There are a lot of perks about hotel life, from free housekeeping to room service. And, over the course of the year, a number of hotels in the UAE have launched long-stay deals to give residents the chance to enjoy these properties without the hassle of year-long contracts.
Joining them will be Element Al Jaddaf, an extended-stay hotel set to open in Dubai’s Creekside neighbourhood of Al Jaddaf on Tuesday, December 15. Element Hotels is part of Marriott International, and this will be the second branch in the UAE, following Element Me'aisam, Dubai.
The facilities
Element Al Jaddaf features 269 studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments, thus catering to business travellers, longer-staying guests, and also holidaymakers. Every apartment features a fully equipped kitchen.
One-bedroom apartments in the property include a separate living and sleeping area, accommodating up to four guests, convertible sofa bed, bathroom, fully equipped kitchenette and an area for guests working remotely. The two-bedroom apartments can accommodate up to six guests, and feature a kitchenette, two bathrooms and living and dining areas.
The hotel will offer a complimentary healthy breakfast while the all-day restaurant, Cafe 26, will serve lunch and dinner.
Additionally, the hotel features a business centre with three compact meeting rooms, a 24-hour fitness centre, and a rooftop pool.
The interiors of the hotel feature streamlined furnishings in light natural tones and touches of greenery. It is also pet-friendly.
Longer stay, more demand
The launch comes at a time of notable interest for extended stay hotels, according to Richard Bleakley, multi-property general manager at Marriott International.
"The growth of extended stay hotels has reached a record high in recent years as more travellers look for comfortable lodging, great atmosphere, affordable rates and flexibility. Recent events have highlighted that commitment and long-term contracts can become a hindrance and a risk, more so than ever before," he says.
In light of this, many are seeing the benefits of staying in extended-stay hotels over regular apartments, he adds. “Guests can avoid yearly contracts, set-up costs and administrative paperwork, while enjoying a fully serviced and cleaned property.”
Studios will start at Dh189 per night. The monthly launch rate for a studio apartment is Dh3,880+ for longer staying guests.