Unpretentiously Luxurious…JW Marriot Marquis

January is Dubai’s coolest month and what could pass for a normal British summer. The shops and markets are packed with tourists; it so turns out that Justin Bieber had just left the Emirates. Even then the Dubai cultural calendar has been packed – Valeriy Meladze Live in Dubai, Clark Beckham Live, the Dubai Camel Races, Market OTB – Dubai Shopping Festival, Laughter Factory: Dysfunctional Family comedy nights, Jammin’ at Key West. One could go on and on. But what’s all that thrill without a place to lay your head especially one that has a great location and unpretentiously luxurious. Welcome to JW Marriot Marquis Dubai, one of the two in the world. Omolola Itayemi writes

But beyond the shows, the feature that will keep tourists coming back is the ever changing skyline. You have probably heard of the Burj Khalifa which sounds like a broken record. Now, there is an even more interesting item. Standing at 355 metres is the JW Marriott Marquis, the tallest five-star hotel in the world, though there’s another hotel slightly taller coming up down the road. It is just 26 metres shorter than the Empire State Building in New York and 35 metres taller than the Eiffel Tower in Paris. And it has a great view to the Burj Khalifa!

Before one launches into the magnificence of its architectural design, let’s digress a bit. The food. There are 22 fully functional kitchens in the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai and the main kitchen is the same size as the ballroom! Combined, the hotel has more than 15 food and beverage outlets which can seat 2,743 people. So think of the cuisine – German, Indonesian, Indian, Thai, Arabian, American, Chinese, Mediterranean, Italian, French, Peruvian, Spanish, Finger food.

There’s Rang Mahal by Atul Kochhar, the hotel’s Indian award-winning restaurant, is run by the world’s first Michelin starred Indian chef – Atul Kochhar. Then, to reflect the 24 hour, 7 days opening hours of La Farine Café and Bakery, there are 247 mirrors on the walls. If you lay out all the knives, forks and crockery in the hotel, it would stretch across the length of 5,000 Rolls Royce limousines. The ultimate hangout for a foodie without cultural bias.

So, it’s January and it’s cool, and you can dare to take a dip in the swimming pool and you dive under and you hear the music booming from the underwater speakers. Now, that’s fun. An even more exciting fact is this: Three tonnes of Dead Sea salt have been shipped into the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai in order to service the hotel’s indulgent Saray Spa and its signature Dead Sea Floatation Pool.

But chief about the JW Marriott Marquis is its architectural concept. The shape of its two towers was inspired by the date palm tree, an indigenous desert plant.

According to the project architect Ashok Korgaonkar, owner and managing director of Archgroup Consultants, the vision for the JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai hotel was to reflect the soaring ambitions of Emirates airline, as well as the city of Dubai, by creating an iconic tall structure that serves as a new benchmark and reinforces the image of the city as the frontrunner in the international hospitality scene.

The concept of the building and brainchild of Korgaonkar, was done in-house.  He said: “We had a great time designing the project, which was challenging. Dubai, an Arab country, has palm and desert as its basic landscape elements.  I wanted to reflect the trunk of a palm tree in the shape of the towers. The concept entailed that the protruding sections of the tower should not only be aesthetic elements but also functional on the inside as well.”

The JW Marriott Marquis Dubai interior concept was developed by lead interior designer Amani Al Lauz, Design Manager for Emirates Facilities Department with over 13 years of experience in the company. As a native of the United Arab Emirates, Amani has infused the central tenets of Arabic hospitality into a contemporary business setting.

A landmark of intelligent design and luxurious contemporary comforts, the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai is where sleek modern fittings meet sensuous furnishings to create an atmosphere of sophisticated tranquillity. Each unique area of the hotel strikes a perfect balance of form and function with a breath-taking blend of sumptuous fabrics, hard woods and subtle lighting. 

Natural materials, neutral tones and the clean lines serve as an understated backdrop to the many notable design features within the hotel.  A myriad of richly textured fabrics and deep pile carpets add softness while accents of colour punctuate each space with an individual personality. 

True to the Marquis commitment to innovative technology, integrated light and sound systems are incorporated discreetly in the furniture and fittings of the hotel. Distinctive paintings are lit with concealed LED lights, Mood lighting concepts can be selected in the suites and bathrooms and even the pool has RGB lighting and underwater speakers for guests who don’t want to miss a beat. 

JW Marriott Marquis suites and rooms are modern and elegant in design with an emphasis on space, luxury and comfort. Weaved into every room is the latest state-of-the-art technology including LCD TVs, iPod stations, wireless internet and touch screen room controls. The colour palette used in the suites and rooms is neutral and natural, conveying an inviting atmosphere of warmth and luxuriant comfort.

If you’re feeling romantic in the JW Marriott Marquis Dubai, or simply want to really relax, switch your bathroom lighting to ‘Spa Mood’. The room will glow with a soft pink haze, and help you switch off from a busy day.

The JW and Marquis are stunning suites featuring two levels of impeccably designed spaces. Featuring carved Mashrabia elements in the open hall and a Majlis recreation connecting the two levels, the suites are contemporary with a nod to familiar Arabic design. Technology is integrated into the room design with BOSE speakers, Ipad room controls and a sophisticated selection of mood lighting schemes.

 The marble bathrooms feature rain-head showers and separate deep baths, while a private spa room is fully equipped for guests who want extra privacy and bespoke treatments.

It’s also the only hotel in the Middle East where up to 1,000 people can meet, sleep and dine under one roof, in one location. The JW Marriott Marquis is Dubai’s largest dedicated Meetings, Incentives, Conference and Events hotel. With 5155 square metres of meeting space, it can facilitate any event, tailored to personal business requirements and seamlessly executed by highly trained staff. 32 comfortable meeting rooms are available including an additional 9 breakout rooms, each with LCD screens, high speed internet and high quality, luxurious furnishings. 

So next time you want to spoil yourself silly and you are in Dubai, there’s no blinking an eye. You know where to go.

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