JW Marriott Hotel Kuwait City - a landmark in the city’s skyline

The plush J W Marriott Hotel in Kuwait City, formerly under the Le Meridien brand, is probably well known and much loved by every foreign oil executive to have visited the city. Hardly surprising, given that it shares the same building with the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, the national oil company. More recently, however, the mix of guests has shifted with the influx of people with business interests coming into Kuwait across the border in Iraq. “We are right in the city centre, where the offices and the oil companies are – we cannot be closer for business,” says Frank Tideman, the hotel’s General Manager.

Marriott, which manages the hotel on behalf of the owners, took over from the Le Meridien brand about a year ago. As the first Marriott hotel in Kuwait there are plans to grow the name elsewhere in the city, including a four star Courtyard by Marriott branded property.

Since its re-launch under the JW Marriott branding, the hotel has witnessed remarkable success. Business is up despite the uncertain picture across the border. As the gateway to Iraq, demand for accommodation in Kuwait City is booming. Conference volumes are buoyant, and business visitors remain the main source of guests.

The JW Marriott is an international standard five-star hotel offering the ultimate in luxury, as one would expect from one of the Gulf’s more opulent states. There are 230 rooms, 75 suites, 10 meeting rooms and around 2,000 square metres of meeting space. Inside, there are a host of restaurants to choose from plus sports, healthcare and beauty facilities. For the ultimate luxury, the Royal Suites offer complete indulgence. Spacious and tastefully furnished, the six suites come fully equipped with a large working area and even a separate dining room.

Mr Tideman says the main focus is on providing quality and service, as well as appropriate security. “At the moment, this hotel is number one in the region and number three in the world of Marriott. It is something that we’re incredibly proud of.”

He says the hotel has positioned itself among the elite in the region partly in response to the growing level of mid-market accommodation springing up in and around Kuwait City. The intention is to cater for a different market to the sister hotel about to open.