DUBAI: Kleindienst Group, developer of The Heart of Europe – the US$5 billion (Dh18.3 billion) master-planned leisure tourism island destination – has speeded up the construction activities to deliver the Phase 1 of the mega project in the fourth quarter of 2020 that includes Portofino Hotel, an authentic Italian retreat in Dubai.
Once delivered, it will create a unique experiential touristic attraction for local, regional and international visitors, who will discover an upgraded leisure and hospitality experience from Europe and the Maldives in Dubai.
At the Portofino Hotel, visitors will be greeted in Italian language, offered fresh Italian food – with an arrival experience aligned on the original coastal city and its residential harbor – to offer a complete Italian experience. Each hotel suite has been designed for families where kids have separate sleeping areas.
It is the first five-star family-only hotel and resort in the region dedicated to family (enjoy time together and also relax in their own space and privacy) and with traditional Italian design and contemporary Mediterranean architecture. All hotel suites have been designed to offer the ultimate upgrade with en-suite viewing decks and panoramic sea views.
Portofino Hotel will deploy specially trained staff to take care of children so that the parents could have their own free time to enjoy the attractions across the hotel such as swimming, snorkelling, diving and in other water sports.
Portofino hotel is deploying technologies that offers ‘touchless’ experience to guests – keyless or card-less entry to the room – through a mobile phone app that opens the doors to the suites, controls the television, preferred music channels, room temperature and shades, and the booking of customised services in the entire destination.
“Local tourists from the UAE and the GCC countries will no longer need to secure a visa and travel outside of the UAE to seek the thrills of an Italian vacation from the fourth quarter of this year onwards,” Josef Kleindienst, Chairman of Kleindienst Group, said.
“The Heart of Europe is one of the safest tourism destinations in the world. The outbreak of the Covid-19 has shifted public focus and investment intereston offshore locations that are safe and unpolluted. The Heart of Europe is one of the UAE’s best-kept secret that is going to be unveiled later this year.”
Thanks to its exceptional location 4 kilometres away from Dubai’s famous shores and the stringent safety standards that have been implemented, the Heart of Europe remains completely free from the Coronavirus threat.
More than 1,200 construction workers, technicians, engineers and environmental experts are currently working on site to deliver the resort hotel.
“However, any visitor entering the island is tested for Coronavirus and is allowed to enter the island only after they are found free of any viral infection. This will continue to be our policy when the hotels open up after the virus is eliminated. This way, the Heart of Europe will remain a safe place for all tourists, regardless of any emergency onshore,” Josef Kleindienst said.