Majid Al Futtaim and Starwood Hotels & Resorts unveil the new Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre

Majid Al Futtaim and Starwood Hotels & Resorts have unveiled the new Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre following an extensive transformation of all its guest rooms and public areas and the introduction of new concepts and outlets. The renovation project, which started in July 2014, aims to re-position the hotel as a key hub for driving tourism in Bahrain in line with the Le Méridien brand’s core value of connecting the curious and creative-minded traveller to unexpected and engaging experiences within their destination.

Simon Barlow, Chief Executive Officer of Hotels at Majid Al Futtaim Properties, commented: “We are proud to announce the re-launch of the new Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre following another successful collaboration with our partners at Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Keeping our hotel properties fresh and relevant through ongoing investment and innovative renovation projects is extremely important to Majid Al Futtaim as it ensures we are always strengthening our offer to both our partners and customers.”

Following the renovation, Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre’s 260 modern guest rooms and suites now feature the signature Le Méridien Bed, a spacious work area and functional technology with modern design elements.

The hotel has also introduced Longitude 50, a reinterpreted lobby café concept by the brand. The name is derived from the destination’s unique coordinates. Longitude 50 features within the hotels Le Méridien Hub, the brand’s innovative reinterpretation of the traditional hotel lobby into an experiential space for creative and curious minded guests to converse, socialize and exchange. New compelling Arrival Art has also been installed, including a luxurious map of the world made up of hundreds of pearls and an outstanding 2.5 tonne steel dhow, both homage to the island’s heritage.

The hotel also inaugurated Art Link – a dedicated corridor between the hotel and the entrance of City Centre Bahrain showcasing a series of lightboxes displaying time lapse photographs of Bahrain over a period of 24 hours, creating a gallery ambience for guests to gain insight into the destination.  Guests can also find curated art at Baharat restaurant, in partnership with locally renowned art gallery, Al Bareh.

“The aim of the revamp is to showcase the Le Méridien brand’s aesthetics and values from engaging perspectives,” said Daniel van Der Heijden, Hotel Manager, Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre.  “Our main goal is to ensure that this hotel is the ultimate hub for culture seekers and curious travellers.  We want all our guests to have an inspiring stay while visiting the island.”

In line with the hotels new look and feel, Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre recently launched #BahrainUnlocked, a social media awareness campaign inviting instagrammers and photographers from across the island to capture and share what inspires them about Bahrain as a destination of discovery. The on-going campaign gives people an opportunity to share with travellers’ hidden gems and curious corners of the island.

“Le Méridien is all about stimulating the curiosity of its guests.  It positions each of its properties as the hub to unlock the destination through the discovery of local culture, art scene, and inspired cuisine.  This initiative encompasses all of those elements, and it is the most authentic way to show visitors what the island has to offer from the perspectives of locals and residents,” said Haitham Assem – Complex Director of Marketing, Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre and Westin Bahrain City Centre.

In April 2014, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide signed an agreement with Majid Al Futtaim to launch its Westin and Le Méridien brands in Bahrain. The debut of the two hotel brands in July 2014 added a significant value towards empowering hospitality industry in Bahrain and attracting visitors from around the world to its capital, Manama.