Islamic clocks to caviar, just another day at Hotel Show

Gathering at The Hotel Show in Dubai this week, suppliers provided a glimpse in to the hotel room of the future as well as the past, with a range of products running from the practical and cost saving to those that exude five-star luxury.

Throne chairs in shocking pink and purple; caviar beauty creams designed as pillow presents; a personalised mattress system, peacock feather fans and the world’s first luxury Islamic clock.

The latter, presented by UK-based Smith of Derby, has excited much interest among hotels and interior designers, according to Jane Arnold, who said she had been overwhelmed by the response.

“We have been working in the region for 40 years – one example is the world’s largest reclining clock in Al Ain - and we also have 16 clocks operational in Makkah,” she said. “There has been fantastic feedback to our Salah Muslim prayer clock with hotel interior designers looking at this to provide a feature in a lobby or perhaps in hotel suites.”

Also new in the region is the Aquaroll bead hydromassage, in its first showing outside of France – the device contains 30,000 glass beads in water which are agitated to provide a treatment that exfoliates, massages and rejuvenates hands, feet and calves.

President Thierry Favreau said the device had been released in France last year and already was a hit with spa and beauty establishments, and for thalassotherapy and physiotherapy, where it had achieved amazing results in pain reduction.

“It improves circulation, removes dead skin, stimulates circulation and has anti-ageing benefits, and we have had enquiries at The Hotel Show from many hotels and even one major exhibition venue,” he said.

Elsewhere at the show, Burdawtg presented its global innovation Perfectclime, an innovative heating and cooling concept combining infrared short-wave technology and cooling nozzle.

“The unique combination of instant heat without preheating or instant cooling at the push of a button means that the radiator can be used all year round and offers an almost unlimited range of uses” said Jiri Burda, CEO of Burdawtg.

Another innovation for luxury wellness was demonstrated by the Klapp Group of Germany which is displaying its new Noir caviar range for hotels, including body cream and hair products, VIP gifts and a night cream that can be used as a pillow present, rather than a traditional chocolate sweet.

“After introducing this line in Germany last year, we are exhibiting at The Hotel Show for the first time and see the Middle East as a market with great potential,” said export manager, Frank Klett-Loch.

In addition, Klapp is exhibiting its new Platinum Nan O² anti-ageing system that can combine up to six different concentrates in varying proportions to customise a formula for individual customers, then activating the mixture with a machine using platinum particles to give a deeper absorption rate.

Other show stoppers at the event include moon and throne seats from Desert River; new concept rollaway beds that fold in to small cabinets from Romanian company Joboloct; a Solitaire Punkah swinging ceiling fan with a wingspan of two metres, featuring 240 peacock feathers and gold finishings, that was sold on the first morning by Oliver Kessler Design.

Also new for the region are exercise cycles that can be hooked up to generate electricity, already in use in a Danish hotel that offers free meal vouchers for guests that reach certain levels of wattage.

According to Exhibition Director of The Hotel Show 2011, Frederique Maurell, the quality and breadth of products on display was an encouraging sign that the Middle East hotel sector had resumed its pace of development and innovation.

“We know hotels and resorts here like to be at the forefront of design, and The Hotel Show this year has given operators and designers a host of new ideas to take away.”

For more information about The Hotel Show, please visit: www.thehotelshow.com