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IHG has announced that it’s taking over an existing hotel in the United Arab Emirates and rebranding it as one of its new voco properties.
Voco is a name that IHG first introduced back in June of this year as it looks to create a new upscale brand that will “combine the informality and charm of an individual hotel, with the quality and reassurance of a global and respected brand“.
I think that may be IHG’s way of describing a boutique hotel which is part of a larger chain….but isn’t that what it bought Kimpton for?
Anyway, ignoring the fact that IHG loyalists needed a new brand like turkeys need more Thanksgivings voco (no, it doesn’t have a capital letter) is here to stay and with soon be making an appearance in Dubai.
IHG has announced that it is taking over the management of the Nassima Royal Hotel and rebranding it as the voco Dubai as of 1 April 2019.
Here’s what IHG has to say about its latest hotel in the UAE:
Strategically located on the Sheikh Zayed Road and within 8km of Dubai International Airport, voco™ Dubai is the perfect destination for guests to explore the city and offers striking views of the skyline.
Designed for both business the leisure travellers, the hotel offers 471 rooms that overlook either the vibrant Sheikh Zayed Road, or the Beach. Amenities include a business centre and 1000 sqm of meeting rooms as well as recreational facilities such as an outdoor swimming pool, a gymnasium, and a spa. The hotel also features multiple dining options including an all-day dining, the lobby bar, a pool bar and 3 restaurants.
One of the bonuses of a rebranding is that we don’t have to wait to see what the new IHG property will be like – it’s open and taking reservations right now – but sometimes it’s hard to get a real feel for the property just from the internet.
If we are to believe TripAdvisor the hotel looks to be a great addition to the IHG portfolio….
…..but Fakespot.com doesn’t exactly give me very much confidence in the reviews:
Still, the images on the hotel’s webpage makes the property look pretty nice….
…and the property already has its own version of an executive lounge (the Royal Club) so that’s one amenity that IHG will not have to introduce.
It will be interesting to see if under IHG’s management guest booking into rooms with access to the Royal Club will continue to get the current benefits:
- Airport transfers in luxury chauffeur driven cars
- 1 Hour Suit Pressing upon arrival
- 2 complimentary pressed items per day
- Pillow Menu
- 24 hour stay from check in time
- 15 minute “Express Jetlag Recovery” treatment, prior booking required
- VIP Amenities
- Complimentary private use of a meeting room for 2 hours, prior booking required
There are some very useful things in that list and it would be great if IHG continued to offer them.
Awards
Here’s the very good news.
As things stand IHG has loaded the voco Dubai into its systems at a very reasonable looking 40,000 points per night….
…and considering there are Holiday Inns in Dubai which cost that much this could turn out to be one of the better IHG Rewards redemption in the UAE.
I’ll wait to see what the first reviews of this property are like after IHG takes over in April before I get too excited but this has potential to be a very nice deal.
Bottom Line
IHG already has a lot of properties in Dubai and among them are two InterContinentals so the hotelier isn’t short of rooms or premium properties in the Emirate so I’m not entirely sure why it feels the need to take on yet another property in the area.
Still….
The property looks perfectly nice, the Royal Club looks to have some useful benefits (let’s hope they’re kept on) and we will soon have another award night option when the property joins IHG Rewards in April 2019…and that’s all nice and positive.
Have any of you guys seen this property or, better yet, stayed at this property? If you have it would be great if you let us know what your thoughts are.
