Abu Dhabi’s new 203 room Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi will be able to charge Dh1,750 (US$476) per room during the Formula 1 Grand Prix event. The hotel’s General Manager, Sid Sattanathan, said this will make the room one of the chain’s most expensive in the world. The Dh1,750 rate is much higher than the rate charged by other luxury hotels in Dubai, and the maximum allowed for a four star hotel under Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority’s rate capping policy.
Mr. Sattanathan said the opening date is not yet confirmed, and up to 30 labourers are still working on the finishing touches. He said they are confident the hotel will be ready, but said they have not started booking rooms yet. “In a pre-opening phase you don’t want to take that big risk especially as all the hotels are going to be full.” The hotel will open about half its rooms during the first phase.
