New boutique hotel the Jacob Samuel, located on the crossroads of Dizengoff and Arlozorov Streets, is to open in December. The independent project, which commenced work in 2012, was initiated in by Siam Hotels Ltd., established by Architect Sami Tito and the late entrepreneur Jacob Alaluf. “The inspiration for the property came from the architecture of European cities such as Paris, Rome and Barcelona,” says general manager Eran Brill. “There’s a real spirit of merging a traditional and classic setting within the energetic vibe of a young city. In essence, the old meeting the new.”

Before the new structure was erected, the previous building was occupied in part by Café Batya, a restaurant that was established over 70 years ago, serving home-made Eastern European cuisine. “The entrance will be constructed from glass and will feature a grand chandelier hanging down across a number of floors,” outlines Brill. “The chandelier will be a running theme throughout the hotel and restaurant.”

Twenty two rooms (14 of which have balconies) are available across six categories: Five Single rooms (15m²), two Classic (21m²), eight Deluxe rooms (21m² plus a balcony), Superior room which is handicapped accessible (27m²), four Grand Deluxe rooms (27m² plus a balcony), and two Penthouse Suites (33m² plus a balcony). Grand Deluxe rooms and Penthouse Suites both provide a living room space, a bath and a shower, and can sleep up to three adults or two adults and one child. “Rooms have been designed to emit a sense of timeless luxury and a European vibe, right within the center of Tel Aviv,” expresses Brill. Rooms are all triple glazed, designed with Israeli furnishings and feature a queen size bed, Nespresso machine, SMART technology, marble bathrooms with Sabon toiletries, and bathrobes and slippers. A room service menu is available in addition to mini bar packages.

The restaurant, led by Chef Avi Bitton and which can seat up to 80 guests, offers an à la carte menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. “The food is fine dining with a local twist, a real urban experience within a classic setting,” explains Brill. An underground bar will open from evening until early morning, serving a selection of bar bites and beverages. “The restaurant and bar are open to the public who wish to enjoy a unique dining experience in the city,” says Brill. “We also offer guests the opportunity to eat breakfast in their rooms, and those staying in the penthouse have the option to dine with up to two other guests in the privacy of their suite, with their own personal waiter provided.”

Guest amenities include free use of a nearby gym, in-room spa treatments, a private concierge service and a personal smartphone received upon arrival, which offers direct communication with the front desk, information about Tel Aviv, free calls in Israel and up to 10 countries abroad. “We are really focused on providing a personalized experience to each and every guest. We want everyone to receive superior service throughout their stay, with their every need attended to.”

Marketing
The hotel is marketing itself through OTAs, GDS for business travelers, its website and social media, in addition to a PR agency to promote the property during the initial launch phase. “We project an incoming market of around 70 percent, 15 percent of which we foresee as Chinese, around 35 percent corporate and the remainder leisure, and we are aiming for a high number of returning guests,” outlines Brill. “The Jacob Samuel is in close proximity to the beachfront hotels, which host regular conferences. I can definitely see an overspill of guests from these events who will prefer to stay in the hub of activity on Dizengoff St., which offers a vibrant choice of dining, shopping and nightlife spots.”