Mina Seyahi Business on a High

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. October 14, 2008

DUBAI, UAE, September 16, 2005. With revenues up 18.24 per cent and room rates increased by 28.75 per cent compared to 2004, Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina is breaking new house records year-on-year. And, according to general manager Michael Scully, the record 32.45 per cent growth in revPAR (revenue per available room) up until August signals that the good times will continue on Dubai's beaches for the foreseeable future.

"There has been concern that construction emanating from the major projects underway here might impact on tourism, but these figures prove that the appeal of Dubai is as strong as ever," he said. Equally important for the hotel, business in its restaurants and leisure facilities has soared, in part due to a raft of innovations including new beach and marina venues, plus a revamp of the flagship restaurant Retro.

Retro's head chef Stephane Buchholzer, who heads up Retro after a stint in a two Michelin-starred restaurant in New York, has injected some Stateside flair into the hotel.

Scully said, "Our new phrase at Retro is 'dare to be different' - and we believes this sums up Chef Stephane's ethos perfectly. Many said that Dubai wasn't ready for his fusion of tastes, but we have proved the opposite: the community - and our guests - have welcomed the change.

"After all, Dubai continues to be about pushing boundaries, and Retro is doing this through cuisine. At Mina Seyahi, we have encouraged local residents to view the hotel as part of their social and leisure life," said Scully. "The marina, al fresco venues such as the Barasti Bar, and events in our amphitheatre have always proved popular, and recent renovation and expansion work has enabled us to add significant new products on the beach and marina front."

The policy of continual investment is one that has become a hallmark of Le Meridien in Dubai, and Scully said the phenomenal success achieved by Le Meridien Mina Seyahi justified this strategy.

"Hotels can never stand still as there is always competition on the doorstep, but the addition of facilities such as our Solesenses spa, well-being centre, and two new restaurants give us two-fold benefits in adding to the resort experience for in-house guests, as well as giving Dubai residents extra reason to visit the hotel," he said.

The new restaurants have enjoyed particular success, with their unique locations adding to their appeal: The Dhow, berthed in the marina, is a seafood and sushi specialty restaurant offering an open-air deck for pre-dinner drinks plus an intimate lower restaurant deck. Waterfront views are also a feature of Bussola, a two-storey Italian restaurant with outdoor lounge and bar where diners can see The Palm take shape.

"We've been delighted at the response to our new restaurant offerings," said Scully. "But, while both guests and residents enjoy the new, it's encouraging to see that Retro has retained its position as Dubai's number one venue."