There's nothing more annoying than hanging around a hotel lobby to check in after a long flight. So it's a pleasant surprise at the St Regis Abu Dhabi Corniche to be greeted by three empty check-in tables, be offered a juice and still arrive to the room, luggage delivered, 10 minutes later.
The first St Regis hotel was built in New York by society man John Jacob Astor IV before he drowned on the Titanic. Fast-forward a century and St Regis is a chain sitting within the Starwood group.
The Corniche hotel, 36 kilometres from the airport and within a few kilometres of the banking district, opened two years ago and caters well to the business traveller – the gym, business centre and room service are all 24-hour.
Attached to the Nation Galleria mall, the hotel has a marbled corridor crossing beneath the busy Corniche road to its beach club. It has 283 rooms and a presidential suite, eight restaurants and bars, a spa, male and female salons and a helipad.
The room is thoughtfully laid out – there are three desk-height power points, as well as USB, audio and HDMI sockets, and even a power point built into the inside of the room safe door.
Transformers are available, Wi-Fi is automatically connected after first login for your entire stay – and for up to five devices – and there are two chairs for the desk so you can work with a colleague if necessary. A socket next to the bed, clearly labelled 230V, is ideal to charge your phone overnight.
One feature that sets St Regis apart is its butler service. Your butler arrives to your room shortly after you do, gives you their business card and shows you around. They are available “for any other request, however large, small or unusual”. A 20-page colour printing request was emailed in at 10pm and hand-delivered to the room 15 minutes later.
Luxury touches are everywhere, in the super-soft bedding, motorised drapes, chandeliers and in-mirror bathroom television (although that didn’t work properly, in five days). And the view – a stunning panorama of the sea, Marina Mall, nearby skyscrapers and Emirates Palace.
Prices per night start from Dh650 in low season and Dh900 in high season.
q&a looking after your needs
Suzanne Locke reveals more details about a business stay at the St Regis Abu Dhabi Corniche:
What about tea and coffee?
As well as the normal kettle and creamer in the room, you can call any time for free tea or coffee, delivered by the butler with fresh hot or cold milk on a beautiful silver tea set and with biscotti. There is also a generous amount of complimentary bottled water in the room – great when the tap water is desalinated. Just don’t touch the expensive minibar or room snacks – Dh50 for a very light tub of crisps and Dh18 to Dh28 for soft drinks.
Can I get a newspaper?
The hotel says a variety of local and international newspapers is available, with an iPad app for more publications and hotel iPads available on request from the butler. However, this guest’s newspaper request was wrong every day for five days and the butler said the hotel did not have iPads available.
Any cleaning facilities?
Pop your shoes in the bag for complimentary shoe-shining, along with up to two pieces of laundry free a day. Have it picked up by 9am for same-day service. There’s also one-hour pressing and an iron in the room.
What about room service?
Room service is delivered in 30 minutes, wheeled in on a heated hostess trolley draped in a tablecloth and then laid out for you. Breakfast is international, from congee to foul medames and chana masala; try the salmon from the all-day dining. And the late-night menu, from 11pm to 6am, includes the ever-present club sandwich and Arabic meze.
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