Source: The Domain Hotels
Source: The Domain Hotels
Source: The Domain Hotels
Source: The Domain Hotels

The Domain Hotels will launch its first hotel-club concept property in Bahrain, designed to offer a socially charged members club with the added benefit of hotel rooms. Located in Manamas Diplomatic District, the 36-storey, 129-key property promises to focus on sociability, entertainment and technology.

Modernist and social, The Domains slogan Stay Work Play represents the blur between business and leisure in the guests lives. The emphasis on social spaces is highlighted by the quirky, reverse-mix of the hotel-clubs F&B facilities outweighing the room offer ing by 70/30.

The concept is led by general manager Patrick de Groot, previously director of development for Dubais Jumeirah Group from 2004-2007, who was appointed by Bahraini entrepreneur and businessman Faisal Al Matrook to set up the groups hotel division. De Groot explained the project: Developing a club and hotel concept and hotel brand from scratch is quite an extraordinary opportunity. It was truly borne out of passion, of an amazing group of innovative hoteliers and a good dose of boredom with the products on the market. The boutique property houses 61 luxury suites and 68 rooms with a 360 degree view of both the old Manama city centre and the stunning coastal views of Bahrain Bay.

The Domain interestingly sidesteps a traditional hotel lobby for a more innovative approach. The guest is greeted by a Domain Manager at the entrance lobby, and is then ushered directly to their room for check-in and introduction to their very own Domain Butler. People are at the heart of our concept, so the social element is so ingrained in everything we have created. We cannot wait for the doors to open. says Patrick de Groot. He goes on to describe The Domain Bahrain as a building just waiting for stories.

The teams Domain Mangers and Butlers ensure every aspect of the quests stay is handled with grace and efficiency. Guests can even customize many aspects of their stay through a propriety app linked to the properties website called Master of your Domain, before and during their stay. This is a part of The Conversation; a social media platform that intends to foster a community by allowing Domain residents and members to speak to each other, share information and even customize their own Domain experience.

The Domain Bahrain includes 375m of flexible meeting space and a total of nine restaurants and lounges, all aimed to be innovative destinations for food culture. Ranging from Txoko, a Basque sky lounge to Imari, the Japanese Restaurant showcasing a contemporary setting with visual synergies between Japan and Bahrain.

The 34th Floor is a distinctive French restaurant that covers an entire floor, as does The Living Room where guests can treat the social space as their very own living room; enjoy food, relax, read or gaze over the City from the stunning views of the 16th floor. Within the Living room is Figs & Olives (a casual eatery), and The Cigar Lounge, which is decked out in warm woods, cozy leather chairs and a walk-in humidor where guests can enjoy a quality selection of cigar and vintage beverages.

Yet another pioneering concept is Anthology; the worlds first dedicated social video lounge with live media presented by a DJ/JV, which brings online content into a playful, interactive setting that can also be used for corporate events or exclusive product launches or film premieres.

The Domain is also home to Vie Spa and Vie Fitness. Spread over two floors, they offer cutting edge therapies and technologies designed to relax, rejuvenate or revitalize, including total body detox programs and pre (or post) cosmetic surgery therapies.

With a team of international hoteliers behind the project, The Domain looks to expand on the traditional hospitality model by taking the groundbreaking hotel-club concept into vibrant cities around the world. The Domain Bahrain is a part of the Chic & Unique Hotels Group - a new business division of the Al Matrook Group of Companies headed by Bahraini entrepreneur and businessman Faisal Al Matrook. The companys strategic objective is to develop a portfolio of innovative and inspiring hospitality products in the Middle East, including hotels, beach clubs, spa and food & beverage outlets.

Set to open at the beginning of Summer 2013, the hotel is currently conducting an online teaser campaign called #whythearch on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook as it gears up to opening.

Payal Patel
+971 50 556 1450
The Domain Hotels