Walking through the glass doors of the Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights on a Saturday evening, our ears perked up to the strains of Everything That Rises , a track off electronic artist Moby’s 2013 album Innocents . At once familiar, and yet mysterious, the music wafting off the speakers in the naturally-lit, greenhouse-like lobby, set the tone for an indulgent weekend in Dubai. Our agenda: soak in the sights, sounds, tastes and textures of what is arguably, the most cosmopolitan of Arab cities.

Our affable hostess, Leenu Bablani, in her role as the Marcomm Manager of this luxury hotel, the fifth Hyatt-branded property in Dubai, UAE, launched in March this year, is faced with the tall order of scheduling our work and play itineraries.

Embarking on a quick tour of the 464-room, twin-tower hotel, developed by wasl Hospitality, Bablani tells us how centrally located the property is: “Ten minutes from the airport, a short walk from the Dubai Healthcare City Metro terminal and a stone’s throw from landmarks like the Dubai Mall Wafi City, the International Finance Centre and the heritage districts.”

Size matters A shopaholic’s paradise, Dubai has revelled in attracting travellers from around the world, seeking retail therapy on its shores for decades now. And the upcoming Expo2020, which will be hosted in the city, has added to the demand for high-end business and leisure-based hospitality solutions in this region. Bablani explains, “The Hyatt Creek Heights property has 13 meeting suites and two ballrooms, to host events of all kinds. Everything from weddings to high-profile government meetings, entrepreneurial conventions and trade conferences can be facilitated in these premises.”

Personal touch Keeping with Dubai’s penchant for all things supersized, there are two Royal Suites located on the top two floors of the hotel, that take up the entire floor space of the 34th and 35th storeys. These suites have been designed to cater to guests looking for an opulent and a more intimate experience.

It’s a philosophy that bodes well with Mathieu Greppo, the GM of Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights, who believes, “It’s just not about what the hotel offers, but it’s about how we make our guests feel.”

Armed with a wry sense of humour and a seemingly inexhaustible supply of anecdotes gained over two decades in hospitality properties across the world, the Frenchman understands the devil is in the details.

On the house Greppo says, “One of the first things I did upon taking charge was making the mini-bar complimentary for guests in all our rooms. I did not want our patrons to be asked while checking out, if they took something from the mini-bar. It spoils the entire experience of their stay. So it’s a simple trade-off for us, as all we spend is on a bar of chocolate and a few cans of soda.”

As the conversation veers towards food, we are introduced to Executive Chef Carlos Hannon, a Mexican with Lebanese roots, who serves us a smorgasbord of exotic culinary treats that are as diverse as his persona. He whets our appetite with some spicy starters: kicking off with empanadas, which he has christened as a Mexican samosa , enchiladas (corn tortilla with a filling of one’s choice) and guacamole (an avocado-based salad).

In his role as the chief overseer of the destination restaurant, Sufra and the 24-hour deli, Market24, Hannon has his work cut out for him. But his infectious joie-de-vivre is hard to resist as he tells us, “I thoroughly enjoy what I do, and that translates into our food as well.”

Buoyed by the filling lunch, it seemed there was just one thing left to do, get pampered Sheikh-style in the property’s signature spa called Nysa. Named after the water nymphs of Greek legends, the spa offers a variety of rejuvenation options including hydrotherapy, massages and mud-baths; in others words, an avenue to unwind, and indulge, in the same breath.

The writer was in Dubai at the invitation of Hyatt Regency Dubai Creek Heights

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