Jai Wadia

Located in the very heart of Dubai, the Taj Palace Hotel, with its spacious rooms, impeccable amenities and outstanding service, makes for a memorable stay

The centre of a bustling city is not usually the most scenic of places. But, often it can be most convenient. And that is part of the USP of the Taj Palace Hotel, Dubai — location, comfort and space. Ideally located at Deira, in the very heart of Dubai, just a 10-minute drive from the Dubai international airport, it has the most spacious hotel rooms in the city, each with its own balcony. At 61 square metres (650 sq feet) including the balcony, the hotel's executive rooms are the largest in the city. It also has the most authentic Ayurvedic spa in Dubai.

Contrary to the perceived trend of declining business in the hospitality industry, the Taj Palace Hotel has witnessed steadily increasing occupancy levels ever since it opened in October 2001. This is no happy accident, for the company has gone to great lengths to create a genuinely superior experience for its guests.

No stone was left unturned to ensure that the hotel was the very best. WS Atkins developed the architectural concept and design of the hotel with expert consultation from Howarth Design, based in Toronto, Canada. Both have a proven track record in providing top designs in the local market as well as for renowned hospitality consultation.

The hotel proudly advertises its 'travel-less meetings'. Its hi-tech video-conferencing facility allows two or three parties to connect simultaneously. But, in any case, the banquets department is geared to organise large business meetings at very short notice. The hotel is also fitted with a state-of-the-art MAC 500 audio system, not found in any other hotel in the city.

Apart from a modern health club and gym facilities, the hotel offers to pamper its guests with an eclectic mix of Indian and oriental spa treatments like the Ayurvedic shirodhara and abhyanga, the Thai body scrub and the Balinese Boreh massage from Indonesia. The Taj Spa is also perhaps the only five-star hotel spa in Dubai that focuses on creating spa food programmes, spa workshops and introduces specialised spa cuisines that cater to today's hectic lifestyle.

There is something to please everyone at the hotel. Neither gourmet nor gourmand will be disappointed by the food and beverage service. Four theme restaurants vie for the connoisseur's patronage. For original Turkish and Arabic dishes, there's Topkapi. The best curry in Dubai is served at the Indian Handi restaurant, while Sakura offers the choicest Japanese delicacies, including sushi. Verdi, on the other hand, dishes up Italian and Mediterranean fare. Even as  you just stroll around the lobby, the smell of freshly baked breads, cakes and pastries wafts your way from the La Patisserie counter.

In keeping with the policy of all Taj hotels, the Taj Palace has also adopted a host of environmentally friendly practices. Special filters are used in the main kitchen to remove carbon and oil fumes, as well as to prevent dust from coming in. Timed sprinkler systems prevent any wastage of water. Garbage is recycled and the use of plastic is minimal  — cloth or jute bags are placed in the rooms for newspapers and shoes.

The Taj Palace has introduced the concept of a 'dry hotel', with its 'no-alcohol' policy, in keeping with the sensitivities of the Islamic tradition — a concept seasoned hoteliers thought was not marketable. Remarkably, the policy has been successful, especially during the holy month of the Ramadan and Eid festivities. It has also been well received by ministers and senior government officials.

General manager Helmut Meckelburg, who recently moved here from the Taj Exotica, Goa, is very positive about the future. "It caters not only to trendy tourists but also meets the requirements of jet-setting business travellers," he says. One reason for this is the highly personalised level of service, thanks to a staff ratio of 1.2 per room. The hotel has invested heavily in training its employees in various aspects of the hospitality business.

Advanced technology, attention to detail and impeccable hospitality coupled with high standards of excellence — the Taj Palace Hotel Dubai has success written all over it, and is set to indulge its guests for seasons to come.

Uploaded on March 29, 2006