New St Regis Abu Dhabi to open in September

The new St Regis Abu Dhabi, the second in the emirate, is scheduled to open in September, its general manager Oliver Key said yesterday. Situated on the Corniche and in the heart of Abu Dhabi, the hotel is part of a Dh1.6 billion project called Nation Towers, owned by International Capital Trading, a private investment company based in Abu Dhabi. Nation Towers is a two-tower mixed-use development. The first tower will be a fully residential one, made up of 360 residential units. The second tower will be made up of the St Regis Abu Dhabi hotel and offices, each with separate entrances. Also part of the project is Nation Galleria, a mall of 60 boutiques, including a number of food and beverage outlets.Located between the 33rd and 49th floors of one tower, The St Regis Abu Dhabi will offer 283 guest rooms including 40 suites. The hotel will also feature the world's highest suspended Presidential suite, at 200 metres above the ground, with a private entrance, dedicated spa and movie theatre. Following the hotel's debut, the Nation Riviera Beach Club is expected to open doors to its 200 metre stretch of beach facing the hotel in early 2013. Competition Despite increasing competition, Key said that he is very positive about how well the hotel will perform in the hospitality market. "We will concentrate on what we can offer. That's all what can really do," he told Gulf News. "We believe with the location on the Corniche, with the different product offerings we have, with the facilities, the beach next door, and the ballrooms… for us, we feel very positive." When asked about rates, Key said that they have not been finalised yet. While the new St Regis Abu Dhabi will be more of a corporate and business property as it sits close to many of the businesses and government institutions, it seems to keep the feel of the very first St Regis of New York, which opened in 1908. The St Regis Abu Dhabi is owned by ICT and will be the second St Regis to open in the Middle East following the resort which opened on Saadiyat Island. Also coming up in the Middle East is a new St Regis in Doha, Qatar, which is scheduled to open on April 1, 2013.