Gaurav Bhushan, Co-CEO of Ennismore, on Delano opening in Dubai and why the design concept leaves you feeling like you’ve had a vacation, without the need to travel.
Tell us through the concept of Delano?
When Delano swept onto the scene in the mid-90s, it instantly ignited Miami – and lifestyle hospitality as we know it today – thanks to its avant-garde approach to hospitality and design. The recent opening of Delano Dubai and the upcoming return of Delano Miami Beach mark the next chapter in the brand’s evolution. Today’s Delano embodies and elevates the brand’s unmistakable aesthetic and stylistic signatures that devotees know and love, while ushering in a new era of luxury lifestyle hospitality that feels both referential yet fresh and exciting. Philippe Starck’s design for the original Delano was iconic.
How did you approach the design concept for Dubai while maintaining the brand’s DNA?
The interiors of Delano Dubai capture the chic, understated styling of the Miami original. However, in keeping with the forward-looking spirit of Delano, we wanted to ensure that it was not simply a reproduction nor a time capsule. Starck’s approach to hospitality design at the time was undeniably groundbreaking, and we looked to capture that disruptive spirit to create a hotel that felt entirely relevant and contemporary yet singularly Delano. Brand signatures have been reimagined to imbue them with a bold sense of place and time. The hotel’s discrete,low-slung exterior is marked by a verdant manicured topiary that harks back to South Beach’s infamous hedge, and the classic ‘apple a day’ amenity has been transformed into chic, crafted vessels, located in each guest room and filled daily with treats.
How does Delano Dubai reflect evolving luxury hospitality trends, such as personalisation, wellness, and immersive experiences?
Wellness is one of the key pillars of Delano Dubai, from thoughtful amenities such as in-room weighted blankets and nightly turn-down Melatonin gummies to promote deeper, more restorative sleep, to our state-of-the-art fitness facilities. We also see that more and more guests are prioritising a sense of community and connection when it comes to fostering well-being, especially when travelling. We work together with wellness architect Adrienne Everett to curate a programme of communal Pilates and yoga sessions, often taking place on the beach or within the hotel gardens to benefit from the hotel’s spectacular natural surroundings.
With the growing number of luxury lifestyle hotels in Dubai, how does Delano differentiate itself?
Dubai has one of the most enterprising and fast-growing hospitality scenes in the world, with an array of high-luxury experiences that is currently unmatched, and we are also seeing the emergence of a more brand-led lifestyle approach in the region. However, there still felt like a huge opportunity to bring a genuinely innovative vision to the city, much like the original location brought to Miami. Delano Dubai seamlessly brings together a stylish understatement with a vibrant social buzz and magnetic energy, creating something entirely unique and relevant for the traveller of today that measures luxury in terms of experiential over materialism.
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What kind of guest experience are you aiming to create at Delano Dubai?
It’s difficult to pin a singular definition to the Delano guest experience as it’s something that defies convention. At the heart of Delano is a buzzing cultural and social energy that is wrapped in immersive, sensorial luxury; a bustling cocoon that is equal parts sophisticated and enchanting. There was a charm to the original Delano Miami that is carried forward in the magic of the pool and billowing curtains, and the return of the apple amenity, while upholding standards of taste and style. The boutique hotel concept has transformed significantly since the 1990s.
“Starck’s approach to hospitality design at the time was undeniably groundbreaking, and we looked to capture that disruptive spirit to create a hotel that felt entirely and contemporary yet singularly Delano.”
How does Delano continue to be a disruptor in the industry?
Delano’s disruptive nature is tied to anticipating the needs and wants of guests, understanding how contemporary cultural and societal shifts affect the way people want to live and travel. While the original Delano inspired countless iterations of all-white guest rooms, living green walls, and lifestyle hospitality itself, that visionary origin and spirit is inimitable and resists duplication. F&B plays a pivotal role at Delano.
Tell us about the offerings at Delano?
Delano Dubai offers the best of both worlds; at once a serene, discrete resort set on an unspoilt swathe of sugar-soft sands with enviable views over the Arabian Gulf and a dazzling dining and nightlife destination, home to some of the city’s most exhilarating restaurant and bar concepts. Our signature outlets Blue Door and Rose Bar were at the heart of the original Miami experience, while elevated all-day Italian dining spot Tutto Passa and the Delano Pool and Bar encourage guests to lose track of time amid long languid lunches and golden-hued sundowners. Ennismore’s partnership with RIKAS Group has also seen the arrival of celebrated, established venues La Cantine Beach and Gohan, along with Maison Revka by Paris Society, to the shores of Bluewaters Dubai.
Why was Dubai the right next step for Delano’s expansion?
We always look for destinations where we can identify a gap in the market and bring something to the table. Dubai is a truly global city, a hub for the international community with an electrifying energy and a world-class restaurant and nightlife scene. We were particularly drawn to Bluewaters Dubai as it offers what we felt to be a perfect setting for Delano; simultaneously exclusive and unstuffy, iconic and dynamic, and with a serene sense of seclusion that pervades from the moment of arrival despite being only a short distance away from Dubai’s hottest attractions.
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