What a shame it would be to be on business in Rome and not do so in style.
The Rome Cavalieri hotel is thoroughly stylish, from balconies with hilltop views overlooking the city to reams of art on display to a club level with perks for premium travellers.
About 40 per cent of the hotel’s visitors are there on business, and the Cavalieri won World Travel Awards as Italy’s best business hotel in 2012, 2013 and 2014. It often hosts medical or financial conferences and in May was home to the World Arabian Horse Racing Conference, under the patronage of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed.
The hotel sits in parkland at the top of a long driveway, about 5 kilometres from the city centre. The Cavalieri’s seventh and eighth floors are the club levels.
These offer access to the Imperial Room lounge, with sofas, newspapers, food and beverages on demand and private check-in and check-out.
My club-level room with city view was 42 square metres plus an 8 sq metres balcony. It cost €630 (Dh2,598) a night for single occupancy and €655 for double, including taxes and breakfast. Similar rooms on the lower levels go for around €290 a night for single and €305 for double.
My room had plenty of plugs for a traveller’s electronic devices. The bed was firm with a touch of suppleness you could melt into.
There was also a pillow menu, should you require, say, a pillow made of Kapok flakes.
As a test of the hotel’s service I dialled downstairs for toothpaste at 10.30pm. The knock on my door came in two minutes – very impressive. The Cavalieri has two business centres, one on the seventh floor and a larger one below ground level. One surprise was that in-room Wi-Fi is not free.
The cost for basic service was €14.95 a day. Really a luxury hotel should not be charging guests to use the internet. The Cavalieri’s Wi-Fi is, however, free in its public areas, and is high-speed.
In all, this smoothly running hotel provides a relaxing base for the business traveller. But do bear in mind that it is at a slight distance from Rome’s core.
__________
Stylish
■ See a gallery of Rome Cavalieri hotel here.
__________
q&a sorry, no free wi-fi
Alessandro Cabella, the managing director of the Rome Cavalieri, tells Rob McKenzie more about the five-star hotel:
What do business travellers want?
Definitely everyone is looking for efficiency in technology – efficiency in technology means not only a correct internet connection and a proper speed, but every single element composing a successful meeting or conference – the right temperature in the meeting room, the right audiovisual support.
Why isn’t your Wi-Fi free?
First of all, the policy on the internet is very much related to corporate policy. It is generated and dictated by the corporate. Personally, I think this should be offered free, completely free. I don’t want to say the internet connection is as vital as the oxygen we breathe, but everything is moving on those lines. I hope that next year we will be able to offer Wi-Fi for free.
What is becoming less important to business travellers?
I have to say that food and beverage is becoming – I don’t want to say less important, however when compared to the past, the number of food and beverage services requested during a conference is diminishing.
What is the most important way the luxury market is evolving?
The ultra-high net worth individual is increasing. There is the need to satisfy this market segment that is so strategic for all of us. The priority for us is the refurbishing of our suites. The suites are products that are very much in demand. We are re-engineering different parts of the hotel to have our master plan completed by the end of 2018. We are going to change furnishing, decorations, colour schemes. The traditionalism will be kept.
Extra notes:
The hotel opened in 1963 as a Hilton. It has been under the banner of the chain’s Waldorf Astoria brand since 2008. The Waldorf Astoria grouping also includes properties in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah.
The Rome Cavalieri has some 8,700 sq m of conference and meeting space. It has 345 rooms plus 25 suites.
The 25-metre outdoor swimming pool is a buzzy gathering spot for Rome’s beautiful people – and is also pretty nice to swim in.
An hourly daytime shuttle bus brings guests into Piazza Barberini. Limousines are also available.
For dining, the hotel is famous for La Pergola, which has three Michelin stars. I was surprised to learn from Mr Cabella that La Pergola does not receive many business travellers, though there is the occasional board of directors’ dinner.
The hotel’s L’Uliveto is a Mediterranean-themed restaurant with seats available outside overlooking the pool, which sparkles blue at night. Dishes include red prawn carpaccio with fennel, red orange and fleur de sel (€33), Amatriciana-style pasta (€29) and, for dessert, Sicilian cassata surprise (€13).
rmckenzie@thenational.ae
Follow The National's Business section on Twitter
* The writer was a guest of the hotel.
General%20Classification
%3Cp%3E1.%20Elisa%20Longo%20Borghini%20(ITA)%20Trek-Segafredo%3Cbr%3E2.%20Gaia%20Realini%20(ITA)%20Trek-Segafredo%207%20secs%3Cbr%3E3.%20Silvia%20Persico%20(ITA)%20UAE%20Team%20ADQ%201%20min%2018%20secs%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel
Power: 579hp
Torque: 859Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh825,900
On sale: Now
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Key Points
- Protests against President Omar Al Bashir enter their sixth day
- Reports of President Bashir's resignation and arrests of senior government officials
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDate%20started%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202020%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Khaldoon%20Bushnaq%20and%20Tariq%20Seksek%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Global%20Market%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20HealthTech%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20100%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20to%20date%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2415%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
La Mer lowdown
La Mer beach is open from 10am until midnight, daily, and is located in Jumeirah 1, well after Kite Beach. Some restaurants, like Cupagahwa, are open from 8am for breakfast; most others start at noon. At the time of writing, we noticed that signs for Vicolo, an Italian eatery, and Kaftan, a Turkish restaurant, indicated that these two restaurants will be open soon, most likely this month. Parking is available, as well as a Dh100 all-day valet option or a Dh50 valet service if you’re just stopping by for a few hours.
Springtime in a Broken Mirror,
Mario Benedetti, Penguin Modern Classics
In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Banned items
Dubai Police has also issued a list of banned items at the ground on Sunday. These include:
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Political flags or banners
-
Bikes, skateboards or scooters
MATCH INFO
Manchester United 1 (Greenwood 77')
Everton 1 (Lindelof 36' og)
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Ogram%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2017%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Karim%20Kouatly%20and%20Shafiq%20Khartabil%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%2C%20UAE%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20On-demand%20staffing%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ENumber%20of%20employees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2050%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMore%20than%20%244%20million%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20round%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Series%20A%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EGlobal%20Ventures%2C%20Aditum%20and%20Oraseya%20Capital%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
