Novotel World Trade Centre, Dubai

The Cranley Report

Novotel World Trade Centre

Novotel World Trade Centre, Dubai

Hotel Address

World Trade Centre
PO Box 9622
Dubai
United Arab Emirates

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Cranley Rating

Novotel World Trade Centre Hotel

Photo 1 of 16. Click to enlarge

Hotel Summary

Category

Hotel

Hotel Opened

2003

Cranley Summary

The Novotel World Trade Centre is largely geared towards the business traveller and has the benefit of being centrally located, giving it easy access to the leisure areas of Jumeirah, the major shopping malls, new ski slope and the Creek. The hotel has 412 well maintained rooms including 13 suites, all decorated in a contemporary style. The hotel features a courtyard swimming pool and has a gym, as well as steam room and massage facilities. For dining there is the formal restaurant, ‘Entre Nous', a coffee shop serving light snacks and a pool bar serving sandwiches and burgers. The Blue Bar offers guests live jazz and blues on a regular basis, as well as having a good range of Belgian beers. The hotel adjoins the Convention and Exhibition Complex of the World Trade Centre and guests can seamlessly move from the hotel into the convention centre without going outside.

Hotel Location & Layout

Location Description

The hotel adjoins the Convention and Exhibition Complex of the World Trade Centre and is located at Trade Centre roundabout in the heart of the city's business district adjacent to the main highway, Sheikh Zayed Road. Its location gives it easy access to all parts of Dubai, from Jebel Ali Free Zone to Deira, with less than twenty minutes car journey to the Dubai Interntational Airport, Jumeirah beach and the leisure areas of Dubai. There is shopping nearby at the BurJuman Centre and Wafi, as well as the Mall of the Emirates, which is about 7km away. For those travellers interested in beaches, golf and leisure, the Jumeirah Beach Park is 6 km away, whilst all of Dubai’s golf courses are within 20 km of the hotel.

Airports
Distance	10 km
Airport Transfers	Complimentary shuttle bus that operates on the hour (half hour at peak times) to/from Dubai International Airport

Cities and Sights
Distance	4 km
City/Sight Transfers	Taxi

Layout Description

The hotel is designed in an L-shape, allowing most rooms to have an external view of either the Dubai skyline or the Zabeel palace, though some lower floor rooms have an obstructed view because of the adjoining Convention Centre. The entrance lobby and reception, the Entre Nous restaurant, Café Cream coffee shop, gift shop and the Blue Bar are all on the ground floor. The pool area is in a courtyard adjacent to the Entre Nous restaurant and has access via a staircase to the first floor health club and gym. The business centre and meeting rooms are located on the first floor along with the six accessibility rooms and a handful of double rooms. There is one suite on every floor and all other rooms are located on floors two to thirteen.

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 exchanged
Taxis Arranged	Taxis are arranged on request
Tours Arranged	A variety of activities can be arranged including tours of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah and Ajman, dinner cruises, safaris to the desert, Wadi Hatta or Hajar Mountains, a night at the races, camel riding, sand skiing, snorkelling or scuba diving.

Guest Relations	Standard services
Concierge Services	The Concierge is on hand 24 hours a day and will assist guests with any arrangements including restaurant reservations, limousines, car rental or airport transfers.
Medical Facilities	Doctors are called as required
Parking	Free parking under the hotel

Cranley Comment

The lobby is the heart of the hotel. The floors are decorated with cream marble flooring and high ceilings, whilst the walls and counters are decorated in dark wood. The concierge desk is located towards the front of the entrance area, with the reception counter located behind it on the left. The hotel's four lifts are situated opposite the reception desk across the lobby. At the front and rear of the entrance lobby are numerous leather sofas and chairs that serve both Café Cream coffee bar and guests seeking a quiet place to read one of the free newspapers available in the lobby. At the far end of the lobby to the left is the Entre Nous restaurant, which opens onto the courtyard swimming pool area. Next to the restaurant is the gift shop and opposite that is the Blue Bar. The entrance to the Convention Centre concourse is at the far right hand end of the ground floor.

Shops & Amenities

Description

There is a gift shop in the lobby area, selling a range of souvenirs, toiletries, newspapers and magazines. The shop is open from 09:00 to 23:00.

Cranley Comment

In addition to the hotels lobby gift shop, 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.

Rooms, Suites & Villas

Number of Floors	13
Total Rooms	412
Elevators	4
Rooms per Elevator	103
Total Staff	210
Staff per Room	0.5

Check-in Time	14:00
Check-out Time	12:00
Late Checkout	Subject to availability Until 14:00 without charge 14:00 - 18:00 at 50% of room rate After 18:00 at full room rate
Smoking Rooms	198 non-smoking rooms
Room Service	24 hours
Laundry Service	To be collected by 10:00 for a same day service, delivered at 20:00 Express service available within 4 hours at 50% surcharge Children's items at 50% discount up to the age of 8 years

Cranley Comment

The Novotel has two room types, standard twin, double and accessibility rooms and suites, which have seating and dining areas. The functional rooms are contemporary in design with all the bare necessities for the business travellers. All accessibility rooms are located on the first floor, but all other rooms can be found on every floor. There are 399 standard rooms, 54 of which are twins adjoining double bed rooms. There are six accessibility rooms on the first floor. All floors have shoe polish machines in the corridors.

Type of Room, Views & Facilities

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Standard	399	Dubai Skyline/Desert	Individually controlled air conditioning Electronic locking system Traditional key locking system Viewfinder spy hole Security Chain Individually controlled air-conditioning Air conditioning Work space/desk WI-FI (chargeable) High speed Internet access (chargeable) 3 pin square British sockets International Satellite TV Large windows Energy saving key card light switches Energy saving light bulbs All lights can be controlled form bed side Double closet Dressing table Full length mirror Trouser press Suit/Trouser butler Large safe suitable for laptop Tea and coffee making facilities Free (local) daily newspapers Turndown service Hyper allergenic pillows Sofa-bed En-suite bathroom Bath tub with fitted shower over it Bathrobes Anti fog mirror Shaving/Make up mirror Shaving point Retractable drying cord Hairdryer Bathroom scale Telephone in bathroom Television speakers in bathroom Luxury toiletries	3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children under 12	26

Cranley Comment

Standard rooms are located on all floors and are decorated in a modern, contemporary style with cream walls and grey/green carpets. They are each furnished with a low level King sized bed with cream and beige linen, a two-seater grey/green sofa, a low level armchair and circular steel table with a wooden top, as well as a wooden desk area/dressing table in a light coloured wood and a hard backed adjustable height swivel chair, as well as a table lamp. The rooms are equipped with a Loewe satellite television and have high speed internet connection. Connecting cables for laptop computers are available from the reception desk if required. Bathrooms have tiled floors with magnolia tiling and white sanitary wear. Most rooms have an external view towards the desert or the busy Sheikh Zayed Road.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Suite	13	Dubai Skyline/Desert	As per the standard room with the added benefit of: 01 Interconnecting room for 12 of the suites Separate lounge and dining room Sofa, two armchairs and coffee table Dining table and four chairs Desk Two satellite televisions Separate shower	3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children under 12	55

Cranley Comment

Suites are located on a corner of the hotel, with one suite on each floor and therefore benefit from views in two different directions. Each suite has an entrance corridor/lobby, a dining room, lounge and desk area as well as a separate WC. The bedroom has an en suite bathroom with the added benefit of a separate shower over the standard room. The décor is almost identical to the standard room, being contemporary in design with light colours, although one wall has been painted red to give a more spacious feel to the suite. Adjoining rooms are available for 12 of the 13 suites for larger families.

Restaurants & Cafés

Number of Restaurants

Restaurant Comments

The Novotel offers a surprisingly broad section of food and beverage, even though there is only one full service restaurant, a coffee shop and three bars. Room service is available 24 hours a day. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in Entre Nous, and early riser breakfast is availabe in the coffee shop.

Entre Nous

Restaurant Type	International
Restaurant Capacity	144
Opening Times	Breakfast 06:00 to 10:30 Lunch 12:00 to 15:00 Dinner 18:30 to 23:00
Dress Codes	Smart Casual

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	Non-smoking areas
Children’s Facilities	Children’s meals available with a wide selection of healthy dishes
Breakfast Options	Full buffet breakfast with cooking stations

Cranley Comment

The Entre Nous restaurant is an extension of the lobby area and shares the same modern décor, with high ceilings, bright light marble flooring and dark wood tables and chairs. The restaurant effectively has three separate sections; a central area dedicated to dining and sections on either side of that containing the bar and the buffet areas respectively, both of which also contain dining tables. The sections are separated by floor to ceiling modern style partitioning with some gaps, which breaks up what is otherwise a large very open plan area. Mirrored walls give the impression of a larger area still. Entre Nous serves international cuisine and has a buffet as well as an a la carte option. The restaurant has buffet theme nights, with a different country or type of food featured, several nights a week. On Fridays there is a barbecue buffet, with unlimited house alcoholic drinks at an all-inclusive price.

Café Cream

Restaurant Type	Coffee Shop
Restaurant Capacity	Total 70 (inside 38, outside 32)
Opening Times	Early Bird Breakfast 04:00 to 06:00 Sandwiches and snacks 07:00 to 23:00
Dress Codes	Casual

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	Non-smoking areas
Breakfast Options	Continental or English breakfast served all day.

Cranley Comment

The Café Cream coffee shop serves a variety of teas and coffees, including several types of espresso, as well as sandwiches, pastries and an All Day Breakfast. Like the Entre Nous restaurant, it too has an open plan design within the hotel lounge area, which is an extension of the lobby, to the side and rear of the lifts. Inside seating is set around glass-topped tables and high bars with stools, whilst the outside seating is on a terrace that adjoins one of the entrances to the convention centre. Café Cream is located close to the Blue Bar.

Bars

Number of Bars	3
Bar Comments

Novotel has 3 bars. Blue bar is open from 14:00 to 02:00, provides live jazz and blues on wednesday, thursday and friday nights and has a wide selection of belgian beers. Chills bar and the Booster bar, whciih are both part of the health & sports facilites offer all day snacks and refreshing drinks and are both opem from 10:00 to 19:00.

Blue Bar

Bar Type	Blues and Jazz Bar
Bar Capacity	N/A
Opening Times	14:00 to 02:00
Dress Codes	Smart casual

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	Non-smoking areas
Admissions Policy	Over 21's Only

Cranley Comment

The Blue Bar is a cocktail style bar with a jazz and blues theme, specialising in Belgian beers, which the bar claims is the biggest selection in Dubai! The bar, which is set in the middle of the room with seating around it, is decorated in a contemporary style with high ceilings and has various musical instruments and music related pictures to reflect its theme. There are plasma screens around the bar and live blues and jazz is performed on selected nights of the week, which may vary according to the time of the year.

Booster Bar

Bar Type	Snack Bar
Bar Capacity	40
Opening Times	06:00 to 23:00
Dress Codes	Casual, swimwear and gym wear permitted

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	Non smoking
Admissions Policy	Children's play area available, no age restriction

Cranley Comment

The Booster bar is a snack bar available also for private function hire, which can be found on the first floor next to the gym with a view of the pool. The room is bright and airy and can be accessed from the healthclub reception or from the meeting rooms. The Booster bar has floor to ceiling glass windows and wooden flooring, with a childrens play area with a small selection of toys.

Chill's Pool Bar

Bar Type	Pool bar
Bar Capacity	n/a
Opening Times	10:00 to 19:30 friday to wednesday 10:00 to 22:00 thursday
Dress Codes	Swimwear/casual

Air-Conditioning

Cranley Comment

Chill's pool bar is set in one corner of the outdoor courtyeard that features the pool and it adjoins the Entre Nous restaurant. There are a few seats at the bar, but most seating is provided on the terraces surrounding the pool. There are a number of wrought iron tables and chairs, with padding for the chairs, set under wooden parasols, together with the sunbeds around the pool. The pool bar serves both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as a range of salads, sandwishes and burgers. Waiter service is provided, both to the tables and also the sunbeds. Very sensibly for the pool area, plastic glasses are used.

Business & Event Facilities

Wireless Internet

Wireless internet access is available throughout the hotel at AED 72 for 24 hours access.

In-Room Services

High speed internet connection is available at AED 72 for 24 hours access.
Writing desk and hard-backed, adjustable height swivel chair.

Business Centre

The Business Centre has six PC’s with internet connection, available in two separate rooms (4 and 2). There are also printing, photocopying, scanning and faxing services available as well as video conferencing facilies, with support staff on hand.

Meetings & Events

Venue	Size (m²)	Dimensions L x W x H (metres)
Opal	25	7.0 x 3.5 x 2.9	-	-	20	12	12	-	-
Emerald	26	7.0 x 3.7 x 2.9	-	-	20	12	12	-	-
Pearl	52	7.4 x 7.0 x 2.9	-	20	50	34	22	21	-
Onyx	52	7.4 x 7.0 x 2.9	-	20	50	34	22	21	-
Diamond	98	14.0 x 7.0 x 2.9	88	66	88	48	40	35	-
Sapphire	41	7.3 x 5.6 x 2.9	-	20	30	18	18	18	-
Ruby	40	7.3 x 5.6 x 2.9	-	20	30	18	18	18	-
Amethyst	40	7.2 x 5.6 x 2.9	-	20	30	18	18	18	-
Conference Room	130	18.0 x 7.0 x 2.9	150	110	125	80	60	60	-

There are eight meeting rooms and one conference rooms located on the first floor. The meeting rooms can be configured for up to 150 people for a standing reception or for up to 88 people in a theatre style layout. Two or three meeting rooms can also be connected to form a larger conference room.
All of the meeting rooms are equipped with a range of modern AV equipment and the hotel can arrange all types of catering, from a finger buffet to a full menu and the breakout areas outside the meeting rooms are ideal for smaller breakout sessions.

Cranley Comment

The hotel has a business centre on the first floor which encompasses the eight meeting rooms as well as various break out areas where guests can relax in more comfortable chairs and sofas. The meeting rooms have all of the latest audio visual equipment, with screens and AV that drop down from the ceiling using remote controls. The business centre offers the use of several PCs with high speed internet connection, as well as copying, faxing and other services. The PC's are in two separate rooms, neither of which give the user complete privacy, as they are set up on adjoining desks.

Children’s Facilities & Clubs

Restaurant Facilities

See Restaurants

Entertainment

There is the Dolfi play area for children next to the pool with a variety of activities. There is also a small Dolfi play corner on the first floor, adjoining the gym area in the Booster bar. Children’s games are organised according to demand.

Babysitting service

Provided by hotel staff with 24 hours notice

Cranley Comment

The hotel is primarily a business hotel because of its location next to the World Trade Centre, but it does welcome children. All rooms and suites can accommodate children and there are discounts on the menu prices. With buffets available at all meals, there is plenty of choice for children. The courtyard and pool area is a nice environment for families and the hotel runs complimentary shuttle bus services to the Jumeirah Beach Park three times a day. There are two small children's play areas.

Entertainment

Evening Activities

Cranley Comment

Live blues and jazz is provided on a regular basis in the hotel's Blue Bar

Beaches

Jumeirah Beach Park

Location	7km
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

The pool was retiled in September 2008.

Main Pool

Opening Times	07:00 to 22:00
Temperature	Temperature controlled at 28c
Depths	1.4 metres
Size	17 metres by 9 metres

Facilities	Showers, wrought-iron sun loungers with padded covers, wooden parasols with canvas shades, Chill’s Bar
Safety	Lifeguard on duty 07:00 to 22:00

Cranley Comment

The pool is set in a pleasant courtyard, adjacent to the Entre Nous Restaurant and the fitness centre. There is a wall-fountain at one end of the pool, a children’s play area and a pool bar serving food and drinks with tables and chairs for guests. The sun loungers are of a high quality wrought-iron finish with soft padded covers and the predominant colours of cream and a reddish brown throughout the courtyard, adds to the ambiance of the pool setting. The terraces that surround the pool are a mixture of paving stones, bricks and tiles and there are some trees and plants in large tubs, that add a garden feel to the area.

Sports & Gym

Gym & Health Club

Opening Times	07:00 to 23:00
Description	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
Size	Approximately 12 metres by 10 metres

Cranley Comment

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.

Four Seasons Golf Club Dubai

Description

Opened in February 2005 the Four Seasons Golf Club Dubai continues to receive rave reviews about its design, condition and playability. This is a Robert Trent Jones II designed course, neighbouring the banks of the Dubai Creek and is only 2 minutes from Dubai Airport. The Four Seasons Golf Club provides a challenging round for seasoned golfers and assures recreational players a memorable experience. It features extensive use of water with 11 lakes and several smaller ponds with stunning views across the impressive Dubai Skyline.

Location	10 km
Holes	18
Length/Par	7,250 Yards Par 72 sss 74

Facilities

Driving range
Practice areas

Special Needs

Communal Areas

All public areas are accessible by wheelchair and the tiled marble floors, open plan layout and spacious corridors make access and mobility easy. All areas have disabled toilets.

Rooms & Bathrooms

There are six specially adapted rooms at the Novotel with widened access. The rooms however are no larger than standard rooms, which means there is no sofa seating area in the specially adapted room. The space either side of the bed and to pass the bed is also not wide enough for wheelchair access. The bathroom is open plan with a large shower and non-slip mats available from housekeeping.
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

The restaurant within the hotel is suitable for wheelchair access, although the smoking section has two steps leading to it. Staff are very attentive and on hand to give assistance if required. Many of the dishes within the restaurants are cooked to order and guests with special dietary requirements should notify the manager of their needs at the time of placing orders. There is also a good choice of healthy dishes on a seperate children's menu.

Recreation Facilities

The pool lhas ramp access to the bar and surrounding pool decking area. The gym and spa are on the first floor and are accessible by lift.

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 hotel's ground floor has no steps, making it wheelchair accessible. Six rooms have been designated for special needs and they have been built with wheelchair users in mind. They are situated on the first floor and readily accessible via the lifts. All of them are interconnecting rooms with a conventional room next door. The disabled rooms have extra spyholes at the appropriate height and the bathrooms have been built with 'Fold-in' doors. Bathrooms also have bars fixed next to the washing facilities and wc and all are equipped with showers that allow for easy wheelchair access.

Environment

Measures

Recycling
Community Service
Minimise Cleaning Materials
Water Saving

Cranley Comment

The hotel has a number of environmental policies in place. It separates recyclable components from guest and hotel waste; it gives guests the option not to have towels or bedding changed every day in order to save water and avoid the use of detergents and hotel staff participate in the Dubai ‘clean the world’ programme, where hotel staff voluntarily clean the area surrounding the hotel .

Novotel World Trade Centre, Dubai, Report Details

2 January 2006 (First Review)
24 August 2007 (Second Review)
28 September 2008 (Third Review)

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