We’ve all experienced business trips that involved staying in boxy business accommodation, and being completely underwhelmed by hotel restaurants and bars with zero atmosphere.
You often end up choosing to eat a mediocre meal in your uninspiring room, then rolling out of bed in the morning for meetings before repeating the cycle the next day. Wouldn’t it be nice if, for once, you could arrive at a hotel where you could breeze through the check-in process and stay in a room that wasn’t cramped or lacking in plug points?
A recent report by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) and American Express Global Business Travel (GBT) found that 46% of business travel managers have seen a increase in the number of colleagues seeking to improve their work/life balance.
Clearly, it’s a growing priority and for good reason – frequent travel can wreak havoc on our wellness, whether as a result of limited sleep, poor dietary options, or the general fatigue of jet lag.
How much more comfortable would travelling be if you knew that lightning-fast internet access was guaranteed and complimentary throughout the entirety of your stay? Or that you’d have an extensive selection of restaurants and lounges from which to choose a delicious meal or post-meeting entertainment?
It’s all about having a hub that you can enjoy, somewhere you can relax and find yourself wanting to return. Comfort and convenience are key when it comes to business travel. Dubai is one of the Middle East’s most vibrant global business hubs with a constant flow of local and international business travellers. To help guide you when you visit for business, we have selected three attainable luxury hotels that tick the boxes for business needs, spanning Downtown Dubai to The Palm.
The one thing they all have in common is that they offer enough creature comforts to allow clients, colleagues, and C-suite executives to feel at ease with life on the road and to work hard, while enjoying some leisure time. Enjoy!
Fairmont The Palm
Fairmont The Palm is our wildcard.
Dare we recommend a hotel for business travellers that also offers a beach-front vibe? We do! Although located in the area of Dubai focused more on leisure, this hotel has been climbing the ranks in popularity for business summits and conferences, as well as with business travellers. Nestled just past the halfway point on the trunk of Palm Jumeirah, the hotel is convenient (10 minutes away) for those with business in Jumeirah Lake Towers, Knowledge Village and Dubai Marina.
As the Dubai flagship for the Fairmont Hotels & Resorts group, trusted and renowned around the world for its hospitality standards, it is well able to balance business and leisure. The Mashrabiya Lounge, for example, makes the perfect setting for informal meetings and catchups. Afternoon tea is the highlight but happy hour offerings are on offer later in the day.
The rooms are elegantly designed with Arabian influences, warm neutral colours and ocean tone accents. The Corner One Bedroom Suite is roomy enough for work and relaxation (the living room has a dining table and sofas), plus you’ll have spectacular views from your terrace. The Presidential Suite, airy and spacious at 390sqm, comes with a guest wash room, extra wardrobe space, and a large terrace with 180-degree views of the Dubai Marina skyline.
VIP clients can upgrade to Fairmont Gold, tailored towards discerning business executives and leisure travellers. There is a private check-in area on the 33rd floor and the exclusive boutique-style rooms come with special perks such as access to the Fairmont Gold Lounge with its exclusive wifi, use of the executive boardroom, and butler and concierge services.
While all the rooms have a desk, media panel connectivity kit, and high-speed internet, there is also a 24-hour business centre. The hotel also has eight function rooms, ranging from a 16-seater boardroom all the way up to the Palm Ballroom which can hold up to 500 people standing.
If you’re looking for hardcore business centre facilities, Fairmont The Palm won’t tick all the boxes, but if you want a relaxed environment that will help you find that worklife balance, it’s here. There are six restaurants and lounges, extensive fitness classes and meditative wellbeing experiences through the State of One programme.
There is also the award-winning Willow Stream Spa, based on the four pillars of beauty and aesthetics, movement & fitness, meditation & mind, and destination experiences, which meshes perfectly with the Fairmont brand. Business travellers will find the ‘jet set recovery’ treatment the perfect remedy for jet lag.
While not strictly a business hotel, Fairmont The Palm manages to balance business and wellness. And there’s no reason not to enjoy some leisure time in between meetings!