Millennium & Copthorne, one of the world’s largest hotel companies with more than 120 owned and managed hotels across 20 countries, has today rolled out across its hotels in Middle East a menu specially developed by the group in collaboration with Mafraq Hospital. The new hospital-approved menu was offered in bite-sized taster portions to invited guests and passers by at a launch event at Porto Bello restaurant at Grand Millennium Al Wahda. These tasters included a choice of starters, main courses and deserts.

In 2009, six out of the world’s 10 countries with the highest prevalence of diabetes were in the Middle East and North Africa*. Millennium & Copthorne has worked with diabetes experts from Mafraq Hospital to create a menu that is both tasty and nutritionally balanced, which helps those with diabetes control blood glucose levels, blood fats, and blood pressure. The dishes on the diabetes menu are first added to the room service menu and the buffet. The second phase will see diabetes-friendly options being developed for all of the group’s restaurants. 

Having diabetes means needing to be more careful when eating out, but making menu choices shouldn’t be based on guesswork. Millennium & Copthorne has created a new set of menu icons which includes a blue circle, based on the international symbol for diabetes, which indicates that a dish is suitable for those with diabetes. This symbol will be placed next to all dietician-approved menu items on the room service menu, and on the buffet cards at all the hotels. Diners visiting the buffet will also be alerted to the hospital-recommended portion size.       

Ali Lakhraim, President and Chief Executive Officer of Millennium & Copthorne Hotels and Resorts, welcomed invited guests to the launch event. He said:

“As Millennium & Copthorne continues to expand in the region, we aim to have a positive impact on the communities in which we operate. Diabetes is one of the biggest health issues affecting the population of the GCC and it affects people from all walks of life. Many people don’t realise how important a balanced diet can be, and for those that do, dining out can seem like a minefield. These new menu options offer guests an easy choice with tasty, nutritionally balanced and dietician approved meals bursting with flavour. We are proud to take this positive step as a responsible and responsive organisation.”

John Nickens, CEO, Mafraq Hospital, said:

“Around 80% of Type II diabetes could be prevented through increased exercise, healthy eating and small changes in lifestyle.  As a hospital we have a duty to educate our community and set up preventative measures and this initiative is a great vehicle to spread the word in a positive way.”

Mafraq Hospital, which is owned and operated by Abu Dhabi Health Services Company PJSC (SEHA),  has a fully equipped Endocrine and Diabetes Centre dedicated to the prevention and treatment of juvenile and adult diabetes. The Centre is led by one of the most respected endocrinologist’s in the country, Dr Khaled Al Jaberi, and one of only two paediatric endocrinologists in the UAE, Dr Asma Deeb, who are ably supported by a team, including dieticians and nutritionists.

City.Mobi

Also in Middle East today, City.Mobi is celebrating the success of its new guide to Abu Dhabi.

City.Mobi offers the most comprehensive mobile travel guides available, with over 800 cities in 200 countries listed. Each is developed by the City.Mobi team to combine into a single global travel directory.

However, each city retains its own mobile identity via a dedicated domain. Already on offer are Brussels.Mobi, Paris.Mobi, Sanfrancisco.Mobi and Sydney.Mobi.

AbuDhabi.mobi is the latest in this illustrious line up, offering click to call functionality – which means no scribbling down telephone numbers.

Most entries are also linked to websites where users can quickly access more detailed information if needed.

Other key features include information on accommodation, restaurants, attractions, entertainment, nightlife, shopping, and transport.

City.Mobi guides include user reviews and traveller utilities such as a translation guide, currency converter, news and local weather guide.