The Billion Pound Hotel, Channel 4 - TV review

It really seemed that Burj Al Arab's majesty had cast a sort of feudal spell over its workforce

Might I suggest hospitality workers in Channel 4's The Billion Pound Hotel as a fruitful area for study? It takes a peculiar sort of person indeed to derive such pleasure from indulging the whims of the super-rich, and yet here they all were, sighing with contentment at every new outrageous request.

For 15 years, the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab hotel, has been the international symbol of Dubai's transformation from small Gulf nation into luxury holiday destination. Guests who stay in one of its 202 grand suites can expect to experience decadence on an unparalleled scale. It makes Richard Branson's Necker Island, which was featured in its own documentary earlier this year, look like a grubby Blackpool B&B.

We met several members of staff, but there were no bored bellboys caught out chewing gum in the lift or maids furtively playing cards in the store room. Usually, you could put that down to a flattering edit, but here it really seemed that Burj Al Arab's majesty had cast a sort of feudal spell over its workforce.

Their pleasure is simply to serve this magical palace situated on a man-made island, afloat on the Persian Gulf. How would building manager Munir describe his relationship to the hotel? "You are asking Romeo about Juliet, my dear! It is the nest of my soul."