First look: Second Marriott in Abu Dhabi opening next week

Marriott Hotel Al Forsan, the second Marriott branded hotel in Abu Dhabi, aims to open on February 16.

Opening its doors to media for the first time today, the spacious catch-all property targets corporates and family vacationers.

It is positioned as a strong ‘incentives’ hotel given its location next to Al Forsan international sports resort, which offers football, water-skiing and wake boarding, two indoor paintballing areas and equestrian activities.

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General manager Richard Bleakley anticipates an equal corporate/leisure split. MICE facilities include a ballroom divisible by three with vast terracing, and an executive lounge (open to Marriott Rewards Platinum/Gold and Suite guests) which overlooks the equestrian and football areas. There are 400 rooms, spread across five floors.

A broad range of F&B is available, which might be ambitious, but the hotel hopes its proximity to a large residential complex, and lack of competitors in the immediate vicinity, will stand it in good stead. It’s only a short drive from Abu Dhabi International Airport too.

Highlights include the vast Khayal all-day-dining venue with six separate sections, Couture Lounge and The Grill which offers diners kitchen views, and the Appaloosa bar and restaurant. Each venue provides yet more terracing, with the exception of the window-bound, non-alcoholic lobby bar whose blue chandelier, open spaces and plenty of seating make a pleasant first impression.

Swimmers will warm to the 50-metre pool, which halfway along merges into a leisure pool, that has the Splash poolside bar. A kids area is beyond, and inside is a gym (Precor) and spa with an ethereal, butterfly design entrance.

Bleakley says incentive packages, comprising stay-and-activity options, will be posted online in due course. Deluxe rooms (42sqm) start from Dhs549, rising to Dhs706 for executive rooms and Dhs1,700 for executive suites.