Tag Archives: exclusive
Etihad Travel Mall unveiled in Dubai
Bosses at one of the world's leading airlines have launched a brand new one-stop travel retail and check-in facility in Dubai.The Eithad Travel Mall opened yesterday (April 18th) and it will give people the chance to book a flight ticket, drop off their baggage and then board a luxury coach to Abu Dhabi International Airport. This new state-of-the-art facility will replace the firm's previous complex at Chelsea Tower on Sheikh Zayed Road.Both Abu Dhabi and Dubai have become popular destinations among tourists and businesspeople and it is encouraging to see stronger transport links being established between the two emirates.His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of the Dubai Aviation Authority and Emirates Group, opened the Etihad Travel Mall during a ceremony laid on by Etihad Airways president and chief executive officer James Hogan.Mr Hogan said that as the company approaches its tenth anniversary, the future looks really bright.”Etihad Airways is set on a trajectory to go farther and to also become the world's best travel company,” he remarked.”This new facility is a demonstration of our commitment to our guests within our home market, offering a more comprehensive service with a complete one-stop location for all of their travel needs.”Etihad continues to add services from the UAE and earlier this week it confirmed that a new route between Abu Dhabi and Belgrade in Serbia would start in June 2013.These are exciting times for the country's aviation sector and Dubai International Airport's growth has been particularly impressive.It was recently declared the world-leading hub for Airbus A380 aircraft, with 7,259 scheduled double-decker flights taking off to 28 different destinations in 2012.The airport has also become the second-busiest on the planet, as more than 57.6 million passengers passed through the complex last year.Plans are now in place to significantly increase the capacity of the airport and there is every chance it will be the world's most-used aviation hub in the next few years. Continue reading
Lionel Richie expected to visit Dubai
Popular US singer/songwriter Lionel Richie is expected to make a guest appearance at a prestigious polo tournament in Dubai this weekend (April 19th and 20th).The artist – who is famous all around the world for his soulful tunes – is on the VIP list for the Julius Baer Beach Polo Cup, which will be held at the Mina A' Salam Hotel, tabloid! reports.Luxury car maker Aston Martin has invited the 63-year-old to the two-day event and he will see four teams battle it out on a specially laid out sand pitch.The competition is returning to the emirate following a six-year hiatus and judging by the guest list, it is already shaping up to be a momentous occasion.”Lionel Richie has confirmed his presence at the second day of the polo tournament [on Saturday],” Gabriela Katiela from Mamemo Productions was quoted as saying.”As a guest of Aston Martin he has promised to be involved in some sort of activity during his presence at the final.”Richie first shot to fame in the late 1960s, as his band the Commodores took the US by storm.However, his big break came in 1982 when his first solo album shot to the top of the music charts.He has gone on to become one of the most sought after performers on the planet and tunes such as Say You, Say Me, Hello and Dancing on the Ceiling are still played today.Richie is not the only famous face expected to turn up at the polo tournament this week, as UAE sporting ambassador Diego Maradona and chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority Shaikh Majid Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum have also been invited.Representatives of Julius Baer believe there is always something special about sporting events that are held in this part of the Middle East.”The tournament is characterised by the unique atmosphere of a beach in Dubai where local as well as international polo players compete for the coveted trophy,” the organisation stated. Continue reading
First Four Seasons hotel to open in Dubai
There is certainly no shortage of luxury hotels in Dubai and it looks like yet another glamorous resort is set to open its doors within the next year or so.Leaders of the high-end Four Seasons chain have confirmed that work on a brand new site in the plush Jumeirah Beach area is ongoing.If all goes to plan, the 237-room complex will be launched in the fourth quarter of 2014 and there is a chance that the company will erect a second hotel in the emirate shortly after this one is completed.According to AMEinfo, Four Seasons president of hotel operations in Europe, Middle East and Africa Christopher Norton is not concerned about the strength of competition in the hotel sector and he feels the Four Seasons Resort Dubai will perform well, mainly because of its prime location.Indeed, he is expecting occupancy rates to reach the 80 per cent mark within the first 18 months of operation.”We have a great advantage because we enter the market as an established luxury brand. Also, we have one of the best marketing and PR organisations in the world, so as a truly global brand we can turn on a lot of the distribution channels that we know and control,” Mr Norton was quoted as saying.The hotel will offer 270 metres of beachfront and guests can choose to stay in one of 49 suites. The complex will also boast outdoor pools, a private beach club, tennis courts, a spa and three restaurants.Dubai hoteliers have been inundated with bookings in the past year and this high demand has enabled them to increase their room rates.This is despite the fact that more and more luxurious resorts are opening all the time.Earlier this month, staff at the swanky Ritz-Carlton facility celebrated the launch of the new Shorooq wing, which includes 148 guest rooms and two royal suites.The Ritz-Carlton is another hotel that benefits from being located along the city's stunning beachfront. Continue reading
