Yas Viceroy Hotel, Abu Dhabi, the only hotel to overlook the entire Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, is charging ahead with preparations for the iconic event. Regional vice president and managing director, Mark Griffiths, gives Aleksandra Wood an exclusive look at behind the scenes activities and challenges that occur when organising the UAE’s premier international sporting event.
TTG: Talk to me about some of the behind the scenes preparations that take place ahead of the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
Planning and preparation for this year started as soon as we wrapped up Formula One 2016. Being organised is the key to running a successful event of this size and scale, and each department has their own role to play, from guest relations to house keeping, hence why it is important to start so early.
As we get closer to the big day, we need a lot of hands on deck, so we bring in additional staff and start training them well ahead of the event, to ensure that they are fully prepared. We have 225 chefs working at the hotel over the course of the weekend, and normally 5,250 covers are done, with a totally of 35,000 meals served. We have to fly in fine food such as caviar from Russia and white truffles from Italy to cater towards the type of guest we expect to stay over the weekend.
TTG: What are some of the not-to-be-missed activities and events taking place during the weekend?
There will be a huge emphasis on activity in our restaurants and we have exciting menus planned that allow our guests to enjoy a cuisine from every corner of the world. We also have a fantastic line-up of post-race after parties, so you can continue the celebrations into the early hours.
For the fifth year running, we have partnered with Rich List Group, however this year we will making it even bigger and better by hosting a series of world-class acts in the Palm Garden. American rapper and producer, Busta Rhymes, will be performing on Friday, November 24, British singer and song writer, Craig David, will be giving his first TS5 DJ set in the UAE on Saturday, November 25, with rapper Rick Ro$$ marking the grand finale on Sunday.
Additionally, we have a host of exciting menus planned at each of our restaurants. In the midst of all the action is Origins, where diners can enjoy front-row racing whilst feasting on a lavish brunch. Guests at Origins will also enjoy complimentary access to The Royal Terrace complete with an unparalleled three-corner track view, cool beats and plenty of bubbly.
Meanwhile, Atayeb will be serving up flavours from the Mediterranean to the Middle East, and those in the mood for Japanese can choose Kazu for dining with a track view.
TTG: What are the feeder markets for the event and what new markets do you hope to attract this year?
The race is such an international event; our guests come from all over the world. Many obviously come from the UAE and the region, as this is the premier sporting event for this part of the world as well as the last race of the season, so it gets plenty of attention.
The UK and Europe continue to be important markets and we are starting to see an increase in Asian guests, all of whom visit for the racing and then tend to stay to enjoy Abu Dhabi.
TTG: How will this year’s event differ from the previous Abu Dhabi Grands Prix at Yas Viceroy?
We are very excited for this year and our figures already indicate that it’s going to be a great success. We have invested significant time and resources into developing a compelling marketing campaign around the tagline ‘Get Closer To’, and have ensured that every type of guest can catch all the action, whether they are visiting for brunch at Origins, partying on the Rich List terrace or staying for the whole weekend. With bookings strong, we anticipate a vibrant and fun vibe in the hotel, before, during and after the racing.
TTG: How have unique global events such as the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix positively affected tourism in Abu Dhabi?
The MasterCard Global Destinations Index has recently named Abu Dhabi as the fastest growing destination city in the region and the fourth in the world, with a record breaking 4.4 million visitors last year. This is partly due to global events such as the Formula One, which reinforce its reputation as a destination that offers unique experiences.
The Formula One is the only truly international sporting event that the UAE hosts, so it is instrumental in drawing in a global crowd and definitely puts Abu Dhabi on the map. It always attracts a huge amount of media attention, whether it is through the international celebrities visiting or the racing itself, and the viewership on TV is staggering. With the marina backdrop, yacht parties and bustling atmosphere, it certainly has to be one of the most glamorous races in the calendar, and is a fantastic demonstration of how the city can come alive.
TTG: What is the most challenging aspect of being the only hotel in the world to overlook the F1 Circuit?
From the inside, the hotel operates as usual, and at capacity. The race weekend is different from other busy periods in that the volume of guests coming in and out of the hotel is much higher, and the number of activities on the island is higher than at any other time of year, requiring careful coordination with all the stakeholders.
In our ninth year, we pretty much have the race weekend planned and programmed to the last detail. Our plans are refined every year to take into account the learnings from the previous year and to build on lessons learnt and opportunities for improvement.
The number of guests enjoying the hotel is on the rise every year, so that takes a bit of planning, and a nimble team to adapt to guest demands on the go. That’s the nature of our business. These are the challenges that make us hotel people enjoy what we do.
TTG: Finally, please outline any exciting news or recent developments at Yas Viceroy.
We have the recently opened Generation V, and have introduced a bespoke journey for families that caters to them from the moment they check in to their departure. Children receive special recognition with their own ‘charge card’, which allows them special treats during their stay and access to the fantastic Generation V Kid’s Zone. Furthermore, for a very special five-star ‘glamping’ experience, hotel guests can book ‘Camp Viceroy’, which offers our small travellers their very own in-room tent. Other treats include a milk and cookie turndown service, dedicated kids’ menu and special packages with theme parks.
We have also launched our hotel mobile app, which facilitates bookings and provides access to a host of dining promotions and experiences. So far, we’ve received excellent feedback from users, who have found it easy to navigate and enjoy being kept up to date with all the latest packages and offers.
Finally, we have opened a new state-of-the-art gym, offering top of the line equipment overlooking the marina. We plan on introducing a series of classes in the coming months, and guests have access to personal trainers to provide a tailored fitness programme.
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