Dubai: Sofitel Dubai Downtown expects to perform well this year despite stiff competition in the local market, according to its general manager, Klaus Assmann.
The hotel is expected to open on May 1 this year.
“Our main competition is the Address hotels… whatever is on Shaikh Zayed Road, it’s just a completely different business model — they are much bigger hotels and further away from us,” Assmann said, adding that Sofitel’s location, the number of rooms it offers and its brand recognition allows it to stand out from competitors.
“There’s enough space for us to compete in the market,” he said.
Four properties
There are four Sofitel properties in the UAE, including three in Dubai and one in Abu Dhabi.
Last year, Dubai’s hotel supply saw the addition of 2,780 hotel rooms within the 4- and 5-star hotel segment, such as Conrad Dubai and The Oberoi, according to global consultancy Ernst and Young (EY).
With the incoming supply in the market, hotels in the emirate recorded 80 per cent occupancy in 2013, according to EY.
Sofitel Dubai Downtown targets both leisure and corporate travellers, given its location and the facilities it offers, according to Assmann. Located on Shaikh Zayed Road, across from Burj Khalifa, the five-star hotel boasts 350 rooms, 76 suites, 14 meeting rooms, restaurants, a swimming pool and a fitness facility. It is also close to Dubai Mall.
The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Germany and the UK are some of the source markets that are expected to account for the majority of guests at the property.
“We are testing the waters with the Russian market and China,” Assmann said.
Asked about the property’s starting room rates, he said: “We will have a special offer but we don’t have that rate yet.”
