Kempinski sends Task Force to Djibouti for New Hotel Opening

Staff from the Kempinski Hotel at Mall of the Emirates, Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi and Kempinski Hotel Ajman have been selected to be part of a ‘five-star task force’, to help prepare for the opening the five-star Djibouti Palace Kempinski early next month.

A 100-strong group, comprising Kempinski’s best international staff, have started arriving in the African capital this week to start work in the hotel.

The luxurious property has been developed by Nakheel Hotels & Resorts, in a record build time of only seven months. Immediately after opening on 6 November 2006, it will host the prestigious COMESA Heads of State Summit, which welcomes senior diplomats, politicians and heads of State from Africa and the rest of the world.

The ‘five-star task force’, which will work closely with the 150 locally-recruited staff on the COMESA event, includes chefs and other kitchen staff, dining staff and guest relations managers, from locations including the UAE, Turkey, Shanghai and Berlin.

Bugra Berberoglu, general manager of the Djibouti Palace Kempinski, said, “Whenever we open a new Kempinski, we bring in our best staff to work with the local team, ensuring everything meets the high standards we set.

“However the team we are bringing to Djibouti is the largest taskforce team we have ever assembled.

“An advance party arrive in Djibouti 24th October and the main group is scheduled to arrive on the 1st November. They will work together to ensure every team member will be fully prepared for the opening of this prestigious hotel property.

“Our ambition is nothing less than to create the best hotel in Africa. With this amazing property, and the members of this team, I am convinced we will deliver.”

The first phase of the Djibouti Palace Kempinski includes 177 rooms and suites, and a state-of-the-art conference centre, with a grand ballroom for up to 1,100 guests, meeting room and presentation facilities, and the latest communications infrastructure. There will be four a la carte restaurants, including a unique pan-African offering at the Lake Assal Restaurant, landscaped gardens and full beach facilities, a spa, a sports bar and lobby lounge, and wireless internet throughout the hotel.

When complete, the hotel will have up to 300 rooms, fitness and entertainment centres, and a nightclub.

James Wilson, chief executive of Nakheel Hotels and Resorts, said, “This has been an incredibly demanding project, especially with the fixed deadline of the COMESA event. We are delighted with our progress and it is fantastic to see the task force team members starting to arrive. They are beginning the process of turning this beautiful building into a world-class hotel.”

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