Royal Ascot Hotel, Dubai - Cranley Report

The Cranley Report

Royal Ascot Hotel

Royal Ascot Hotel, Dubai

Hotel Address

Khalid Bin Waleed Road
(PO Box 115160)
Dubai
UAE

Cranley Rating

Royal Ascot Hotel

Photo 1 of 33. Click to enlarge

Hotel Summary

Category

Hotel

Hotel Opened	2007
Refurbishment	Completed: 2007/08 – Wescott I conference room 2008 – Planet Bollywood 2008 – Elegante

Cranley Summary

The Royal Ascot Hotel opened its doors in 2007 and is located in the heart of Dubai in the Bur Dubai area. The hotel is approximately a twenty minute drive from Dubai International Airport and is close to all the major business and shopping areas of the city. The Royal Ascot Hotel is adjoined to its affiliate hotel, "The Ascot Hotel", via a central passageway on the ground floor offering guests a wide choice of facilities in both establishments. The Royal Ascot Hotel has181 rooms and suites with each room having a city view. Originally built as an apartment hotel many of the guest rooms have a ‘cold’ kitchenette area which does not have any appliances or cooking facilities but does include a large fridge freezer. The guest rooms are decorated mainly in olive greens and gold with dark mahogany coloured furniture and fittings and marble floors. The Royal Ascot has three restaurants, a Korean restaurant, coffee shop and separate bar on the lobby level and an Indian restaurant/nightclub on the mezzanine level. Guests also have direct access to the affiliate Ascot Hotel’s food and beverage outlets and there is a large adjoining discothèque, Elegante which is accessed from the street. The hotel’s facilities include a rooftop swimming pool, a fully equipped gymnasium, sauna and steam room and a large conference room offering state-of-the-art audio visual facilities, hairdressers and two shops. Situated in the heart of Dubai it caters for corporate and business clients and travellers who would prefer to stay in the older part of the city.

Hotel Location & Layout

Location Description

The Royal Ascot Hotel is located in the heart of the city in the commercial area of Bur Dubai, on the opposite side of the Creek from Deira. The hotel's central location is eleven kilometres, (a twenty minute drive) from Dubai International Airport, and approximately twenty minutes drive to the Jumeirah Beach area by the hotels' complimentary shuttle bus, depending on traffic. Major shopping centres including the Mall of the Emirates and IBN Battuta Mall are a roughly twenty minute drive away depending on traffic. Within the immediate vicinity of the hotel there are an array of electrical and computer shops, pharmacies, the Meena Bazaar which sells gold, clothing and electronics, the BurJuman Shopping centre and numerous authentic restaurants ranging from Iranian to Gujarati. Port Rashid, Dubai Maritime City / dry dock and the Dubai Museum are all within one kilometre of the hotel, as well as Sheik Rashid's original home which is now a tourist attraction.

Airports
Distance	11 km
Airport Transfers	Approximately 20 minutes in light traffic. Chargeable airport shuttle service. Chargeable taxi and limousine services available.

Cities and Sights
Distance	1 km
City/Sight Transfers	Approximately 4 minutes in light traffic.

Layout Description

The Royal Ascot is an eight storey building with underground valet parking available in the basement level. The hotel is set back from the road and adjoins an affiliate hotel “The Ascot” via a central passageway on the ground floor. As you enter the lobby, Wellington’s bar and the central passageway to the Ascot hotel is to the left and the Reception, lobby lounge and Westend Coffee Shop are to the right. The Korean restaurant Dae Jang Kum, business centre, 24 hour gift shop and two guest lifts are behind the Reception to the left with further guest lifts to the right which have access to the guest rooms, suites, rooftop pool and gym. The conference room, Planet Bollywood and the hairdressers are situated on the mezzanine level. Elegante discothèque is reached by a separate entrance from the street.

Lobby & Guest Relations

Open Hours	24 hours
Languages Spoken	Arabic, English, Russian, Hindi & Tagalog
Payment Methods	All major credit cards and cash accepted
Foreign Exchange	24 hours. All major currencies exchanged. Exchange rates are commissionable.
Taxis Arranged	Street taxis can be arranged on request. There can sometimes be a short wait.
Tours Arranged	A variety of activities can be arranged with either the Concierge or Turan Tours for: 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

Guest Relations	Standard services
Concierge Services	Complimentary beach shuttle service to Jumeirah Beach at 10.30 in the morning with collection back at 14.30. Chargeable airport shuttle service Airline ticket re-confirmation Car rental service 24 hour valet parking Shopping information Postage & courier service
Medical Facilities	Doctor on call with a typical response time of thirty minutes according to the hotel.
Parking	Complimentary valet underground parking available for 104 cars.

Cranley Comment

Turning right from the entrance of the hotel and set back, is a large L shaped wooden and marble reception desk and four elevators, two at each end of the reception desk serving all floors. There is a large lounge area with comfortable sofas, armchairs and coffee tables directly opposite the reception desk and located in the central area of the lobby. Westend Coffee Shop runs parallel to the lobby lounge along the front of the building. The opulent lobby area is decorated with marble floors, rich and vibrant colours in both fabrics and decorations and has an Edwardian feel and style.

Shops & Amenities

Description

Gift shop – souvenirs, newspapers, books, toiletries, cigarettes.
24 hours
Belliesom – perfumes, watches, gold plated chains by the inch.
09:00 to 23:00 7 days a week
Turan Tours – excursions
08:00 to 19:00 7 days a week
Marco Karam – hairdressing facilities, manicures, pedicures, waxing, facials and massage treatments.
10:00 to 20:00 closed on Fridays

Cranley Comment

The hotel has a small gift shop which is located towards the rear of the lobby beyond the reception desk and next to Dae Jang Kum Korean restaurant. The shop is open 24 hours and sells sundry items such as shampoo, toothpaste, cigarettes, papers, magazines, postcards, sunglasses plus a number of small locally made souvenir gifts to take home. The hotel also has a travel desk in the passageway connecting to the sister hotel "The Ascot" offering a number of tours and activities. Marco Karam the hair and beauty salon is on the mezzanine level. In the immediate surrounding district to the hotel there are many local shops which are a 2 minute walk from the hotel including the main computer and camera retail outlets of Dubai. The larger shopping malls such as the Mall of the Emirates are a taxi ride away.

Rooms, Suites & Villas

Number of Floors	8
Total Rooms	181
Elevators	4
Rooms per Elevator	45
Total Staff	300
Staff per Room	1.7

Check-in Time	14:00
Check-out Time	12:00
Late Checkout	Subject to availability
Smoking Rooms	The sixth floor is a non-smoking floor
Room Service	24 hours
Laundry Service	Laundry collected before 09:00 will be returned on the same day. Laundry collected after 09:00 will be returned the following day.

Cranley Comment

The Royal Ascot has a variety of room types ranging from Superior Deluxe, Premier Executive, one and two bedroom suites and seven luxury Balmoral Suites all with a city skyline view. The rooms are approached along spacious red carpeted corridors which are decorated in light pastel shades and have paintings of horses along all the walls. All the rooms and suites are well appointed, spacious, airy and fitted with either a king-size or extra large twin beds and twenty seven inch LCD flat screen televisions. Many include a ‘cold’ kitchenette which are not equipped and have no cooking facilities but do include a large fridge freezer. Guests staying on the lower floors and at the front of the hotel may experience some street noise at times.

Type of Room, Views & Facilities

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Superior Deluxe	119	City Skyline	Electronic locking system Viewfinder spy hole Security chain Individually controlled air-conditioning Work space/desk DDI line Voice mail WiFi (chargeable) 3 pin square British sockets LCD television International Satellite TV Radio/TV Floor to ceiling windows (twin rooms only) Energy saving key card light switches Double closet Full length mirror Shoe shine service (complimentary) Safe Safety Deposit Boxes at Reception (complimentary) Mini-bar Tea and coffee making facilities Fruit basket Complimentary (national) daily newspapers Turndown service Down duvet En-suite bathroom Single vanity basin unit Bath tub with fitted and hand held shower over it. Bathrobes Slippers Retractable drying cord Hairdryer Bathroom scale Telephone in bathroom Luxury Passion toiletries	2 adults	47

Cranley Comment

Superior Deluxe rooms are approached along carpeted airy corridors with original artwork on the walls. Superior rooms have a small marble entrance hallway housing a large fitted wardrobe and shelves on one side and leading to the bathroom on the other side. The elegantly appointed spacious bedrooms are fully carpeted and decorated in soft pastel hughes of golds and earthy shades with colour coordinating soft furnishings. The rooms are furnished with either king-size or extra large twin beds, two easy chairs, a small coffee table, a cupboard with a flat screen LCD television on the top and a desk and chair with a mirror over. The marble bathrooms which are on the small side have a bath with shower over it, bidet and Passion toiletries.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Premier Executive	27	City Skyline	As for Superior Deluxe room with the added benefit of: Lounge area with sofa, chairs and coffee table Larger work space/desk Extra double closet Storage space ‘Cold’ kitchenette units with sink Fridge/freezer Breakfast bar	2 adults and 1 child	50

Cranley Comment

Premier Executive rooms are slightly larger than the Superior Deluxe rooms and have light marble floors throughout. The entrance hallway has fitted wardrobes to one side and leads to the bathroom on the other side. The spacious airy rooms are decorated in pastel earthy hughes and have colour coordinating olive green and gold soft furnishings. The lounge area is furnished with a sofa, two armchairs and a coffee table which stands on a colourful Oriental style rug. The television sits on the large desk which has a mirror over it and a desk chair. There is a ‘cold’ kitchenette area which is not equipped for cooking but has a large fridge freezer which is used as a ‘mini bar’. The bedroom area has either a king-size or extra large twin beds, a box storage trunk at the base of the bed and an additional double closet. The marble bathrooms which are on the small side have a bath with shower over it, a bidet and Passion toiletries.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Deluxe (One Bedroom) Suite	21	City Skyline	As for the Premier Executive room with the added benefit of: Entrance hall Guest cloakroom Separate lounge area Sofa-bed Additional LCD television	2 adults and 1 child	67

Cranley Comment

The entrance into the Deluxe (one bedroom) Suites lead into the separate lounge area. These spacious airy rooms are decorated in pastel shades and have light coloured marble floors. There is a large double cupboard for storage, a sofa and two easy chairs, a television stands on a large cabinet which has drawers and cupboard space and there is a desk and chair with a mirror over. There is a ‘cold’ kitchenette area which is not equipped for cooking but has a large fridge freezer which is used as a ‘mini bar’. From the lounge a door leads through to a small hallway which has fitted wardrobes and leads through to the bedroom and bathroom. The bedroom is carpeted and has a king-size or twin beds, a large chest of drawers and cupboard housing a flat screen television on the top, an easy chair and wooden case stand. The marble bathroom has a bath with shower over it, a bidet and Passion toiletries.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Balmoral Suite	7	City Skyline	As for the Deluxe (one bedroom) Suite with the added benefit of: Double vanity unit Separate walk-in shower Jacuzzi	2 adults	69

Cranley Comment

The Balmoral Suites are decorated in pastel shades, the large marble floored hallway has an ornate table and chairs and leads through to a separate lounge and dining area. The lounge is furnished with a sofa, easy chairs, coffee table standing on a rug, a large unit with a television on top, dining table and chairs and a display cabinet. The bedroom has an entrance hallway with a fitted closet on one side and bathroom on the other. The carpeted bedroom has a king-size bed, chaise longue, coffee table, large desk and chair and a cabinet with a mini bar and television on top. The luxurious bathroom has a large Jacuzzi bath and separate walk-in shower a bidet and Passion toiletries.

Type	No.	View	Facilities	Max. Occupancy	Size m2
Grand (Two Bedroom) Suite	7	City Skyline	As per the Deluxe (one bedroom) suite with the added benefit of: Larger entrance hall Second en-suite bedroom Additional television Additional safe	4 adults and 2 children	139

Cranley Comment

The Grand (two bedroom) Suites are the largest in the hotel. On entering the suite, there is a long marble floored hallway which is furnished with a decorative table and chairs. This leads through to a separate lounge and dining area which has a marble floor and is furnished with sofa and chairs, a cabinet with a flat screen television on the top, coffee table and a four seater dining table. The master bedroom is located at the far end of the suite and is entered through a door into a hallway housing a double wardrobe and the entrance into the bedroom and en-suite bathroom. The bedroom has a king-size bed, chaise longue, coffee table, cabinet with television on top, a desk and chair. The bathroom has a bath with shower over it. The second bedroom is off the lounge area and has a king-size or twin beds, desk with a television on top, desk chair, 2 easy chairs, coffee table and double closet. There is a second bathroom off the hallway with shower over the bath.

Restaurants & Cafés

Number of Restaurants

Restaurant Comments

Guests at the Royal Ascot Hotel have the choice of the restaurants at the hotel and the connecting Ascot Hotel next door. This option gives guests a choice of seven restaurants which cover many continents ranging from Japanese, Indian Russian to Irish.

Dae Jang Kum

Restaurant Type	Korean
Restaurant Capacity	92
Opening Times	12:00 to 15:00 19:00 to 23:30
Dress Codes	Casual No shorts in the evening

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	No smoking allowed
Children’s Facilities	High chairs available

Cranley Comment

Dae Jang Kum Korean restaurant is located on the ground floor towards the rear of the lobby area and reception desk. The restaurant is decorated in traditional Korean style with wooden tables and carved chairs segregated into areas by wooden and glass panels. There is a private dining room in the restaurant which is used for larger groups and functions. The windows are framed with heavy wooden panelling and the general ambience has a truly Oriental feel. Dae Jang Kum offers a menu of savoury curries, steamed rice and spicy vegetable pickles accompanied by traditional majuang wine and ginseng tea. The restaurant specialises in dishes such as Shabu Shabu, Korean barbecue and sizzling hot pot and offers an A la carte menu and a number of set menus.

Westend Coffee Shop

Restaurant Type	Coffee Shop
Restaurant Capacity	50
Opening Times	24 hours
Dress Codes	Casual

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	No smoking allowed
Children’s Facilities	High chairs available Smaller portions available
Breakfast Options	American Continental English Buffet A la carte

Cranley Comment

Westend coffee shop is open twenty four hours and is located off the lobby lounge area to the front of the hotel. It is decorated in an Edwardian style keeping in contrast with the lobby and surrounding areas. The menu offers a variety of International and local dishes as well as snacks, sandwiches, salads and beverages. A buffet breakfast and A la carte menu is served here in the mornings and guests may also have breakfast at the Troyka restaurant in the adjoining Ascot Hotel.

Planet Bollywood

Restaurant Type	Indian Night Club
Restaurant Capacity	100
Opening Times	12:30 to 15:00 19:30 to 03:00
Dress Codes	Smart casual

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	Smoking allowed in the evening
Children’s Facilities	Children only allowed at lunch time. No under 21’s in the evening.

Cranley Comment

Planet Bollywood is an Indian restaurant/night club located on the mezzanine level of the hotel. It has an extensive menu for lunch and dinner featuring specialities from North India and the Tandoori oven. The venue has a small reception area with a private function room with cat walk and bar to the right, with the main dining and seating area leading off to the left. The main room is a very long rectangular shape with two rows of red leather chairs and tables with crisp white linen along the left with a bar at the far end. Along the entire length of the restaurant on the right is a stage/cat walk where dancers perform in the evening to the accompaniment of live singers and a band. It is a popular family venue at lunch times when there is no entertainment. In the evenings it is frequented by a few couples but mainly by gentlemen. The show starts at 21:30 and the ladies, who are dressed in various outfits, both traditional and modern, dance the night away until 03:00 performing for guests who either stay just for a drink or watch the colourful show during a meal.

Bars

Number of Bars

Wellington's

Bar Type	Lounge Bar
Bar Capacity	50
Opening Times	12.00 to 01.00
Dress Codes	Casual

Air-Conditioning	Yes
Smoking Policy	Smoking allowed
Admissions Policy	Not suitable for children

Cranley Comment

Wellington's Bar is located on the ground floor near the main entrance to the lobby. The stylish bar is furnished with leather sofas, comfortable armchairs and tables. The lighting is dark and subdued to give a sultry effect. There is a large raised plasma television that shows sports events occasionally. The bar offers a selection of cocktails, beers, wines and a wide range of international spirits, snacks are also available. Live background musical entertainment starts from 20:00.

Business & Event Facilities

Wireless Internet

WiFi access throughout the hotel (chargeable)

In-Room Services

WiFi access (chargeable)

Business Centre

The hotel has a small 24 hour Business Centre which is located in an office behind the reception desk. There are six computers with chargeable internet access, facilities include:

Computer workstations with internet connections (chargeable)
Conference Room
Meeting Room (Ascot Hotel)
Audio facilities
Printer colour / black and white
Scanner
Fax
Typing

Meetings & Events

Venue	Size (m²)	Dimensions L x W x H (metres)
Wescott I (Royal Ascot Hotel)	192.0	20.4 x 9.4 x 2.4	100	80	120	60	30	60	60
Wescott II (Ascot Hotel)	27.3	7.0 x 3.9 x 2.7	-	12	-	-	12	-	-

MEZZANINE – Royal Ascot Hotel

Wescott I;
is located on the mezzanine floor level and is easily accessible by lift or a flight of stairs. Natural light is available; the room is decorated in a classical style and is of a slightly irregular shape. Centrally there are fixed spot lights for a temporary stage or platform. There are ladies’ and gents' facilities on this floor level.

FIRST FLOOR – Ascot Hotel

Wescott II;
is located on the 1st floor level and is easily accessible by lift or a flight of stairs. No natural light is available; the room is decorated in a classical style and is rectangular in shape. There are ladies’ and gents' facilities on the ground floor level.

Facilities and equipment for the Royal Ascot and Ascot hotels business and conference rooms include:

WiFi, air conditioning, telephone points, projector, television monitors, DVD player, VCR, flip chart and markers, whiteboard, lectern, wireless microphone, stage/podium, dance floor, stage lights, power sockets, tungsten/fluorescent/halogen lighting, controls in room, dimmers, black out windows.

Cranley Comment

The Royal Ascot hotel has one conference room on the mezzanine floor which is suitable for banquets, conferences, lectures, business meetings, and weddings. It is of a slightly irregular shape and is decorated in a classical style with maroon carpet and light coloured walls. The hotel offers a delegates package and a number of catering options are available. At the entrance to the Wescott I conference room there is a small reception/ break-out area with two settees and arm chairs. The connecting sister hotel, the Ascot, has a small boardroom, Westcott II for smaller meetings.

Children’s Facilities & Clubs

Restaurant Facilities

See Restaurants

Babysitting service

The hotel offers a chargeable babysitting service provided by hotel staff and is subject to at least twelve hours prior notice.

Cranley Comment

The Royal Ascot welcomes families and children but is primarily a corporate hotel. Children under 14 may use the swimming pool but must be accompanied at all times by an adult.

Entertainment

Evening Activities

Wellington's

Music from 20:00 to 01:00

Wellington's bar is located on the ground floor near the main entrance to the lobby. The stylish bar is furnished with leather sofas, comfortable armchairs and tables. The lighting is dark and subdued to give a sultry effect. The bar offers a selection of cocktails, beers, wines and a wide range of International spirits, snacks are also available. Live background musical entertainment featuring a pianist and violinist starts from 20:00, they play a selection of music ranging from classical to popular music and well known theatre music.

Planet Bollywood

Show from 21:30 to 03:00

Planet Bollywood is an Indian restaurant/night club located on the mezzanine level of the hotel. It has an extensive menu for lunch and dinner featuring specialities from North India and the Tandoori oven. The venue has a small reception area with a private function room with cat walk and bar to the right, with the main dining and seating area leading off to the left. The main room is a very long rectangular shape with two rows of red leather chairs and tables with crisp white linen along the left with a bar at the far end. Along the entire length of the restaurant on the right is a stage/cat walk where dancers perform in the evening to the accompaniment of live singers and a band. It is a popular family venue at lunch times when there is no entertainment. In the evenings it is frequented by a few couples but mainly by gentlemen. The show starts at 21:30 and the ladies who are dressed in various outfits, both traditional and modern, dance the night away until 03:00 performing for guests who either stay just for a drink or watch the colourful show during a meal.

Elegante

Open from 22:30 to 03:00

The entrance to Elegante night club is from the street. It is a large popular venue for the over 21’s with a capacity of 1,300. Originally a theatre it is on two floors with the balcony VIP area overlooking the main floor area. There is a slightly raised bar which stretches along the back of the venue and the remaining floor area has clusters of chairs and low level tables with short partitioning walls, there is no specific disco/dance floor! The club is a good meeting place and is designed so that guests have their own dance parties either around their tables, on their tables or on the low level partitioning walls that separate the tables. Consequently the whole of the ground floor including the slightly raised bar area becomes one big dancing party! The DJ plays a mixture of heavy beat music and the venue has a sophisticated range of lighting equipment, drinks may be ordered at the bar or from waitresses who serve at the tables.

Cranley Comment

The Royal Ascot Hotel is not short of evening entertainment in one form or another. Guests can enjoy cocktails at the relaxing Wellington’s bar where live background music is played in a sophisticated environment. Planet Bollywood, an Indian night club on the mezzanine level is popular with locals and also serves A la carte meals. For the younger crowd, but over 21’s, Elegante night club "is a very happening place” to dance the night away. The adjoining Ascot Hotel has an authentic Russian restaurant with live band and a dancing troupe who perform throughout the evening while guests can enjoy A la carte delicacies from that region including vodka and caviar. Waxy O’ Conner’s is a popular award winning restaurant and Irish pub which shows live sporting events and has a pool table and darts board.

Beaches

Jumeirah Beach Park

Location	Jumeirah Beach Park is a twenty minute drive away from the Hotel. A daily complimentary shuttle service is available from the hotel and back which runs at: 10:30 drop-off from hotel to Jumeirah Beach 14:00 pick-up from Jumeirah Beach
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

Blue Lagoon

Opening Times	07:00 to 19:00
Temperature	During the summer the swimming pool reaches a temperature of approximately 28/29 centigrade according to the weather. The pool is not temperature controlled.
Depths	Minimum 1.2m Maximum 1.2m
Size	10 meters by 5 meters

Facilities	Wooden loungers Umbrellas Wooden tables and chairs Outside showers Separate male and female changing rooms both with steam room & sauna, lockers, showers, towels and toilet facilities.
Safety	There is a pool attendant during opening times.

Cranley Comment

The Blue Lagoon pool is located on the 7th floor which is the rooftop of this part of the hotel. It is an irregular shape with a small paddling pool adjoining it. There are three pool ‘wet’ stools within the pool and surrounding it there are wooden sunbeds, tables, chairs and umbrellas. The pool is not temperature controlled and during the summer months reaches approximately 28/29 degrees centigrade. The rooftop location allows for views over Dubai City. There are soft drinks available from a fridge and guests may also order from the room service menu.

Sports & Gym

Gym & Health Club

Opening Times	07:00 to 23:00
Description	1 Bicycle 1 Stepper 3 Running machines Free weights 1 Rowing machine 1 Gym boy 1 Multi station
Size	12 metres by 7 metres

Cranley Comment

The well equipped Body and ‘Sol’ gymnasium is located on the 7th floor which is the rooftop of this part of the hotel. The gym area is spacious, airy and decorated throughout with wooden flooring. There are floor to ceiling windows which overlook the swimming pool and surrounding area. The gym offers a full range of fitness equipment and a plasma television. There are separate changing rooms for both men and women each with lockers, towels, sauna, steam room, shower and toilet facilities.

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	5 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.

Emirates Golf Club

Description

This was the first grass course in the Gulf region when it opened in 1988. The club features two championship courses; the Majlis and the Wadi. The Majlis was the original course and was designed by Florida based designer Karl Litten. The Wadi opened in 1996 and was re-designed in 2007 by Nick Faldo. Despite a number of new courses, it still ranks as one of the best in Dubai. It has hosted the Dubai Desert Classic fifteen times for the last six years in succession.

Location	20 km
Holes	Majlis 18, Wadi 18
Length/Par	Majlis: 7,185 Yards par 72 sss 74 , Wadi: 7,263 Yards par 72 sss 74

Facilities

Teaching academy, two driving ranges (one of which is floodlit), pitching and chipping areas, fairway and greenside practice bunkers. Several bars and restaurants.

Special Needs

Communal Areas

The lobby area is accessible from the entrance to the hotel via a ramp. And there are wide entrances to all the food and beverage outlets on the ground floor of the Royal Ascot Hotel. The Wescott I conference room on the mezzanine floor has a double entrance door while Planet Bollywood the Indian restaurant/nightclub has a ramp with a standard sized door. There is one larger cloakroom facility on the lobby level that has no grab rails but is of a good size. The connecting Ascot Hotel has internal ramp access to the lower lobby level and ramps at the entrances of each food and beverage outlet, however there are eight steps that lead to the lifts and mezzanine floor where most of these outlets are located. Staff are on hand to give assistance when necessary.

Rooms & Bathrooms

The Royal Ascot Hotel has no special needs rooms, however the guest rooms are of ample size allowing for good manageability for wheelchairs, the entrance doors and bathrooms are wide enough at 85cms for a standard sized wheelchair, however the bathrooms are on the small side.

Restaurants & Catering

Dae Jang Kum Korean Restaurant and Westend coffee shop both located at lobby level are wheelchair accessible. Planet Bollywood on the mezzanine floor has a ramp and standard sized entrance door. The chairs and tables in all of these venues are not fixed to the ground. Generally food is cooked to order and should guests have nut or gluten allergies etc some dishes can be specially adapted by request.

Recreation Facilities

The rooftop and Body and ‘Sol’ gym both have double doors and one step at the entrance to these areas. The pool can be entered by a conventional pool ladder or down four shallow steps.

Visual & Hearing Aids

There are no special visual or hearing aids in place at the Royal Ascot Hotel. Lift buttons and guest room numbers are slightly indented.

Cranley Comment

The hotel was not originally designed with special needs in mind and as a result is not the easiest hotel for disabled guests to move around. The hotel's public areas on the ground floor has two flights of stairs with four steps each. The meeting room is on the 1st floor and two of the restaurants are on the 5th floor. Staff are on hand to give assistance if needed. There are no special needs rooms at present but the hotel is aware of some of the challenges facing guests with special needs.

Environment

Measures

Recycling
Energy Saving

Cranley Comment

The Royal Ascot Hotel has a number of energy saving policies in place that include energy saving key card light switches for all the guest rooms and suites. In the night between 03:00 to 05:00 lights in the public areas are dimmed and one of the four lifts has restricted use. Paper, glass, and plastics are separated for the municipalities refuge department collection, laundry bags are bio degradable and not plastic. The hotel is actively looking into introducing hand sensors on taps to reduce the wastage of water and requesting guests to save on chemicals by reducing the amount of towels that are cleaned on a daily basis.

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