destination reports: abu dhabi: It's boom time
It's boom time
There’s no doubt about it, Abu Dhabi is on the verge of an infrastructure explosion as literally dozens of projects that have been on the boil for many years are set to open in the fourth quarter of this year.
As you would expect, it is hotels, apartments, residences and other types of accommodation that dominate the agenda, which not only open up a vast range of new accommodation options, but meetings facilities and events spaces galore.
Several hotel brands will be making their debut in the UAE capital over the next few months. The Ritz- Carlton, Jumeirah, Sofitel, Rocco Forte and Westin, to name but a few – while Saadiyat Island is poised to celebrate the opening of its first two hotels; the Park Hyatt and the St Regis.
The first round of post-Ramadan openings is already upon us as many of the hotels in the pipeline used the Holy Month as an opportunity to train staff and refine their finishing touches before accepting guests through their doors in September.
But it’s not just hotels grabbing the attention of the buying community; several unique developments are also gracing the UAE’s capital with their presence.
For example, Abu Dhabi is also now home to a meeting professional's playground – the Al Forsan International Sports Resort – boasting an exciting range of sports activities, meeting facilities and dining options that have ‘book me’ written all over them.
Not only that but a brand new conference centre in the sublime location of Sir Bani Yas Island will be ready for business by the end of the year.
Desert Islands Conference Centre will be located next to the Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara and will be the island’s first and only centre to cater to larger groups (340 guests).
It will be complemented by new watersports and equestrian centres as well as more luxury island accommodation – Al Sahel Lodge by Anantara and Al Yamm Lodge by Anantara, both of which feature 30 villas.
Abu Dhabi also has an exciting line-up of events planned for the rest of the year and into 2012.
For starters, there’s the 2011 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit (November 11-13), plus other sporting events including the Mubadala World Tennis Championship (December 30 to January 1); the Volvo Ocean Race (January 1-14); the HSBC Abu Dhabi Golf Championship (in January), and big events lined up at Yas Links and Saadiyat Beach Golf Club in January.
With so many developments, events and hotels in the pipeline and new hotel rooms opening in Abu Dhabi hitting the 4,000 mark in 2011, the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) should have no problem in achieving its growth targets for the emirate.
ADTA projects a 15 percent increase in businessrelated visitors to the emirate this year rising by 200,000 on last year to 1.5 million — some 225,000 of which it believes will be attributed to meetings, incentives, conventions and exhibitions.
Here, meetme takes a look at some of the major projects opening over the next few months that you should know about.
SIR BANI YAS ISLAND
Desert Islands Conference Centre will be adjacent to the Desert Islands Resort & Spa byAnantara on the north side of the island, between Anantara Spa and the Water Sport Centre. With capacity for 340 guests, the centre will be the island’s first and only venue to accommodate larger groups.
Sir Bani Yas Island is perfect for meetings, team-building activities, seminars and corporate events in natural surroundings.
Al Yamm & Al Sahel Lodges by Anantara
The two lodges, comprising luxurious villas, join Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara to provide three unique experiences in one single destination, with guests provided with access to all of the resort’s facilities.
Also opening this year:
• Desert Islands Water Sport Centre
• Sir Bani Yas Equestrian Centre
• Sir Bani Yas Stables
Al Forsan International Sports Resort
Al Forsan International Sports Resort is the first facility of its kind in the UAE and the Middle East. Located at Khalifa City, the resort not only aims to become recognised as a world-class sporting and leisure destination for local and international sporting professionals, individuals, families and companies, but the regional hub of corporate events and team-building exercises. Al Forsan showcases five world-class sports that cater to all abilities, from novices to professionals. Facilities include a shooting area, watersports area featuring the first cable ski lakes in the Middle East, an equestrian centre, motorsports and themed indoor air-conditioned paintball fields. Additional facilities include a full-size football pitch, tennis courts and basketball and volleyball courts. The sports resort caters to meetings, conferences, incentives, team-building events, gala dinners and corporate gatherings with a number of meeting spaces equipped with high-tech audio visual facilities. It offers:
• A conference centre
• A ballroom seating up to 200 people
• Meeting rooms for up to 30 people
• ‘Unique’ outdoor function spaces including a full-size polo field
• Team-building events
• Hosts sports events like the GCC ladies air pistol competition
Premier Inn Abu Dhabi Capital Centre
Premier Inn Abu Dhabi Capital Centre will be the first internationally-branded budget hotel on Abu Dhabi island. Immediately adjacent to ADNEC and convenient for Zayed Sports City and Abu Dhabi International Airport, the hotel offers high standards of service, comfortable rooms and exciting food and beverage options. It features:
• 242 rooms with en-suites
• A restaurant, cocktail bar, Costa Coffee shop and poolside dining
• Swimming pool, Whirlpool spa and gym
• Four meeting/training rooms
• Business centre
• Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel
Eastern Mangroves Resort and Spa by Anantara
The resort, due to open late 2011/early 2012, will occupy a prime position along a 1.2-kilometre stretch of Abu Dhabi’s protected Eastern Mangroves District, situated just 15 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport. It is part of an integrated hotel, marina, retail and residential destination. It features:
• 224 hotel rooms and suites across five levels
• Three themed food and beverage outlets
• Spa with hammam, gym and infinity pool
• A ballroom with state-of-the-art conference facilities
Hyatt Capital Gate
This property, which is due to open any day now, will tower 160 metres above the ground and lean a staggering 18 degrees above Abu Dhabi. It is part of the new iconic Capital Gate building – an architectural wonder that is set to become one of Abu Dhabi’s landmarks, overlooking the city’s coastline as well as the mangroves, Saadiyat Island and downtown. It features:
• 189 rooms
• Connected to Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre
• The Lounge on the 18th floor
• The hotel’s signature restaurant 18°
• Outdoor spa and pool on the 19th floor
• Gourmet food market - The Food Emporium
• Prive bar and lounge
• Four ‘Salons’/meeting rooms opposite Prive
Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel and Villas
This waterfront property will be one of the first to open on Saadiyat Island and will neighbour the Gary Player-designed Saadiyat Beach Golf Club. If features:
• 306 rooms, suites and villas.
• All villas, beach suites and garden suites have private open-air jet pools
• ‘The Residence’ – Abu Dhabi’s first residentialstyle, multifunctional event facility for exclusive business and social gatherings making guests feel as if they were in their own home (up to 200 guests)
• Four swimming pools, fitness facilities and tennis courts
• Atarmia Spa with nine treatment rooms
• Four restaurants and bars including rooftop event space, The Beach House
• 11 meeting rooms
• A 523-square-metre ballroom (for up to 600 people) dividable into three separate soundproof sections, and two meeting rooms for up to 100 guests
Jumeirah at Etihad Towers
Another iconic development comprising five towers on the beachfront in the Ras Al Akhdar area, on the West Corniche of Abu Dhabi. One tower is the 280-metre Jumeirah at Etihad Towers hotel, another is a prestigious office tower with 46,000 square metres of leasable office space and an observation deck, and three towers house 885 apartments. A connecting four-level Podium will feature contemporary restaurants and more than 30 premium boutiques. Jumeirah at Etihad Towers features:
• 382 guest rooms and suites and 199 serviced residences
• Club Executive Lounge on level 45
• 12 restaurants, bars and lounges
• A private beach
• Talise Spa, pool and health club
• A purpose-built conference centre on Podium Level 4, which is one of Abu Dhabi’s largest
• 13 meeting rooms
• The Mezzoon ballroom, which can accommodate up to 1,400 guests for a conference or 1,000 guests for dinner and can be divided into four separate sections
• Pre-function areas, a green room and business centre facilities
• Unique ballroom concept: a special service elevator with the capacity to lift cars
The Westin Abu Dhabi Golf Resort & Spa
The Westin claims to be the ‘hospitality heart’ of the Abu Dhabi Golf Club — a 27-hole course that hosts the PGA European Tour Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. It is designed as a global retreat with all rooms boasting views of the greens. It features:
• 172 rooms
• A spa with six treatment rooms
• Six F&B outlets plus a ‘Superfoods’ menu
• 1,200 square metres of meeting space, including three ballrooms, four conference rooms, a pre-function gallery and a garden terrace for outdoor coffee breaks
• All meeting facilities feature high-speed wireless internet access and the latest in A/V equipment
Meetings at sea
History will be made this winter when MSC Cruises homeports MSC Lirica out of Abu Dhabi – marking a debut season for both the cruise line and the emirate.
The ship will run 19 seven-night Gulf cruises taking in Dubai, Muscat, Fujairah and Khasab, with departures from Abu Dhabi every Sunday from October 30 to March 4 offering plenty of opportunities for meetings or events at sea. MSC Lirica has the capacity for 2,069 guests in 780 cabins and offers meeting rooms, events space as well as the Broadway Theatre.
Ferrari World
As the largest indoor theme park in the world, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is proving a hit with the meetings, incentives, conferences and events market.
Earlier this year, electronics giant LG hired out the entire facility for a product launch plus the Cinema Maranello is the theatre of choice for corporate presentations thanks to its giant HD screen – the largest in the UAE.
The venue is also perfect for corporate team building as its various attractions are designed to test individual skills and pitch groups against one another in a competitive environment. State-of-the-art racing simulators such as Scuderia Challenge see multiple racers competing in a virtual environment, while quiz-based challenges such as Pit Wall test strategic racing skills.
Other unique attractions include the world’s fastest rollercoaster, Formula Rossa, which catapults passengers to 240km/h and hits 4.8Gs.
ADNEC check-in
Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) and Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company have opened Abu Dhabi International Airport Expo check-in at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), capable of handling both passenger and full baggage check-in.
The Expo Check-In already caters to passengers of Etihad Airways, Gulf Air, Egypt Air, Air India, Air India Express, Pakistan International Airlines, Sudan Airways and Jet Airways, with more airlines added by the end of the year.
Passengers can book their Golden Class services from this new facility plus storage for hand and other luggage is provided. The check-in counters are located on the ground floor of the exhibition centre near Abu Dhabi Hall with passengers able to book in between four and 24 hours prior to departure.
