The St. Regis Dubai Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club will open in 2017
Starwood’s St. Regis Hotel and Resorts is increasing its longstanding commitment to polo by opening up a new resort dedicated to the sport in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The St. Regis Dubai Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club will be the centerpiece of a large, equestrian sports complex in the international city, where it will open for business in early 2017. St. Regis has supported polo in many ways for the past decade, and this resort is the next step in the hotel chain’s dedication to the elite sport.
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Positively polo
The St. Regis Dubai Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club, a collaboration between the Al Habtoor Group LLC and Starwood, will be a large resort complex with 136 rooms and 24 bungalows. There will also be 138 residential villas at the resort that provide guests with the opportunity to stay for extended periods.
St. Regis’ resort will have four polo fields, where there will be regular tournaments and events. This will be a major addition to the polo community in Dubai where there are few comparable facilities.
The resort will have a polo club, a polo academy and a riding school where those who are not experienced with polo can learn to ride and play. There will be 500 stables to house the many horses that will be available for guests to ride.
In addition to the lessons, there will also be shows and events, including dressage, riding and show jumping for riders of all ages. Guests will have the opportunity to both improve and exhibit their skills.
St. Regis has been committed to promoting awareness and enthusiasm for the elite sport of polo for many years. The brand has hosted matches in locations around the world, including the United Kingdom, Bangkok, California and Singapore.
Despite its blatant enthusiasm for the sport, St. Regis has yet to establish a dedicated polo resort, and The St. Regis Dubai Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club will be an exciting venture for the brand. Taking action to support the things it cares about really makes a brand stand out and appeal to consumers.
Sporting chance
The creation of the polo resort in Dubai is one of many initiatives the brand has taken in recent years. For example, in 2014 St. Regis Hotels & Resorts expanded its polo efforts by joining the Sentebale tournament Nov. 20 in Abu Dhabi to benefit charities.
The Sentebale Royal cup was founded by Prince Harry of Britain and Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to aid vulnerable children in the African country affected by poverty, and this program marks St. Regis’ fifth year of support. For brands that have a deep connection to the world of polo, the sport can act as a bridge to consumers when entering new markets (see story).
St. Regis spreads its enthusiasm for the sport in different locations around the world. Starwood’s St. Regis Hotel and Resorts bolstered its polo reputation in 2014 with a new cup in Sonoma Valley, CA, along with numerous philanthropic partnerships.
The inaugural St. Regis Polo Cup was developed to bring the West coast of the United States a cup comparable to the Piaget Hamptons Polo Cup in New York. Also, the event benefited Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center, a non-profit that gives disabled children a chance to ride therapeutic horses (see story).
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Final Take
Kay Sorin, editorial assistant on Luxury Daily, New York