St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, part of Starwood Hotels & Resorts commemorated its expansion in Dubai with two exclusive events rooted in the luxury brand’s rich heritage.
The first-ever St. Regis hotel to open in Dubai was celebrated with a live jazz performance by world-renowned musician Jamie Cullum as well as the St. Regis International Polo Cup, which paves the way for the brand’s first polo resort, set to open in 2017.

Throughout the Jazz Age, the rooftop ballroom at the iconic St. Regis New York played host to some of the most beloved musicians with unforgettable performances from jazz greats like Count Basie, Duke Ellington and Buddy Rich. The expansive legacy of Jazz Legends at St. Regis programming continues with Cullum as the brand’s newly appointed St. Regis Connoisseur. Known for his innovative approach to jazz, Cullum welcomed the recently opened St. Regis property in Dubai with an intimate set for some 200 people.

The following day, St. Regis hosted the annual St. Regis International Cup (SRIC) in the Middle East for the first time in nine years. The match was held on the grounds of the highly anticipated St. Regis Dubai, Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club, which will be the first St. Regis polo resort when it opens in 2017.

SRIC was the final match of the Dubai Challenge Cup 2016 tournament, under the patronage of HH Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and part of the prestigious Dubai Gold Cup series. In a tightly contested match, Saaed Bin Drai led his Bin Drai polo team to victory against the Habtoor polo team with 8 goals to 7.

In addition, The Bentley Polo Cup match took place as part of the SRIC matches within the subsidiary Dubai Challenge Cup 2016. This, the opening game of the St. Regis ‘Day Of Polo’ saw Edrees and Wolves polo teams go head-to-head in a spirited contest, with Wolves winning by one goal in extra time. The global partnership between Bentley Motors and St. Regis underpins the heritage and excellence of the brands by creating signature experiences for guests who may choose to stay in custom-designed Bentley Suites, currently available only at The St. Regis Dubai, The St. Regis New York and The St. Regis Istanbul.

“Both jazz and polo are integral to the St. Regis legacy, offering our guests truly unforgettable moments. Whether it is enjoying Jamie Cullum pay homage to jazz legends or watching the ‘Sport of Kings’ with our polo events, we aim to capture traditional elegance through the lens of modern luxury,” said Jim Petrus, Global Brand Leader, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts. “Late last year, we opened the first St. Regis property in Dubai and by 2018 we will open two more hotels in this dynamic destination, making St. Regis one of the fastest growing luxury hotel brands in the region.”

The St. Regis brand debuted in the Middle East in 2011 and has since rapidly expanded to four hotels in the region with properties in Doha, Abu Dhabi and Dubai. The newest addition, The St. Regis Dubai, is part of the highly anticipated Al Habtoor City development, Starwood’s largest hospitality project in the Middle East, which feature two other Starwood hotels under the distinct W Hotels and Westin brands. Located on Sheikh Zayed Road, The St. Regis Dubai has 234 rooms and suites including the first Bentley Suite in the Middle East which is a unique one-bedroom suite inspired by the bespoke craftsmanship of the Bentley Mulsanne. The hotel also features eight distinctive culinary venues and an Iridium Spa.

Next year will mark another ‘first’ for the brand with the debut of the inaugural St. Regis polo resort, The St. Regis Dubai, Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club. This will be followed by The St. Regis Dubai, The Palm which is slated to open in 2018 and will feature a 360-degree infinity swimming pool on the 50th floor. By the end of 2018, Dubai will be the only city in the world to offer three St. Regis properties, underlining the demand for high-end hotel accommodation in the UAE.