Luxury Dubai hotel to get $122.5m facelift

Le Meridien Dubai is set to undergo a AED450m ($122.5m) refurbishment which will see the hotel add nearly 200 new rooms, it was announced on Saturday. Owner Wasl Asset Management Group said the addition of 197 guest rooms and new banqueting facilities will "continue to further deliver the hotel's exceptional service standards, values and simultaneously address new market trends". The expansion plan is slated for completion by May 2013, it added in a statement. The new eight-storey building will be built next to the Royal Club, and will increase the current room inventory of 383 to 580. The new guest rooms will each be a minimum of 50 sq m in size, with a personalised butler service offered on each floor, a rooftop pool and an exclusive Club lounge. As part of the refurbishment, the existing Falcon Ballroom will be rebuilt to accommodate a capacity of 1,000 and the Great Ballroom will be revamped to accommodate up to 1,550 guests. Work will start in July. Le Meridien Dubai is owned and operated by Wasl Asset Management Group and managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts.