Burj al Arab
Anywhere in Dubai, it's not hard to find over-the-top displays of opulence. But here in the world's only (allegedly) self-proclaimed 7-star hotel, built on its own island in the Arabian Gulf, the Burj al Arab stands out among the crowd. Amid the Disneyland-like resorts, malls and other attractions popping up around Dubai, designed to woo tourists with the appearance of wealth and luxury, the Burj al Arab is one place where this appearance is more than just a facade. Here, what appears golden is... actually gold. This is the real deal.
I enjoyed a breakfast here on my last full day of almost two months of travelling - and realized that exception service is not so much a factor of what is offered, but is about anticipation - being one step ahead of your guests to respond to their needs before they even realize it's what they want.
Without a doubt, the hotel's reputation owes a great deal to the exclusive environment it propagates. Accessible only for guests or visitors with a reservation, a group of tourists can often be found at the foot of the pier, craning heads for a glimpse and snapshot of the hotel from outside the gate. The almost unbelievable myths help too... yes, you can arrive here by helicopter, and yes some guests are provided with a Rolls Royce and driver to shop and see the city.
Some comments and critiques (from wikipedia):
"both the hotel and the city, after all, are monuments to the triumph of money over practicality. Both elevate style over substance."
"Emulating the quality of palatial interiors, in an expression of wealth for the mainstream, a theater of opulence is created in Burj Al Arab … The result is a baroque effect"
Burj al Arab
Anywhere in Dubai, it's not hard to find over-the-top displays of opulence. But here in the world's only (allegedly) self-proclaimed 7-star hotel, built on its own island in the Arabian Gulf, the Burj al Arab stands out among the crowd. Amid the Disneyland-like resorts, malls and other attractions popping up around Dubai, designed to woo tourists with the appearance of wealth and luxury, the Burj al Arab is one place where this appearance is more than just a facade. Here, what appears golden is... actually gold. This is the real deal.
I enjoyed a breakfast here on my last full day of almost two months of travelling - and realized that exception service is not so much a factor of what is offered, but is about anticipation - being one step ahead of your guests to respond to their needs before they even realize it's what they want.
Without a doubt, the hotel's reputation owes a great deal to the exclusive environment it propagates. Accessible only for guests or visitors with a reservation, a group of tourists can often be found at the foot of the pier, craning heads for a glimpse and snapshot of the hotel from outside the gate. The almost unbelievable myths help too... yes, you can arrive here by helicopter, and yes some guests are provided with a Rolls Royce and driver to shop and see the city.
Some comments and critiques (from wikipedia):
"both the hotel and the city, after all, are monuments to the triumph of money over practicality. Both elevate style over substance."
"Emulating the quality of palatial interiors, in an expression of wealth for the mainstream, a theater of opulence is created in Burj Al Arab … The result is a baroque effect"