IBIS World Trade Centre, Dubai

The Cranley Report

IBIS World Trade Centre

IBIS World Trade Centre, Dubai

Hotel Address

World Trade Centre
P O Box 1854310
Sheikh Zayed Road
Dubai
United Arab Emirates

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Cranley Rating

Ibis Hotel at night

Photo 1 of 12. Click to enlarge

Hotel Summary

Category

Hotel

Hotel Opened

2003

Cranley Summary

The IBIS Hotel is a functional business hotel located next to the World Trade Centre and is directly linked to the International Exhibition and Convention Centre of Dubai. Shopping malls, beaches and tourist attractions are close by, while the Dubai International Airport is twenty minutes away and Jebel Ali Free Zone is thirty minutes away. The hotel is a modern contemporary business style hotel with ample spacious seating space in the lobby areas and outside. The hotel meets simple travellers needs with the CuboPasta restaurant, Chianti's wine bar and hotel shop located on the ground floor providing the bare essentials. PC's are provided at either end of the lobby for internet access and wi-fi is available throughout the hotel. There are 210 modern rooms, including 177 double rooms, 30 inter-connecting rooms and 3 special needs room, all of which are simply furnished with a functional design. Access to swimming pool and gym are available at a daily charge through the Novotel, the sister hotel which is on the other side of the Convention Centre, five minutes walk away.

Hotel Location & Layout

Location Description

The Ibis Hotel is located on Sheikh Zayed road next to the World Trade Centre, twenty to thirty minutes from Dubai International Airport and twenty minutes away from the Jebel Ali Free Zone. The hotel is conveniently located in the heart of the city's business centre, close to DIFC and Emirates Towers and is directly linked to the Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Airports
Distance	10 km
Airport Transfers	Courtesy shuttle bus operates every 30 minutes to and from the airport

Cities and Sights
Distance	4 km
City/Sight Transfers	Taxi

Layout Description

The hotel front entrance leads directly into the open plan seating areas in the lobby. To the right is modern seating, internet access through hotel provided pc's, the rest rooms and elevator to the room floors. The information desk is found to the left of the entrance and the front desk and reception are located just passed this on the left hand side. The front desk is surrounded by comfortable seating and open space. Round to the right of this you will find the hotel shop and just past this Chianti's wine bar, which leads into the CuboPasta restaurant. The entrance to the Convention Centre main concourse is also located here.

Lobby & Guest Relations

Open Hours	24 hours
Languages Spoken	Arabic and English with a wide range of other languages spoken.
Payment Methods	All major credit cards and cash accepted
Foreign Exchange	All major currencies accepted
Taxis Arranged	Taxis are arranged by the Information Desk in the lobby.
Tours Arranged	A variety of activities can be arranged with the Desert Adventure Tourism tour desk in the lobby to: Abu Dhabi City tours Al Ain City tours Camel Riding Desert Safaris Dhow tours Dinner Cruises Dubai City tours Fishing trips Liwa full day safaris Night at the Races Oman Dhow tour Sand Skiing Sharjah and Ajman City tours Snorkelling or Scuba Diving Wadi Hatta or Hajar Mountains

Concierge Services	A full range of facilities including guided city and desert tours are available. The information desk will arrange beach transfers, street taxis and private limousines as required. There are complimentary shuttle buses to major malls and the airport. Contact the information desk for a current time table.
Medical Facilities	A doctor is on call at the World Trade Centre Clinic 24 hours.
Parking	There is a small complimentary car park situated to the right of the IBIS hotel. Ample parking is available at the World Trade Centre a few minutes away, which is charged at AED 5 per hour and is free from 20:00 to 06:00 daily.

Cranley Comment

The open plan lobby is very spacious with multiple seating areas, sofas, chairs, meeting areas, coffee tables and larger tables with power sockets suitable for computer use. There are also hotel provided pc's with internet access at either end of the lobby. The lobby leads to the ground floor shop, restaurant and bar, as well as the entrance to the Convention Centre main concourse. Every month there is a new theme in the lobby featuring plants, art and environmental projects.

Shops & Amenities

Description

There is a lobby shop which is open from 08:00 to 23:00 on the ground floor which is well stocked with newspapers, magazines, telephone cards, souvenirs, gifts and toiletries.

Cranley Comment

Travellers will find all the bare essentials covered by the lobby shop including batteries, phone cards, international papers and souvenirs. More amenities can be found at the larger sister hotel, the Novotel, situated at the other end of the Convention Centre concourse. There are a small number of outlets and an ATM machine within the Convention and Exhibition Centre complex. There are also numerous shops and restaurants only a short walk away across Sheikh Zayed Road, which can be reached via a footbridge. Less than twenty minutes away are also larger malls including Mall of the Emirates and Deira City Centre, both of which are serviced by complimentary shuttle buses.

Rooms, Suites & Villas

Number of Floors	6
Total Rooms	210
Elevators	2
Rooms per Elevator	105
Total Staff	85
Staff per Room	0.4

Check-in Time	14:00
Check-out Time	12:00
Late Checkout	Subject to availability, complimentary up till 14:00, 50% of room rate between 14:00 and 18:00, full room rate thereafter.
Smoking Rooms	2nd, 3rd and 4th floors are non-smoking
Room Service	24 hours
Laundry Service	Same day service: Items collected before 10:00, will be returned at 20:00. Express service: Items collected before 10:00, will be required by 16:00 subject to an additional 50% surcharge. Shoe shine machines are located on each floor level.

Cranley Comment

The IBIS has only one type of room, standard, of which there are also three designed for guests who are acessibility challenged. The functional rooms are contemporary in design with only furtniture and linen in them. There are 210 rooms with 2 elevators on six floors. All floors have shoe polish machines and water vending machines in the corridors.

Type of Room, Views & Facilities

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Standard Room	210		Electronic locking system Traditional key locking system Viewfinder spy hole Individually controlled air-conditioning Work space/desk DDI Line WI-FI (chargeable) High speed Internet access (chargeable) 3 pin square British sockets Television International Satellite TV All lights can be controlled form bed side Dressing table Full length mirror Safety Deposit Boxes at Reception Turndown service Hyper allergenic pillows En-suite shower Shaving/Make up mirror Shaving point	2 Adults	19

Cranley Comment

The standard double/twin rooms are decorated in a contemporary style with a desk area, power sockets and a mirrored dressing table area. The rooms in the Ibis Hotel are all identical and some have interconnecting doors. Accommodation is functional and comfortable for the business traveller. Built in an oblong shape, the corridors on the room floors are long and are decorated in natural colours with central lifts and water dispensers on every floor.

Restaurants & Cafés

Number of Restaurants

Restaurant Comments

The IBIS has one restaurant situated on the ground floor near the entrance to the Convention Centre concourse. Cubo Pasta, as the name suggests, is an Italian restaurant, which is the main restaurant for the hotel serving lunch and dinner. It is also the location for the main breakfast. For early risers (04:30 - 06:30) and late risers (10:30 - 12:00) there is a continental style breakfast which is served in the lobby area. Snacks are also available from the shop on the ground floor or Chianti's wine bar, which doubles as a coffee shop during the day.

There is also an international restaurant, Le Gourmand, available for private hire.

Cubo

Restaurant Type	Italian and International Buffet Breakfast
Restaurant Capacity	60
Opening Times	06:30 - 10:30 International Buffet Breakfast 12:00 - 15:00 Lunch 19:00 - 24:00 Dinner
Dress Codes	Casual

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	Smoking and non-smoking available
Children’s Facilities	No
Breakfast Options	An International Breakfast Buffet is served between 06:30 and 10:30 including juices, tea and coffee, fruit, cereals, continental and international breakfast options.

Cranley Comment

Cubo Pasta restaurant entrance is through Chianti's bar. Brightly light and spacious, this restaurant offers comfortable seats and fast service. The style of the restaurant is contemporary and functional like the rest of the hotel with silver tables and black chairs, yellow and cream ceiling curtains and full length glass paneled windows overlooking the Convention Centre concourse. The restaurant serves lunch and dinner with available seating for 60 guests. The menu is typically Italian with antipasti, pizzas and pastas.

Bars

Number of Bars	2
Bar Comments

There are two bars in the IBIS. Chianti's wine bar which doubles as a cafe during the day and the PM Bar which is available for private hire. Both are located close to the entrance to the Convention and Exhibition Centre concourse at the far left end of the lobby area. Chianti's serves snacks and drinks from 09:00 to 01:00, ideal for pre-dining drinks or a light supper.

Chianti's Wine Bar

Bar Type	Wine Bar
Bar Capacity	40
Opening Times	9:00 to 01:00
Dress Codes	Casual

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Admissions Policy	No age or dress restriction

Cranley Comment

Chianti’s Wine Bar is an intimate area of the hotel where guests can enjoy drinks & snacks throughout the day. Decorated with the same contemporary theme running throughout the hotel, Chianti’s wine bar has floor to ceiling windows with an open area leading into Cubo restaurant. The bar serves a range of specialty coffees, teas, alcoholic & non alcoholic beverages and an extensive menu of sandwiches, salads & light snacks. In the evening it takes on a different atmosphere and is lit by candlelight and an ideal venue for an aperitif before dining, an after dinner drink or a light supper.

PM Bar

Bar Type	Bar
Bar Capacity	30,30
Opening Times	Available for hire in the evenings
Dress Codes	Casual

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Admissions Policy	No age or dress restriction

Cranley Comment

PM BAR is decorated in contemporary style with floor to ceiling windows opening onto the outside fountain area and serves a full range of alcoholic and non alcoholic drinks and beverages. Guests are also offered a menu of sandwiches & light snacks. The bar leads from Le Gourmand restaurant and is decorated in the same style and theme giving the area a spacious feel.

Business & Event Facilities

Wireless Internet

Wireless internet is available in all public areas for a fee. PC's are also availabe to access internet at either end of the lobby using a pre-paid card.

In-Room Services

High speed internet connection is available for a fee.
Writing desk and hard-backed, adjustable height swivel chair.

Business Centre

There is no Business Centre but photocopying and fax facilities are available at reception and the business centre at the Novotel is only five minutes walk away.

Meetings & Events

Venue	Size (m²)	Dimensions L x W x H (metres)
Le Gourmand	-	-	-	100	-	-	-	-	-
PM Bar	-	-	100	-	-	-	-	-	-

Le Gourmand restaurant and PM Bar are available for banqueting with seating for up to 100 guests.

Cranley Comment

Le Gourmand restaurant leads into the PM Bar which opens up to serve as a banqueting area. The restaurant and bar are furnished and decorated with the same contemporary style and design, giving the banqueting facilities a feeling of space and continuity. French windows open onto an outside fountain area with tables and chairs.

Children’s Facilities & Clubs

Restaurant Facilities

See Restaurants

Beaches

Jumeirah Beach Park

Location	7 km
Description	Jumeirah Beach Park is a public beach open from 8:00 to 23:00. Visitors must pay a small charge to enter the beach area and sun loungers and parasols are available for hire. Visitors to the Jumeirah Beach Park should note that one day per week is designated as 'Ladies Only' day and they should check before visiting which day it is.
Private/Public	Public
Size/Frontage	The beach has a water frontage of about four hundred metres and is approximately twenty metres wide.

Facilities	Facilities include showers, toilets, snack bar, sun loungers and parasols for hire, a children’s adventure playground and a grass area with barbeques and straw parasols.
Safety	Lifeguards on duty.
Parking	There is a small charge to bring your car into the park or there is complimentary car parking available nearby.

Cranley Comment

The Jumeirah Beach Park is a public beach with a small charge for entry. The beach park has a large beach with lifeguards, sun lounger and parasol hire, toilet facilities and a snack bar for cold drinks and fast food refreshments. There is a grassed area and an area planted with trees, where barbeques are available for public use. There are football goals and beach volleyball facilities on the beach in addition to an adventure type playground to keep younger children entertained.

Pools

Cranley Comments

Guests have the use of the main pool at the adjoining Novotel to their disposal at AED 20 for weekdays and AED 30 on Friday and Saturdays.

Novotel Pool

Opening Times	07.00 to 22.00
Temperature	Temperature controlled at 28c
Depths	1.4 metres
Size	17 meters by 9 meters

Facilities	Showers, wrought iron sun loungers, wooden parasols, showers, Chill’s bar
Safety	Life guard on duty

Cranley Comment

The pool is set in a courtyard off from the main restaurant Entre Nous on one side and the fitness centre on the other side. The pool is set in pleasant surroundings with a wall-fountain at one end of the pool. There is a small children’s play area and a pool bar serving food and drinks with numerous tables and chairs where guests can sit at. The sun loungers are of a high quality wrought iron finish with soft padded covers which adds to the ambiance of the pool setting.

Sports & Gym

Gym & Health Club

Opening Times

06:00 to 22:00

Description

Access is available to the Novotel Gym and Health Club where facilities include:

3 Treadmills
1 Bike
1 Cross Trainer
1 Stepper
1 Rowing Machine
8 Resistance Machines (including a chest press, over-head press, lat pull down and leg curl)
Free weights

Steam Room
Massage Room with various treatments available from 15 minutes to 1 hour:
Swedish massage
Reflexology
Body massage
Head, neck and shoulders massage
Foot massage

Cranley Comment

Guests have the use of facilities at the Novotel situated a 5 minute walk away at a charge of AED 20 per weekdays and AED 30 for weekends. The gym is located on the first floor and is stocked with an array of equipment and free weights. It has wooden flooring and floor to ceiling mirrors on the one side, with views of the courtyard and the swimming pool on the other side of the room. There is a small aerobic studio and a lounge area with chairs for relaxation. A range of massages are available in the two massage rooms that form part of the health club.

Golf

Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club

Description

Opened in 1993 and extensively re-modelled in 2005, the course is set next to Dubai Creek, close to the city centre and Dubai International Airport. The championship course was re-designed by Thomas Bjorn and is set in undulating fairways lined with palms, attractive water hazards and shrubbery that give it a tropical and secluded feel despite being close to the city centre. The complex also features a nine hole floodlit par-three course. The course was voted in November 2005 as one of the top 100 world courses to play and hosted the Dubai Desert Classic in 1999 and 2000.

Location	6 km
Holes	Two Courses: 18 Hole and 9 Hole
Length/Par	18 Hole Course: 6,839 Yards Par 71 sss 72

Facilities

The centrepiece clubhouse is designed in the shape of a Dhow, making this one of Dubai’s landmark buildings. There is a golf academy with high tech studio, double ended driving range, six PGA qualified professionals and a comprehensive pro shop.

Special Needs

Communal Areas

Public areas at the hotel are accessible by lift. Most areas in the lobby have wheelchair access, although there are some seating areas that are on raised platforms with stairs which are not accessible. Disabled toilets are available in the lobby.

Rooms & Bathrooms

There are three specially adapted rooms at the IBIS, with very wide doors to each of them and double the floor space of normal rooms. The bathroom is very spacious with a large shower and non slip mats available from housekeeping. Included in the design are numerous mobility aids. Rooms have adjoining rooms for helpers if required. If guests require extra assistance in their rooms the hotel is able to provide staff although they may not be trained in specific areas of assistance

Restaurants & Catering

Cubo, at the far end of the main lobby is wheelchair accessible. Staff are very attentive and on hand to give assistance if required. Dishes in the restaurants are cooked to order and there are options noted on the menu to cater for nut allergies, Muslims and vegetarians. Guests with special dietary requirements should notify the manager of their needs at the time of placing orders.

Visual & Hearing Aids

There are no special facilities at the hotel for either the visually impaired of the hard of hearing. Guests wishing to bring ‘Assistance Dogs’ should notify the hotel in advance.

Staff Assistance

Although staff are not highly trained in mobility assistance or special needs they are aware of some of the difficulties guests may face and are happy to provide as much assistance as they can.

Cranley Comment

The Ibis is a disabled friendly hotel with three specially adapted rooms with disabled facilities. The hotel also enjoys disabled access to all its main areas.

Environment

Measures

Recycling
Energy Saving
Community Service

Cranley Comment

The hotel recycles all paper, using separate waste bins and a special disposal facility for oil from the kitchen. There is an energy policy for staff to turn off lights when offices are not in use. There is also a staff volunteer program for Creek cleaning. In-room toiletries are packaged in recyclable materials.

Environmental issues are taken very seriously and any profits made from paper recycling is donated to a local children’s charity. The hotel has a management driven awareness policy encouraging staff to save and recycle wherever possible.

IBIS World Trade Centre, Dubai, Report Details

27 September 2008 (second review)

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