers (such as Chelsea Tower, Al Salam Du Tower and Marina Heights), industrial warehouse space and Retail space. The company has continued to be a family managed business lead by Mohamed Al Rafi as Chairman and Fahad Al Rafi as CEO of the Group.

Contacts

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Elizabeth Ricardo, 646-768-2782
elizabeth.ricardo@starwoodhotels.com
or
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Middle East
Chandan Belani, +97150 506 8465
Regional Director of Communications
Chandan.Belani@starwoodhotels.com
or
The Portsmouth Group
Lydia Cook / Nizar Saab
+971 4 369 3575
SGH@theportsmouthgroup.com

Contacts

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Elizabeth Ricardo, 646-768-2782
elizabeth.ricardo@starwoodhotels.com
or
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Middle East
Chandan Belani, +97150 506 8465
Regional Director of Communications
Chandan.Belani@starwoodhotels.com
or
The Portsmouth Group
Lydia Cook / Nizar Saab
+971 4 369 3575
SGH@theportsmouthgroup.com