Majid Al Futtaim Properties CEO of hotels Simon Barlow

Majid Al Futtaim and Starwood Hotels Resorts have relaunched the new Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre following an extensive transformation of all its guest rooms and public areas and the introduction of new concepts and outlets.

The renovation project, which started in July 2014, was carried out to re-position the hotel as a hub for driving tourism in Bahrain.

Majid Al Futtaim Properties CEO of hotels Simon Barlow said: “We are proud to announce the re-launch of the new Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre following another successful collaboration with our partners at Starwood Hotels Resorts.”

Following the renovation, Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre’s 260 modern guest rooms and suites  feature the signature Le Méridien Bed, a spacious work area and functional technology with modern design elements.

The hotel has also introduced Longitude 50, a reinterpreted lobby café concept by the brand. The name is derived from the destination’s coordinates.

Longitude 50 is located within the hotel’s Le Méridien Hub, the brand’s reinterpretation of the traditional hotel lobby. New arrival art has also been installed, including a luxurious map of the world made up of hundreds of pearls and a 2.5 tonne steel dhow, both homage to the island’s heritage.

Story continues below

The hotel also inaugurated Art Link – a dedicated corridor between the hotel and the entrance of City Centre Bahrain showcasing a series of lightboxes displaying time lapse photographs of Bahrain over a period of 24 hours. Guests can also find curated art at Baharat restaurant, in partnership with local art gallery, Al Bareh.

“The aim of the revamp is to showcase the Le Méridien brand’s aesthetics and values from engaging perspectives,” said Daniel van Der Heijden, hotel manager, Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre.

“Our main goal is to ensure that this hotel is the ultimate hub for culture seekers and curious travellers. We want all our guests to have an inspiring stay while visiting the island.”

In line with the hotels new look and feel, Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre recently launched #BahrainUnlocked, a social media awareness campaign inviting instagrammers and photographers from across the island to capture and share what inspires them about Bahrain as a destination.

“Le Méridien is all about stimulating the curiosity of its guests. It positions each of its properties as the hub to unlock the destination through the discovery of local culture, art scene, and inspired cuisine. This initiative encompasses all of those elements, and it is the most authentic way to show visitors what the island has to offer from the perspectives of locals and residents,” said Haitham Assem, complex director of marketing, Le Méridien Bahrain City Centre and Westin Bahrain City Centre.

In April 2014, Starwood Hotels Resorts Worldwide signed an agreement with Majid Al Futtaim to launch its Westin and Le Méridien brands in Bahrain.