KONE References 2017: Urban Journeys

bu Dhabi has gained great wealth from its oil and gas resources, but authorities have worked hard to diversify their economy and make it more sustainable. Investments have been made in a variety of sectors, including tourism. The number of tourists is currently growing at about a 15 percent annual rate and the region is expected to have 7.9 million annual visitors by 2030. To meet this demand, transport infrastructure has been upgraded, retail stores have been opened, and new malls, museums and art galleries are springing up throughout Abu Dhabi. All these tourists need places to stay, so hotel construction is also booming, with an estimated 74,000 hotel rooms required to meet expected demand. Yet space is limited. Like Manhattan, most of the city of Abu Dhabi is on islands and the best way to expand is upward. The luxurious and ultra-modern Four Seasons Hotel perfectly illustrates this. Commanding the waterfront of Al Maryah Island, the newly opened hotel plays a vital role in meeting the growing tourismmarket in the United Arab Emirates. A task in which it has been aided by the vertical solutions provided by KONE. “THE FOUR SEASONS WAS A DEMANDING undertaking,” says KONE project manager Hammed Feroz . “Our customer needed solutions which were fast and efficient, and they needed to be provided in a high-end luxury environment, with proper care taken to deliver the best experience for guests.” KONE’s vertical solutions were making a difference even before the hotel was completed. During construction KONE elevators were used to quickly and safely move workers and materials, but the real value is in the completed building. A variety of elevators and escalators are used to provide specific vertical transport solutions to match the client’s needs. The KONE MonoSpace® and KONE MiniSpace™ elevators in the hotel make an efficient use of space, as the KONE MiniSpace A An oasis in the desert Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, has invested in several major projects to transform itself into a tourist paradise. Hotels in the region are expanding and investing in new technologies to meet this rise in demand. The Four Seasons Hotel is setting a new benchmark. TEXT David J. Cord PHOTO iStock & KONE The Four Seasons – UAE 24