Aloft Abu Dhabi wins AHIC's Best New Hotel award

Press release

Published May 5th, 2011 - 07:52 GMT

The award has encouraged the Aloft Abu Dhabi to provide their guests with a unique experience and everlasting memories

Aloft Abu Dhabi, the new twist in travel and the only lifestyle hotel in Abu Dhabi, has received 'Best New Hotel' award during the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) for innovation in design.

The Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC) is the region's leading forum that brings together the key decision makers from the hotel investment industry and this year, it has taken the opportunity to showcase the efforts and innovations behind some of the most exciting hotel developments in the Middle East.

Stephan Vanden Auweele, General Manager of Aloft Abu Dhabi, commented on the award saying: "It is a privilege to have been recognized by AHIC for our achievements as Best New Hotel. Today's savvy, design-conscious consumers understand that great style can be both accessible and affordable. The Aloft guests' experience is next-generation, seamless and accessible and this award is encouraging all of us to provide our guests with this unique experience and everlasting memories."

Sanjay Tanna, Business Development Director of ADNEC, added: "We are extremely pleased with the award; the fact that Aloft was selected among many other 'more recognised' brands underscores ADNEC's strong commitment to innovation and industry leadership. Our philosophy as a hotel owner is simple - the needs of all our guests and visitors have to come first and we aim for a satisfaction score of 100%."

A vision of W Hotels, Aloft Hotels offer atmospheric public spaces designed to draw guests from their hotel rooms to socialize and make acquaintances. Guests can read the paper, work on their laptops using free Wi-Fi or play a game of pool. Aloft gives guests urban flair, convenience and a vibrant social atmosphere. The Aloft brand is one of the fastest growing hotel brands in the world. Aloft Abu Dhabi, which opened in October 2009, was the first Aloft Hotel to open in the Middle East. The Aloft Brussels Schuman followed in September 2010 as the first Aloft Hotel in Europe and with many more hotels in the pipeline with focus on the Middle East, Europe and Asia Pacific, the Aloft London ExCeL is planned to open in November 2011.

Background Information

Aloft Abu Dhabi

Aloft Abu Dhabi is owned by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC), a strategic international venue development and management company. ADNEC's venue portfolio includes - the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, and ExCeL London, the UK capital's largest exhibition and conference venue. The success of the Aloft Abu Dhabi, inter-connected with ADNEC has led to the establishment of the Aloft London ExCeL, which is connected to ExCeL.

Created to shake up the staid, traditional select service segment of the hotel industry, Aloft delivers urban-influenced, open and vibrant design and a social guest experience at an affordable price point. In the same way that W Hotels broke through the clutter of conformity in the upscale hotel arena a decade ago, Aloft is shaking up the industry for the next generation of traveler. Starwood recognized opportunity in the select serve market for reinvention and innovation and selected world renowned design and architecture firm Rockwell Group to collaborate on the new hotel concept. Aloft hotels are geared toward savvy, design-conscious consumers who grew up with the democratization of design. Aloft hotels are wired for the future and an aggressive growth plan is in place with close to 50 properties set to open by the end of this year from Baltimore and Dallas to Beijing and everywhere in between.

Company Profile

Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company Group

Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company Group (ADNEC) is an international venue development and business management company. ADNEC Group's portfolio currently includes the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, the Gulf's largest exhibition centre; ExCeL London, the UK capital's largest exhibition centre; the Al Ain Convention Centre, a brand new development in the historic city of Al Ain, Capital Gate, the UAE capital's iconic, gravity defying tower and a number of hotel projects. In addition ADNEC is master developer of the Capital Centre project, the world's first fully interconnected exhibition lifestyle destination.

ADNEC Group is developing its network both through acquisition and construction; the company's objective is to become the world's leading venue provider to the international exhibitions, conferences and live events industries by providing consistently high standards of venue facilities, management and client relationships and capitalising on the synergies which exist within a global venue network.

ADNEC Group's Executive Office is located in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab Emirates. ADNEC Group is a Government organisation which functions as a private enterprise and operates within the principle core values of efficiency and effectiveness.