InterContinental Dubai Marina @ An Elevated Business Living Hotel

With clusters of sky-high towers lining the water edge in Dubai Marina where each building is trying to outshine others from its design, InterContinental Dubai Marina is one of the many that stands out within this miniature metropolis with an elevated business living. mylifestylenews writes.

The “Rise of a Nation” charts the extraordinary changes in Dubai and Dubai Marina was brought to life since 2003 by Canadian architectural and design firm HOK adding more vibrancy to this waterfront neighborhood. The development not only gives a special immediacy where Dubai has been transformed to one of the futuristic cities in UAE and perhaps the world.

Located amidst Dubai Marina and a few minutes walking distance to the Dubai Marina Mall, tram station and Jumeirah Beach Walk where restaurants, cafes, cinema as well as shopping avenue with lifestyle entertainment caters for local and visitors alike, this urban precinct of “New Dubai” adds new waves not only to its far-flung residential but also a burgeoning business field where international class hotels prevailed and the InterContinental Dubai Marina is with no exception.

Hotel's foyer

Contemporary sculptures are scattered almost everywhere in the hotel lobby, where you may not find much of the InterContinental’s touch at the first sight upon entering the premises, but rather like other modern boutique design hotels. 

Like it or not, it enlightens the ambience in a not so Inter-Continental way. When we approached the front desk for check-in, the greeting was rather lacking in warmth and without much eye contact, with the stressful staff pre-occupied with some other unfinished business.

A touch or modern and contemporary furniture at the lobby lounge.

Our booking wasn’t found even with a confirmation email that was sent weeks before our arrival. We were puzzled and minutes later without much explanation, we were escorted by another front desk staff to complete our check-in on the 39th floor Club InterContinental Lounge.

After two different elevator rides connecting on the 10^th floor in order to get access to the Club InterContinental Lounge, a drink was offered while the paperwork was done and an upgraded deluxe room from the premium room facing the Marina was offered after nearly 20 minutes wait.

You won't miss the floor to ceiling high sculptures at the entrance of the Accents restaurant.

Different color design chairs are found on every floor's corner

Once the room keys were assigned, we headed down to our room on the 10^th floor at once to unwind. The minimalist room design is subtle, incorporating vibrant modern art, yet somehow a sensible touch is lacking. The walled-television is rather too small across the spacious king-size bed. The full length chic glass-walled bathroom could also be another hazard to walk through by banging your head into the mirror if one is not too alert. Despite the indulgent rain showers and bath tub adding a luxury feel to the room, the bath tub is placed too close to the storage shelve and creates difficulty to reach to the end where your toiletries are placed. With the scale placed below the cabinet storage, it only creates more difficulty to reach the narrow gap. The separated basin for His & Her is a good idea but leaving a gap in between to place a dustbin is absolutely unnecessary. It only creates more work for housekeeping to clean especially where the floor to ceiling mirror collects water splash spots and marks.

We took a breather walking out to the balcony where the sliding doors control the in room air-conditioning unit when they open and shut. The view facing the Marina Bay and looking down at the hotel’s swimming pool is rather spectacular, and it is even more mesmerizing after the night fall. Business and residential towers create a distinctly urban feel along the waterfront promenade, super yachts and supper haunts create a lively scene passing though the bustling canal reshaping the urban space with modern architecture of the city for all things extraordinary.

Our room with a view by night overlooking the bustling Dubai Marina Bay.

We headed back up the Club InterContinental Lounge for some afternoon tea at 3:30pm. Most seats were filled by mostly sweet-tooth local guests to get indulged for one of their favorite meals of the day.

Alluring ambience is best defines the mood of the club lounge, with natural light filling artfully designed interiors from the high floor to ceiling glass wall. The club lounge is an inspiring concept combining luxury and style, treating you with highest standards of hospitality.

When the weather is good, you best request for an outdoor seating to enjoy both the Marina Bay view as well as the Jumeirah Beach from the opposite end. Don’t miss out on the freshly made scones and jams served on the traditional 3-tiers silver tray with other savories, local desserts and light refreshments.

We tried to catch up with a little bit of sun before the sun goes down by taking a refreshing dip at the pool and thought we would follow this by checking out the steam room and sauna for further relaxation, only to find to our disappointment that the facilities are not part of the deal for hotel guests where we were asked to book ahead with additional cost incurred. We couldn’t bother but went back to our room, got changed and headed back to the Club Lounge for the evening happy hour.

No doubt, it is also a perfect timing to watch the sunset while enjoying a glass of wine. The Club Lounge serves some good spread from the mini-buffet with some well chosen cheese selection, hor d'oeuvres and cooked to order savories, with daily selection by the chef. Service is prompt, attentive and paying much attention to guests’ requests, even the kitchen staff lend a better smile and greetings above all odds.

For morning breakfast, we were offered either dining at Accents – the hotel’s all day dining or the Club Lounge. We were defeated by the hostess at Accents by not making us feel welcome from her cold and long face greetings and followed the instructed order to sit us down.

With further observation, other wait staff also didn’t really show much passion towards the service and seemed disinterested. Don’t think it was the first thing we needed to have and by having a quick one round of serve, we decided to head back to the club lounge to continue our breakfast with a more personalized service.

Our room was not made even until 12:15pm even the service light was switched on at 8:15am before we headed for breakfast. Nevertheless, the turn down service was neatly done in a flash of light and the cleanliness of the room deserves a round of applause.

Tried & Tested:

Location: 4.5/5

Design & Decor: 4/5

Room: 3.5/5

Food & Beverages: 3.5/5

Housekeeping: 4.5/5

Service: 3/5

Value For Money: 4/5

Experience: 4/5

Highlights:

 Club InterContinental Lounge

The View

InterContinental Dubai Marina

Bay Central

Jumeirah Beach Road

Dubai United Arab Emirates

Tel: +971 04 446 6777

Reviews are based on actual day of visit and experience. mylifestylenews reserves the right of final decision in case of any disputes. All images are photographed by mylifestylenews team without any photoshop enhancement and are the property owned by mylifestylenews unless otherwise stated. 

SAINT LAURENT ID BAG

SAINT LAURENT ID Bag  is the new convertible bag of SS2017 Mens Collection by Anthony Vaccarello. Initially designed for the personal use of Anthony Vaccarello - Inspired by the officer document holders, the ID BAG takes its name from the identification plate necklaces worn by navy soldiers - Playful in essence, the ID BAG is an ultra-functional day to travel luggage.

The SAINT LAURENT ID PLATES is now featured on bags, small leather goods and ready-to-wear. Easily convertible and can be carry in multiple ways, folded or unfolded, to become either a tote or a boston function. The first men luggage that appeared in the Saint Laurent advertising campaign by Anthony Vaccarello. Available in Saint Laurent iconic leather or cotton canvas, and offering 2 sizes: Large and Medium. Engraved Saint Laurent ID Plate, double zip closure with leather zipper pull tabs  and adjustable handles & shoulder strap with engraved Saint Laurent buckles & hooks. Exclusive high-end zipper in men collection - Side ring & “Passant” to loop the strap.

H&M’s New Conscious Exclusive Perfume Oils

For the first time ever, H&M’s Conscious Exclusive collection includes a set of three ecological unisex perfume oils that can be worn individually, or mixed to create a unique scent. The oils are a part of the 2017 Conscious Exclusive collection including a women’s collection as well as pieces for men and kids, with each piece made from sustainable materials. “I love the Conscious Exclusive ecological perfume oils, which capture the inspiration that we found in the human senses. Each of the three scents is beautiful on its own, and creates something totally unique and personal when combined together,” says Pernilla Wohlfahrt, H&M’s Head of Design and Creative director. The three ecological perfume oils for H&M Conscious Exclusive are constructed around three different scent groups – floral, fresh and woody. Rouge Pivoine combines topnotes of bergamot, rose and pear with a middle of peony and geranium, the peonies echoed in a screenprint for the women’s Conscious Exclusive collection. At its base of Rouge Pivoine is freesia, tea and cedar.

The freshness of Lemon Amour comes first from top notes of orange, lemon and bergamot, with a middle of lemongrass and lime, finishing with a base of apricot, melon and guaiac. Meanwhile the woody Vert Douce starts with topnotes of sweet orange, galbanum and elemi, with a middle of green leaves, rose and tea leaves, and a finishing note of cedar and cypress. The ecological oils, which have been given organic certification by independent association Ecocert, come in roll-on bottles, making it easy to apply, and then to mix together to create a scent that is entirely personal to the wearer. For organic Ecocert certification, which the H&M Conscious Exclusive fragrance as well as the H&M Conscious Beauty range has, at least 95% of the total ingredients in the product must be from natural origin, water included, and at least 10% of the total ingredients must be from organic farming.

Zaha Hadid's B zero1 For Bvlgari

Zaha Hadid marks a new chapter in Bulgar i’s most iconic and coveted jewellery collection, with a masterpiece that showcases her unmistakable style: the new B. zero1 Design Legend ring. Bulgari, the Roman Jeweller, together with Zaha Hadid, the greatest woman in architecture of all time, fuse their boundless talent in the name of creativity and design. Drawing its inspiration from the world’s most renowned amphitheater, the Colosseum, Bulgari celebrated the new millennium with the creation of i t s now iconic B. zero1 ring, whose unique and state of the art design revolutionized the aesthetic codes of classic jewellery. Today, the B.zero1 Design Legend ring is a fusion of style trademarks communicating one perfect language.

Combining Emperor Vespasian’s architectural statement of power, Bulgar i’s bold and geometric design and Hadid’s fluid and curvaceous construction, the new ring is the sublime synthesis of the classic, the revolutionary and the timeless . Just as Bulgari has revolutionized the aesthetic codes of traditional jewellery, Zaha Hadid has liberated architectural geometry by creating highly expressive, sweeping fluid forms of multiple perspectives: pillar s which would have traditionally been constructed vertically are oblique; corners dip into unexpected curves; corridors and passages open spectacularly onto windows that dive into the landscape.

The same pioneering approach has marked Bulgari’s style for decades, incorporating unusual colour combinations, unexpected materials such as ceramic or marble and bold proportions, challenging and redefining the very essence of jewellery design. B.zero1 Design Legend fits perfectly into Bulgari’s creative vision, as the collection is not intended to appease convention, but rather to go beyond the limits of classic jewellery design and express exquisite ingenuity. Pioneering and creative, Bulgari has become known over the years as a master of innovation for its novel approach to design, sharing with Hadid the compelling desire to break conventional barriers . Amidst 1950s diamond-focused designs, Bulgari begins fashioning rebellious creations with semi precious and precious stones together, inventing an unprecedented style with colour combinations.

Years of great social changes and experimentation, the 1970s inspire Bulgari’s imagination to go once again beyond design frontiers, incorporating in the great variety of motifs unusual materials, such as coins from antiquity, steel and silk. Bulgar i’s drive for innovation is expressed also through the creation of new techniques. One of the most characteristic and successful is the tubogas, a flexible band of sleek and polished contour s produced without soldering, that is since the 60s one of the trademarks of the brand. With this enlightened concept of jewellery design, Bulgari crafts in 1999 B. zero1, a ring that defies all conventions, a powerful statement of its innovative vision, in a synthesis of pure lines, bold proportions and unusual materials.

The new disruptive design takes form in four new creations enriching the B. zero1 constellation; the bold 4-band ring in pink gold, also available in a thinner 3-band version in white or pink gold; and an edgy pendant in pink gold. With the original design of the ring in mind, which fuses two hallmarks of the brand – the tubogas motif and the BVLGARI double logo – Zaha Hadid deconstruct s the iconic central looping band. Clasped by two flat rings which are engraved with the classic BVLGARI logo, the central body of the ring takes the shape of undulating gold waves , flowing freely in an indefinable yet distinctive and dynamic movement.

The ring’s infinite curvilinear structure exemplifies fluidity and feeling of movement, with a design that makes a rigid material looking effortlessly organic and alive. The intersecting circles of the B.Zer o1 Design Legend ring appear to hover over the finger rather than close around it, tricking the perception and demanding a closer look , just as out standing buildings oblige you to firstly admire the beauty of the structure before compelling you to question the very physics of architecture that make the fabulous feats of design possible. Bulgari parted from convention with the B .zero1 empowering the wearer rather than celebrating an occasion. This manifested in a non- conventional structure of a wide band, and focused on its form rather than a jewel as a centrepiece, and revolutionised not only the classic style of ring up to that point in design history, but also the ideal of one. 

FENDI Fruits Bag Charms

FENDI Fruits Bag Charms

FENDI introduces its latest creation in the bag charms world: the FENDI Fruits, fluffy fruit-shaped fur pompons, result of the daring creativity and incredible craftsmanship of the Maison.

Presented for the first time on the FENDI Women’s SS2017 catwalk, the FENDI Fruits are an exquisite and cute collection of bag charms, special accessories with a playful flair.

The FENDI Fruits are realized with a fantasy inlay of precious fox and lapin shaded fur, while the thin leaf-details on top are created in soft nappa leather thanks to a meticulous découpé workmanship that gives them the natural bicolour aspect.

These unique bag charms are available in a delicate sorbet colour palette: from orange with aquamarine leaves, yellow with mint leaves, pink with green leaves to bluette with pale pink leaves, green with lilac leaves, as well as an elegant total white version.

Choose your favourite to add a romantic and original touch to your FENDI bag…either a pineapple, a raspberry or an exotic fruit, the FENDI Fruits leave open imagination to whoever picks them!

Chloé Summer 2017 Bags Collection

Chloé Summer 2017 Bags Collection

Debuting for Summer 2017, the new ‘Nile’ bags are the statement bags this season. Inspired by the jewellery collection, the refined half-moon shape bag is adorned with a signature golden bracelet handle and metallic golden arc that underlines the feminine round shape.

For a masculine twist, the ‘Nile’ saddle bag is inlaid with equestrian details, leather band with golden studs, and jewel details.

The Summer 2017 bags collection embraces a sartorial marine palette of optic white, navy, silver blue and sepia red, lifted by summery fresh shades of blush pink and beige.

Other than the classic combination of suede and smooth calfskin, this season Chloé incorporates lambskin and watersnake into the bags for an exotic flair.

Les Éternelles de CHANEL 2017

LES ÉTERNELLES DE CHANEL

For the third consecutive year, CHANEL presents new models for its collection of Fine Jewellery watches, Les Éternelles de CHANEL. Conceived as a capsule collection, these secret watches, which embody all the creativity and savoir-faire of CHANEL Fine Jewellery and Watches, are enriched year by year. In 2017, the Fine Jewellery Studio of Creation at CHANEL reinterprets the lace and ribbons so dear to Mademoiselle Chanel with three unique pieces. Les Éternelles de CHANEL are inspired by the fundamentals of CHANEL style and reflect the ever-renewing creative spirit at the heart of CHANEL Fine Jewellery.

The Ruban Watch

The Ruban watch evolves with absolute liberty, wrapping around the wrist like a jewel-encrusted ribbon. This delicate, 18-carat white gold lace with 1,369 diamonds – including 7 Fancy-cut diamonds – hides on one side a secret watch, and, on the other, a 5-carat pear-

cut diamond.

The Médaillon Watch

On the back of this engraved rock-crystal medallion, pearls and diamonds including a pear-cut Fancy Light Yellow 5.32-carat diamond hide a watch paved with diamonds. The medallion is set on an 18-carat white-gold chain, set with 587 diamonds.

The Camélia Watch

At the heart of a pearl necklace, which can be transformed into a bracelet, a watch is concealed by a bouquet of 18-carat white-gold camellias and 503 diamonds, including a 10-carat Fancy Brown Yellow diamond.