Seven Tides , Dubai-based developer consolidates growing management team into new office; move to showcase Ibn Battuta Gate and its strategic location for DWC and Expo 2020 projects

New expanded HQ showcase for Seven Tides

Dubai-based developer consolidates growing management team into new office; move to showcase Ibn Battuta Gate and its strategic location for DWC and Expo 2020 projects

Dubai-based developer Seven Tides has moved into new upgraded and fully refurbished office space in its flagship Ibn Battuta Gate office complex. The move serves a practical purpose, consolidating its growing management team into one location, as well as showcasing the ‘Gate’s’ potential as high quality business space, conveniently located near to Dubai World Central and the proposed new Expo 2020 site.    `

“Besides showcasing our potential our office space holds to our partners, clients and other visitors, the location is now key. In the wake of Dubai’s successful Expo 2020 bid and the proposed site, between Dubai Investment Park and Dubai World Central (DWC), office space will be at a premium in what you could say is the new, ‘New Dubai’. Ibn Battuta Gate is literally just 15 minutes away by car and of course we have a dedicated Metro station, which will obviously link to the proposed rail extension towards DWC,” said Abdulla Bin Sulayem, CEO, Seven Tides.

Seven Tides’ new HQ covers approximately 10,000 square feet on the top floor, of the eleven-storey building. It will accommodate Seven Tides’ forty strong management team and comes complete with a multi-purpose ‘comfy’ staff lounge, to promote spontaneous, informal interaction between employees – it will also be used as a place for ‘blue sky’ thinking, enhanced by the relaxed environment.

Other features of the open-plan style office, which comes complete with glass partitions, to enhance the natural daylight, include an aquarium – the result of a staff survey which revealed that they valued the merits of a water feature and a lime green inspired staff café. All of the staff were encouraged to offer their design ideas and were heavily involved in the layout and choice of fixtures and fittings to stimulate the overall atmosphere and mood.

“We also have ample free parking and we are next to Ibn Battuta shopping mall, a multi-screen cinema and the five-star Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel, which is ideal for corporate entertainment and accommodating overseas visitors, with residential apartments available for longer staying guests or indeed members of staff.

“As the DWC and Expo 2020 related projects are awarded, it will undoubtedly create demand for quality office space, conveniently located with a wealth of entertainment venues on hand,” he added.

Seven Tides’ active portfolio now includes the 293 room Anantara Dubai The Palm Resort & Spa, 442 apartment and 14 penthouses that make up the Anantara Residences Dubai Palm Jumeirah, the Mövenpick Ibn Battuta Gate hotel, Ibn Battuta Gate Offices and Residences, Oceana Residences on Palm Jumeirah which includes the West 14^th Restaurant and Dukes Hotel, London.

Photo Caption 1: Abdullah Bin Sulayem, CEO, Seven Tides.

Photo Caption 2: Ibn Battuta Gate office 1

Photo Caption 3: Ibn Battuta Gate office 2

Photo Caption 4: Ibn Battuta Gate office - Staffroom

For more information, please visit www.seventides.com

About Seven Tides

Based in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, privately owned Seven Tides was established in 2004. A hospitality and real estate company, Seven Tides thinks progressively, works creatively, partners strategically and acts quickly. The result is a current portfolio of offerings from landmark hospitality acquisitions and commercial buildings to residential towers and multi-use complexes in the gateway cities of London and Dubai.

Mövenpick-managed Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel to attend World Travel Market in London – hotel to extend unique all-inclusive winter break package

London calling for the Gate

Mövenpick-managed Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel to attend World Travel Market in London – hotel to extend unique all-inclusive winter break package

Following the successful launch of its all-inclusive package earlier this year, the five-star Mövenpick-managed Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel Dubai will be extending its ‘all-in’ offer throughout the winter season until the end of April 2012.

Along with its sister property the Oceana Beach Club, on Palm Jumeirah, ‘The Gate’ is reopening reservations for its optional £ 47 supplement per person per night, (free for children under six and 50% for kids under 12). Normal restaurant menus apply, along with quality house and branded beverages. The ‘dine, sign and relax’ offer applies to advanced bed and breakfast bookings for four consecutive nights or more.

“The initial launch of our all-inclusive winter offer was a major success, with heavy demand from UK and German tour operators. The deadline for bookings passed recently and due to its popularity, we have decided to extend the offer until the end of April next year,“ said Andrew Hughes, Director of Sales and Marketing at the Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel.

“Some leading tour operators are now packaging this offer for as little as UKP899 per person, using Qatar Airways out of London Heathrow,” added Hughes.

The hotel announced the extension ahead of its participation at World Travel Market (WTM) exhibition in London which starts on 7th November. WTM is a key event for the international travel industry and attracts over 46,000 travel professionals from all over the world.

At Oceana Beach Club, guests can also enjoy the sun, sand and sea, with a private beach, infinity pool and outdoor dining accessible through the hotel’s complimentary 10-minute shuttle bus. A 20% discount is applied to Oceana’s highly popular West 14th Steak House, a New York-style Grill.

For an extra supplement of just €95 guests can also enjoy a lavish gala dinner on New Year’s Eve at the hotel’s main atrium; Al Bahou, an authentic example of traditional Arabic architecture.

The Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel is a comprehensive destination in itself, offering larger families the option of interconnecting rooms, a dedicated metro link and of course for those in need of some retail therapy, the extensive Ibn Battuta Mall is just next door.

Notes:

As the global hospitality industry continues to ponder the pace of business, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, in partnership with real estate developer, Seven Tides, opens more than 1,200 rooms over four properties in Dubai, UAE.

The 396-room Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel, is cleverly inspired by the journeys of the 14th century Arabian explorer, Ibn Battuta himself. The hotel is located in ‘New Dubai’ opened its doors to business and leisure travellers in October 2010.

The 216-room Mövenpick Hotel Deira opened in January 2011. Situated in the commercial hub of Diera, close to the Dubai Creek and Dubai Airport, the hotel is perfectly situated for business visitors and short stay leisure guests as well as weekend shoppers and small meeting groups.

During winter 2011, the Asian-inspired Royal Amwaj Resort & Spa on Palm Jumeirah will be ready to open. The 293-room resort will be shortly be announcing some ‘industry firsts’, including an upscale all-inclusive package available through preferred travel partners.

2012 will also witness the opening of the contemporary Oceana Hotel & Spa. Seven Tides’ second property located on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah will open 324 rooms at the Oceana Beach Club, which has already opened a popular restaurant-bar venue, West 14th, the New-York Grill and Bar. Both the club and the restaurant opened for business during the summer of 2010 and like the hotel are set to deliver great family entertainment.

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, an upscale hotel management company with over 12,000 employees, is represented in 30 countries with over 90 hotels existing or under construction. Focussing on expansion in its core markets of Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia, the international hotel group specialises in business and conference hotels, as well as holiday resorts. Of Swiss origin, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts positions itself in the upscale segment and stands for quality, reliability and care with a personal touch. The hotel group is owned by Mövenpick Holding (66.7%) and the Kingdom Group (33.3%).

Meanwhile, established in Dubai in 2004, Seven Tides is an international-oriented holding company currently focusing on hospitality and real estate sectors.

Ibn Battuta Gate meets Brandenburg Gate

Ibn Battuta Gate meets Brandenburg Gate

Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel makes Berlin travel show debut offering sun, sand, sea, shopping and devilish F&B fun – ‘destination’ ideally suited to European market says Moevenpick

The 396 bedroom Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts’ latest five-star property in Dubai, will debut at this year’s ITB travel show in Berlin one of the world’s leading travel trade shows. The hotel believes it has the perfect blend of features to attract even the most discerning European leisure visitors.

“Sun, sand and sea, shopping and devilish food and beverage fun are all part of our ‘destination’ offering, perfect for individuals or small groups looking to celebrate,” said Andrew Hughes, Director of Sales and Marketing at the Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel.

“We offer complimentary shuttle and access to our five-star private beach club, Oceana, on Palm Jumeriah, just ten minutes away. We are next to the Ibn Battuta shopping mall which boasts its own dedicated Metro station bringing the world’s largest retail space, Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates within easy reach. We even have a new night club called ‘Diablo’ for those who wish to dance the night away,” he added.

According to figures from Government of Dubai, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, the UK and Germany are two of the most important inbound Western European markets for Dubai followed by France and Italy.

During the first half of 2010, more than 382,000 British and 153,000 German nationals had stayed in Dubai hotels. If that figure was replicated during the second half of 2010, visitor numbers from the UK and Germany would exceed the 715,000 and 283,000 recorded in 2009. Overall Dubai received almost 8.7 million guests in 2010, 800,000 more than 2009 realising $3.6 billion in direct revenue.

In addition, these figures do not count visitors who do not stay in hotels but may use hotel restaurants and leisure facilities. Many British tourists choose to stay with friends or family or indeed those who may own a holiday home in Dubai. As such it is estimated that over one million British visitors arrive in Dubai annually.

Travel links between Dubai and Germany are also growing significantly, with Emirates and Lufthansa operating over one hundred flights per week between them. Emirates, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic combined, return, non-stop flights to Dubai, now total over 125 each week.

Opened in October last year the hotel has clearly identified its European markets and the marketing team has prepared a series of short and long stay promotions specifically designed for the European leisure market. Packages include half board promotions starting at $30 per person sharing and ‘stay 3-pay 2 nights’ starting at $225 per room.

“The European leisure markets, especially the UK and Germany have been our strongest overseas markets to date, representing just under 20% of our total market mix. Although we are primarily a business hotel, we expect to grow our percentage of leisure customers throughout the year,” said Hughes.

Throughout, the average length of stay (ALS) in Dubai during 2010 was three nights. However German guests stay at the Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel for an average of over five nights and the ALS for UK guests at the hotel is over four nights per stay.

“We have exceeded our budgeted ALS – Germany has surpassed by 251%, whilst the UK is ahead of budget by 38%. This shows clearly that our product and pricing is attractive to these markets and considering that we have never attended ITB before, we are confident of further consolidating our market position,” added Hughes.

ITB Berlin which takes place on 9-13 March 2011 attracts over 11,000 exhibitors spread over 160,000 square metres of floor space and will welcome 111,000 trade visitors and 68,000 consumers (during the weekend public days).

One of the most important aspects of ITB is its timing and reputation. Many tour operators traditionally short-list the hotels and finalise the packages that will be featured in their winter season brochures.

“Of course with the internet, potentially there is no limit to the number of hotels a travel agent or tour operator can feature, but being selected as a ‘preferred’ hotel pays dividends with guaranteed guest volumes,” said Hughes.

Photo caption: The IBN Batutta Gate Hotel, Dubai.

IBN Batutta Gate Hotel can be found at ITB Berlin on Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing Stand under Royal Amwaj Resort and Spa in hall 22.

As the global hospitality industry continues to ponder the pace of business, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, in partnership with real estate developer, Seven Tides, prepares for the opening of more than 1,200 rooms over four properties in Dubai, UAE.

Within the pack of four is the 396-room Ibn Battuta Gate Hotel, a property of iconic stature both inside and out, which is cleverly inspired by the journeys of the 14th century Arabian explorer, Ibn Battuta himself. The hotel is located in ‘New Dubai’ opened its doors to business travellers, holidaymakers and inquisitive tourists in October 2010.

The 216-room Mövenpick Hotel Deira opened in January 2011 with its sights set on offering an efficient welcome to visiting business executives, inquisitive shoppers, small meeting groups and lunch & dinner time diners in Dubai’s traditional locale of Deira on the north-side of the Creek.

Also in 2011, the Asian-inspired Royal Amwaj Resort & Spa on Palm Jumeirah will be ready to open. At first glance, the 293-room retreat-like resort seems to be playing a credible tune as it blows its own trumpet by announcing some ‘industry firsts’, including an upscale all-inclusive package available through preferred travel partners.

2011 will also see the pack complete with opening of the contemporary Oceana Hotel & Spa. Seven Tides’ second property located on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah will open 324 rooms at the Oceana Beach Club, now open with restaurant-bar venue, West 14th, the New-York Grill and Bar. Both the club and the restaurant opened for business during the summer of 2010 and like the hotel are set to deliver great family entertainment.

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, an upscale hotel management company with 12,000 employees, is represented through over 90 hotels existing or under construction in 26 countries with a concentration in its core markets of Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia. The international hotel group with roots in Switzerland is expanding and has a stated objective of increasing its hotel portfolio to 100 by end of the year 2010. With two hotel types, business and conference hotels, as well as holiday resorts, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts has clearly positioned itself in the upscale segment. The hotel group stands for uncompromising product and service quality and is owned by Mövenpick Holding (66.7%) and the Kingdom Group (33.3%).

Meanwhile, established in Dubai in 2004, Seven Tides is an international-oriented holding company currently focusing on hospitality and real estate sectors.

Ibn Battuta Gate offers holistic living solution

Ibn Battuta Gate offers holistic living solution

Apartments, a five-star hotel, customised offices and a shopping mall, provide ideal work-life balance in the heart of new Dubai – it even has its own Metro station

Dubai-based property management company Asteco, today announced that the apartments at Ibn Battuta Gate are now available for lease, offering residents a perfect balance between comfort and convenience thanks to its proximity to new state-of-the-art offices, leisure amenities and five-star service.

Adjoining the recently-opened Ibn Battuta Gate hotel, which is managed by Swiss hotel operator Mövenpick, featuring the iconic 60-metre gateway arch, and a stone’s throw from the mall, the complex provides superior living with annual rents starting from just AED 70,000 in an environment that fosters a healthy work-life balance.

The apartment building which consists of 156 stylish one- and two-bedroom apartments, spread over ten floors, is just 400 metres from the new Ibn Battuta Metro station, which provides direct links to Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai International Financial Centre.

“The apartments offer luxury living at an affordable price. In addition, tenants also have the unique choice of using either the Mövenpick’s pool and health club or the state-of-the-art leisure facilities within the apartment building,” said Camilla Van Der Merwe, Head of Sales and Leasing at Asteco, which is managing the flagship mixed-use development on behalf of building owners Seven Tides.

Meanwhile, the office tower, located at the opposite end of the archway, spans 454,000 square feet across 11 floors and is perfectly positioned to attract businesses from both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. In addition, all Ibn Battuta tenants have access to dedicated secure covered car parking, located underneath the building.

“Living within walking distance of work is not often feasible, especially in a climate such as we have in the UAE, but Ibn Battuta Gate allows people to do just that. However, we are also seeing more and more people commuting between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and this development is perfectly placed to service both markets, as well as the more local commercial hubs of Jebel Ali Free Zone and Dubai Media and Internet cities,” said Van Der Merwe.

Annual rents at the apartments include access to the five-star Mövenpick hotel’s swimming pool and gym, in addition to 24-hour security, internet connection, satellite television, utility bills and parking. Each apartment also features with built-in wardrobes, lavishly finished bathroom, and solid wood floors in the bedrooms and marble flooring in the main living area.

Another attraction, Ibn Battuta shopping mall spans 1.3 kilometres in length and features more than 250 retail outlets, a hypermarket and over a dozen food and beverage outlets, in addition to a 21-screen cinema.

Photo caption 1: Inside an Ibn Battuta Gate apartment.
Photo caption 2: The Ibn Battuta Gate complex.

About Asteco

Founded in Dubai in 1985, Asteco is a major regional real estate services firm and the one of the largest property services company in the United Arab Emirates. Asteco offers clients independent market analysis, design development consultancy and valuation services, sales and leasing services, as well as asset and property management services.

Ibn Battuta Gate ready for handover

17 January 2010

Ibn Battuta Gate ready for handover

Dubai’s latest mixed-use iconic gateway development of offices, apartments, a hotel and robotic car park now ready for handover to Seven Tides

Construction work is now complete on the latest striking addition to the Dubai city skyline featuring an archway larger than the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

The iconic arch at the Ibn Battuta Gateway development is the entrance to a unique combination of modern offices, luxury residential apartments for lease and a five-star hotel.

Tenants are already in place and operating from the 11 storey 400,000 square feet office complex at Ibn Battuta Gate, which aims to attract businesses with commercial interests in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Due to its single ownership structure the offices hold particular appeal to institutions and companies that require multiple units or several floors in a building with the potential for future expansion.

Complementing the office complex, is basement parking for over 350 cars as well as a multi-storey, robotic car park capable of handling 765 vehicles – the first of its kind in the Middle East – which has already begun operations. In addition, work is nearing completion on the 166 luxury residential apartments which are expected to be released for long term rental in February.

“Ibn Battuta Gate is a new portal to a maturing location that balances city and retreat, excitement and relaxation, business and pleasure,” said Brett Whalley, Head of Commercial Leasing at Asteco, one of the largest property services company in the United Arab Emirates, which is managing the flagship mixed-use development on behalf of Seven Tides.

“Ibn Battuta Gate is at the very heart of Dubai’s new residential and commercial corridor and is already a major feature on the city skyline. Now that the scaffolding has been removed and the preparations for the handover are in their final stages, the complex is attracting considerable interest from entrepreneurs both established and new to Dubai,” Whalley added.

The 396-room hotel will be handed over to owner Seven Tides at the end of January for the final fitting out with an anticipated opening by the Swiss hotel group Moevenpick Hotels & Resorts in May 2010.

Michael Scully, Managing Director Hospitality for Seven Tides said: “Ibn Battuta Gate is already a landmark with its striking architecture and will appeal to those who appreciate sophistication and five-star luxury, whether for business or leisure. Moreover our food and beverage outlets will be complemented by a light-hearted, casual atmosphere creating a lively, family-focused dining proposition.”

The Ibn Battuta complex is within 400 metres of a Metro station due to open sometime in February this year providing direct access to the commercial business heart of the Jebel Ali free zone as well as Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Internet and Media City, Dubai Financial Centre, Dubai World Trade Centre and central Dubai itself. The development is also adjacent to Ibn Battuta Mall with 300,000 square metres of retail space and entertainment attractions.

Dubai-based Seven Tides is an internationally oriented holding company established in 2004 with a portfolio of property in hospitality, commercial and residential sectors in London and Dubai.

For further information about Asteco, please visit www.astecoproperty.com

For more information about Seven Tides, please visit www.seventides.com

Photo caption:

Image 1:
Brett Whalley Head of Corporate Services at Asteco ‘hands over The Gate’ to Michael Scully Managing Director of Hospitality at Seven Tides.

Image 2+3:
Ibn Battuta Gate is at the very heart of Dubai’s new residential and commercial corridor and is already a major feature on the city skyline- Brett Whalley, Head of Corporate Services at Asteco.

About Asteco
Founded in Dubai in 1985, Asteco is a major regional real estate services firm and the one of the largest property services company in the United Arab Emirates. Asteco offers clients independent market analysis, design development consultancy and valuation services, sales and leasing services, as well as asset and property management services.

Robotic car park first for region

Robotic car park first for region

Hi-tech answer to growing parking problems, automated parking for 765 cars is key feature of new office complex - phase one Ibn Battuta Gate now complete

A multi-storey, automated car park – the first of its kind in the Middle East – opens today (12 August 2009). Capable of handling 765 vehicles, it is the first of several large-scale robotic car parks being built to address growing parking problems in the United Arab Emirates.

The car park is a key complementary feature of the commercial office complex (phase one) at the new Ibn Battuta Gate mixed-use property developed by Dubai-based Asteco Development Management appointed by owners Seven Tides. Located next to Ibn Battuta Mall on the Sheikh Zayed highway, the development has 40,000 square metres of office space and residential apartments managed by Asteco Property Management and a five-star hotel and spa to be managed by Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts.

Andrew Chambers, Managing Director, Asteco commented, “This robotic car park will be especially convenient for the office tenants, parking or retrieval can be completed in less than 160 seconds. It is safe and secure and obviously doesn’t expose expensive paint work to the abrasive elements during lengthy office hours.”

Asteco, the largest property and services company in the United Arab Emirates, are the sole leasing and property managers for the offices at Ibn Battuta Gate which aims to attract businesses with commercial interests in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The technology behind the automated parking system was developed by US-based Robotic Parking, a world leader in the field, and has been brought to the region by the MAG Group, a leading UAE company.

“In a world of increasing urbanization and traffic congestion, the future is robotic parking,” said Sami K. Issa, General Manager of Robotic Systems, the technology licensor. “As more and more vehicles in the UAE and the Middle East share a limited volume of available space, the need for a solution has become acute. In our view, it is not simply more space but more intelligent use of space which will solve the parking problems of today and tomorrow.
“With this technology, you don’t need to drive through the garage to find a parking space. You simply drive your car to an entry station and leave your car to be picked up by the computerised lifts that will safely place it inside the building on a shelving system. When you leave, you return to a central point and your car is swiftly retrieved for you."

Pre-opening performance tests of the system achieved more then 250 parking transactions per hour – faster than regular gated ramp-style car parks can handle.

Ahmet Oktay Cini, CEO of Asteco Development Management, also representing Seven Tides, described the system as “a key component of the development, a premium valet parking using state of the art technology.” He added: “It means your car is safe from break-ins and accidents, or the dents and scratches that are usually the risk of parking in large car parks. The robotic system also addresses the growing parking problem in Dubai by providing more than twice the number of parking spaces compared with a conventional car park.”

The Ibn Battuta Gate mixed use development has direct access to the Sheikh Zayed highway off interchange 6, connects with Jebel Ali Free Zone, the new Al Maktoum International Airport or further a field to Al Raha Beach and Abu Dhabi. Close by are Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai Internet City, Dubai Media City and the rest of Dubai. The Office complex also has additional basement parking for over 350 cars.

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

Robot 1 & 2: An automated car park – the first and biggest of its kind in the Middle East – opened to the public today (Wednesday 12 August 2009) at IBN Battuta Gate, Dubai .

Robot 3: Left to right - Andrew Chambers, Managing Director of Asteco; Ahmet Oktay Cini, CEO of Asteco Development Management; and Sami K. Issa, General Manager of MAG Robotic Systems.