01 April 2016
Wyndham Dubai Marina’s owners set about designing the property’s interiors with nature as their inspiration
Wyndham Dubai Marina, the first Wyndham-branded property in the UAE, opened its doors to business at the end of February, and will stage a grand opening later this month.
The 486-room property is owned by The First Group’s and managed by Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, the world’s largest hotel chain with more than 7,400 hotels under its wings in 66 countries.
Situated in a prime location offering stunning views of the Gulf and Dubai Marina as well as the nearby Bluewater Island, the 32-storey property also houses 251 luxurious suites and includes two food and beverages outlets – an all-day dining restaurant and a steakhouse – a spa, gym and swimming pool, meeting and conference space, an executive lounge and bar, as well as a coffee shop and souvenir outlet.
The design
The hotel’s interior design was conceived and implemented by The First Group’s highly experienced in-house team led by Nadine Atta.
The Dubai-based team has significant experience developing design concepts for The First Group’s existing portfolio of hotel apartment developments in the emirate.
Wyndham Dubai Marina marks the team’s most high-profile project to date and the impressive nature of its design is testament to The First Group’s strategy of investing in and nurturing local talent, according to a spokesperson for the group.
“The property’s interior design brief was developed by The First Group in consultation with Wyndham Hotel Group,” he says. “The overall aim was to create a unique interior design inspired by the rich and vivid colours typified by a beautiful coral seascape. To achieve this aim, materials were carefully selected and integrated into the design to enhance this concept through the use of organic shape patterns, textured surfaces and multi-directional alignment.”
Unique pattern
The main lobby incorporates 500 sq m of natural stone cladding ranging from natural slate featuring a unique organic pattern to deep grey marble. Upscale, bespoke chandeliers enhance the overall design, and also create a vivid spectacle for guests arriving or departing the hotel.
Turning to essence, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, the spokesperson says the design concept for the outlet is inspired by nature. Earthy colours are used extensively, providing guests with a refresher to start the day and a relaxing environment in which to enjoy lunch or dinner. The restaurant is fitted out with sleek dining tables and chairs and the overall experience is complemented by fine embellishments such as stylish vases and table dressers.
The hotel’s courtyard carries the interior design theme outdoors with some crucial tweaks to the style of furniture used to provide additional comfort for guests.
Range, the hotel’s grill house, features a unique Western-themed design, complete with a bar counter covered with more than 32 sq m of hand-stitched leather. Behind the bar lies an impressive all-glass refreshments counter and display, which enhances the pre-dinner welcoming experience for guests.
The dining zone features a raised platform equipped with a range of seating options, including traditional dining tables complemented by bespoke cowboy-style chairs and love-seat-style sofas.
Natural grain timber flooring has been laid throughout the restaurant, which is complemented by similar style wall cladding in areas, keeping the Western theme well and truly alive. And original artworks, in keeping with the Western theme, cover the restaurant’s main feature wall.
The hotel’s club lounge offers stunning views of the Arabian Gulf. The lounge itself features pastel colours and walnut wood cladding providing a soothing atmosphere for guests in which to relax after a long day. Handcrafted rugs with bespoke patterns inspired by sea coral cover the engineered timber flooring that is laid throughout
the lounge.
In terms of accommodation, standard rooms feature a soothing colour palette providing a warm and relaxing atmosphere for guests. Each guestroom is fitted out with lacquered timber furniture featuring maroon velvet fabric, pale natural stone surfacing, and Arabic design motifs, including a swivel panel that supports the flat-screen television.
Club Rooms feature stylish, walnut lacquer-veneered furniture, black velvet fabrics and a touch of cappuccino colour throughout, combining to create a sophisticated look and feel. Custom lighting and a selection of rugs further enhance the visual appeal and provide a sense of luxury.
The First Group is a British-owned international hotel and property development company, whose principals have built up its expertise and success in the global market over the last 30 years.
Its management team draws from strong and diverse backgrounds in the fields of global property, finance, acquisition, marketing and product development. Its expert eye for emerging property market potential and prestigious partnerships with industry leaders means that its clients can enjoy secure and attractive returns from one of the world’s most vibrant hotel markets.
The First Group’s client base is expanding rapidly, with its global headquarters in Dubai and offices spanning Jeddah, Riyadh and Al Khobar in Saudi Arabia; Moscow and Kazan in Russia; Astana and Almaty in Kazakhstan; Baku in Azerbaijan; Abuja and Lagos in Nigeria; and most recently Mumbai in India.
Wyndham Hotel Group is the world’s largest hotel company based on number of hotels and is one of three hospitality business units of Wyndham Worldwide.
As both a leading hotel brand franchiser and hotel management services provider, the company’s global portfolio consists of more than 7,800 properties and 678,000 rooms in 72 countries.