Siro Monocle
Access the next level
If we demand the highest standards at work, we should accept no less from our business travel. Siro, the newest hotel brand from Kerzner International, is redefining expectations for modern city stays. Cleverly designed rooms mitigate jetlag while tapping guests into the support and expertise of wellness experts and world-class athletes.
In the past few years, the business landscape has changed dramatically. Our work-life balances have shifted as the concept of regular office hours is consigned to history. Beautiful living spaces are increasingly important for entrepreneurs and digital nomads who equally have no time or inclination to put their active lifestyles on hold when they travel. As demands change, others must adapt. Kerzner International’s Siro is the first hospitality brand to offer a truly holistic approach to sleep, fitness and recovery. For too long, business travellers have been forced to choose between either the aesthetic luxuries of a design hotel or the technical specifications of a fitness-first establishment. Siro prioritises both, creating a restorative and homely environment ideal for a brief layover or extended stay. “It’s a place for everyone who wants to prioritise their wellbeing when they are travelling,” says Zoe Wall, vice president, Siro and Wellness Operations, Kerzner International.
Recover in style
Siro One Za’abeel is the first of a new breed of hotel: an all-in-one destination that tailors its offering to every guest, while providing all the aesthetic luxury and five-star care of a leading design hotel. By focusing on sleep, recovery and fitness fundamentals, it allows business travellers to recalibrate quickly and maximise time in the heart of a global city.
“Siro is for everyone who wants to prioritise their wellbeing when they are travelling”
Zoe Wall, vice president, Siro
Siro One Za’abeel is the first realisation of the brand’s unique philosophy. Set across seven floors of Dubai’s cantilevered One Za’abeel building, the 132-key hotel is designed with recovery and rejuvenation in mind. “Whether you’re into fitness or not, the one thing that you want when you travel is a good night’s sleep,” says Wall. “We all suffer with jetlag, so our focus is helping guests to alleviate theirs.”
With Dubai International Airport just minutes away, imagine arriving on the red-eye and checking into a room with app-controlled motorised blackout blinds, thermoregulating King Koil mattresses and a Recovery Cabinet of essential equipment, all designed in collaboration with sleep consultant Anna West and consultation with Team Siro, a group of elite athletes and wellbeing experts. Two suite types add an extra layer of sophistication, including private workout spaces and recovery bathtubs with stunning views. No matter where in the world you have arrived from, your circadian rhythms will soon be in tune with your new destination.
Personalisation is key to Siro’s pioneering approach. In-house experts and state-of-the-art body composition analysis combine to create truly personalised fitness, recovery and nutrition programmes. In-room projectors give you easy access to yoga classes and virtual recovery sessions. An ice-bath concierge can even set up a cold plunge to your exact temperature, advising on exercises and breathwork techniques that enhance your experience.
Shorter stays can be equally productive. If the UAE is the gateway between east and west then Siro One Za’abeel is the layover of your dreams. One Za’abeel is moments from Dubai World Trade Center, Burj Khalifa and more, plugging you into downtown life and the DIFC business district. Destination Fitness provides a chance to discover the wider emirate via immersive activities, such as desert bike rides and night runs. With further Siro hotels planned for Riyadh, Los Cabos in Mexico and Montenegro’s Boka Place, this new wave of wellness-focused hospitality is gathering pace – and providing a welcome alternative to inaccessible resorts and faceless corporate hotels.
Work it out
Whether you want to maintain a training regime while away on business or trial the latest restorative therapies during a long layover, Siro One Za’abeel’s Fitness and Recovery Labs will tailor a programme to your individual needs.
“We ensure that each guest has a clear, achievable path to reach their goals”
Jermaine Ekpo, master trainer, Siro One Za’abeel
Arrive at the “starting block” on floor 30 – Siro One Za’abeel’s vibrant, informal lobby – and the hotel’s in-house experts will begin curating your stay. If you’re in the midst of marathon training and don’t want to miss a beat, hit the Experience Box – one of the Fitness Lab’s four distinct zones – for a dynamic HIIT class with immersive lights and visuals. The three other zones offer a range of cardio, agility and weight training with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Dubai’s skyline for inspiration.
Simply want to find an effective way to unwind either side of back-to-back meetings? You can quickly benefit from the Recovery Lab’s blend of traditional and cutting-edge treatments, such as infrared saunas and cryotherapy. “We ensure that each guest has a clear, achievable path to reach their goals, whether they have time for a full-on programme or only to integrate ad-hoc experiences into their stay with us,” says master trainer Jermaine Ekpo. Whichever path you take, the Siro app allows guests to book and manage classes, stays and treatments. “Accountability,” adds Ekpo, “is paramount.”
Regain control
With in-house experts, modular meal plans and balanced takeaway options, Siro One Za’abeel sets a delicious new standard in bespoke hospitality nutrition while helping guests to maintain healthy jet-set lifestyles.
“We try to promote balance... People need to live their lives and be happy”
Heeral Shivnani, nutritionist, Siro One Za’abeel
When travelling for business, diet is one of the first things to be sacrificed. Good intentions are derailed by an unhealthy mini bar and calorific dining options. A stay at Siro One Za’abeel provides a welcome opportunity to regain control. Whatever time of day or night you arrive, the 24-hour modular room service menu allows you to compile a personalised plate of lean proteins, complex carbs and fresh vegetables. For guests with somewhere to be, the Refuel Bar has you covered via superfood-packed energy bites, protein shakes and takeaway salad bowls.
Like the hotel’s master trainers, the nutrition team also work to better understand their mindsets in terms of food and how it might impact exercise physiology. The aim is not to craft a strict, calorie-counted regime but rather what in-house nutritionist Heeral Shivnani calls a “functional, integrative nutrition philosophy”. They aren’t against recommending dishes from one of the many restaurants run by Michelin-starred chefs within the One Za’abeel building. “We really try to promote the idea of balance,” she adds. “People need to live their lives and be happy.”
