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Running a globally successful cookware brand means, at least for Shiza Shahid, learning how to create a sense of home wherever work takes you.
“A great hotel is so important,” Shahid says. “Beautiful design elevates the senses. It makes you feel happier and calmer. A little luxury for yourself, a nice cup of tea, a beautiful bath, beautiful linens, it really does impact your mood.”
For the past 15 years, Shahid has been travelling pretty much non-stop. After graduating from Stanford University, a job with management consultancy McKinsey & Company, in its Dubai office, took her around the Middle East. Then, The Malala Fund, which she co-founded in 2012 with her friend Malala Yousafzai, gave her a globe-crossing itinerary of public speaking and other philanthropic engagements. And, since 2019, there’s been her “mission-driven” cookware company Our Place, famous for its pastel-perfect Always Pan.
“We always knew we were going to be a global brand, it wasn’t an afterthought,” Shahid says. “As a result, I’m travelling every two weeks or so. I feel very lucky, I learn so much when I travel. I feel energised. But of course it can also be tiring, and lonely. That’s why having the right structure around you is so important.”
Historically, business hotels were a separate category of bland, functional accommodation, focused more on convenience than luxury. But as ways of working evolve, the line between business and pleasure is dissolving. Today, a work trip can also become an opportunity for indulgence.
When we speak to Shahid, she’s preparing to fly to London for the Bazaar At Work Summit. This year, the summit is presented in partnership with One&Only One Za’abeel in Dubai, the first-ever “vertical urban resort” from ultra-luxury hospitality brand One&Only.
In a city renowned for its architecture, One Za’abeel cuts a fascinating figure. Designed by world-renowned architects Nikken Sekkei, One Za’abeel’s dual skyscrapers are connected by the world’s longest cantilever, The Link, a futuristic boulevard floating 100 metres above the city. Inside, the resort is a private enclave for both the city’s tastemakers and discerning international guests. Elegant interiors designed by Jean-Michel Gathy are inspired by Dubai’s sand dunes. The resort invites guests to connect with Dubai’s dynamic culture and art scenes through a suite of carefully-curated experiences, from bespoke desert adventures to after-hours tours of cutting-edge galleries.
When planning a trip, Shahid will try to select a flight that arrives in the morning, and give herself the first day to “work through jetlag” with a full schedule of relatively low-stakes engagements.
“I’ll try to be kind to myself around food and caffeine,” she says. “I like to have some nice skincare with me. Often I’m quite puffy after getting off the flight, so I’ll do some lymphatic drainage on my face with a gua sha, along with some hydrating products.”
“Location matters a lot” when selecting a hotel, she says. “Travel is such a gift. So if you can, build in a few hours to experience the city. I think that’s really important. You want to be able to walk out and be in a part of the city that energises you. You want to be able to grab a delicious meal or shop. You don’t want to be in a car all day going to 10 different places for meeting. If it’s a great location, you can tell everyone to meet you at your hotel lobby.”
It’s also vital for Shahid that while working away, she’s able to “give back to [her] body, because you are taking from it”. As she explains: “Being able to squeeze in a massage at the spa or a yoga session at the gym can really give you that sense of calm and focus and bring you into the present moment.”
These are all boxes ticked by One&Only One Za’abeel, of course. When it opens in January 2024, guests will find themselves immersed in a world of fashion, the arts, fine dining and restorative experiences. The Link is set to become a captivating culinary and lifestyle destination in Dubai, with an evocative collection of restaurants by Michelin-listed chefs; the city’s most glamorous new pool club, Tapasake; and a dazzling new nightlife venue with an A-list aura, Sphere. On the other end of the spectrum, One&Only One Za’abeel’s three-storey spa is set to redefine Dubai’s wellness scene, offering bespoke wellbeing therapies as well as a state-of-the-art fitness studio.
The resort’s prime urban location means guests are within easy reach of Dubai’s many cultural hubs. Downtown Dubai can be reached in about 15 minutes, and is home to Dubai Mall, a personal favourite of Shahid’s. Opposite it is the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. Shahid recommends dining at its top.
“I also love going to Old Souk and Souk Madinat,” she says. “They’re designed in the old Dubai Emirati style, you really feel like you’ve been transported back in time. I love the beaches in Duabi, and there’s also beautiful desert, where the sand feels like silk. But what’s really special about Dubai is the people, how international it is. It’s a really special feeling.”
Be one of the first stay at One&Only’s first urban resort, One&Only One Za’abeel. Book your stay now
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