venue profiles: hotel venues: MENA meetings with Fairmont
MENA meetings with Fairmont
We take a trip through the Middle East and North Africa, to discover the very best that Fairmont has to offer in some fabulous locations. But no matter where you take your group, expect the same level of Fairmont service, attention to detail and superior facilities – from rooms through to meeting space.
Africa
At Fairmont Zimbali Resort in South Africa, groups can get involved with the local Zulu village of Shakas Kraal. The resort partners with the community to create traditional Zulu beadwork for VIP amenity gifts and also to perform traditional dance, song and drumming for guests.
To help the village, the resort is building a corporate package where a small portion per group delegate will be put into a trust fund for building a church and community centre where residents can learn to make handicrafts and attain valuable trade skills.
For groups seeking an element of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Fairmont colleagues can arrange activities to paint the school, repair homes, plant seeds, teach a skill and more. The plethora of activities at the resort and in the surrounding KwaZulu-Natal region includes visiting thousand-year-old battlefields, renowned eco-parks, game drives and more.
Fairmont The Norfolk in Nairobi will be undergoing further refurbishments in its Acacia & Delamere wings this year, while still offering groups amazing access to the city’s treasures, including a giraffe centre and elephant orphanage.
Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, which was once the preferred retreat of William Holden and his celebrity entourage, will be working on new additions to the resort including a spa, gym, kid’s centre and treatment room.
Middle East
Located in the heart of the city, Makkah Clock Royal Tower, A Fairmont Hotel, is an ideal venue for any event with a function space larger than 3,200 square metres that can accommodate more than 1,500 guests, featuring eight state of the art meeting rooms and three ballrooms replete with a full-service business center and professional staff. Themed and customized catering options from restaurants serving all kinds of international cuisine provide the perfect accent for any event or a gathering.
The 33rd Floor Executive Conference Centre at the Fairmont Dubai is equipped to host a range of events from corporate meetings, cocktail receptions and private dinners, to product launches, press conferences and more. This facility offers 1,043 square metres of dedicated meeting and conference space and consists of 18 versatile rooms, some of which are illuminated by natural light with panoramic views of the city skyline. Activities steeped in local tradition range from desert safari excursions and camel rides, to boat trips along the Dubai Creek and outings on the pristine Jumeirah waterfront.
Blockbuster meetings are making a comeback, and planners are again looking to spend money on big events and top marque names that will make them stand out. Over-the-top offerings like the recent 4,000-square-foot outdoor cinema constructed at Fairmont Bab al Bahr for the Abu Dhabi Film Festival are part of the trend of events looking for the biggest and best offerings for guests. The hotel worked with Swiss OpenAir to create the world’s largest outdoor cinema, and it was a huge success. Beyond the Film Festival, it is a great option for meeting planners who want to blow away their attendees.
The hotel’s spacious 945 square metre ballroom is designed with comfort, flexibility and excellence in mind. An additional six meeting rooms are located on one level and, ranging in size from 22 square metres to 186 square metres, are able to accommodate events ranging from corporate meetings, cocktail receptions to full conventions.
Incentives can work with the hotel to arrange eco-tours of local mangrove forests or take advantage of the private beach. Home to Cairo’s largest banquet space, Fairmont Heliopolis & Towers hosts events and gatherings in elegance and style. Located just minutes away from Cairo International Airport, Fairmont Heliopolis & Towers features 835 elegant guest rooms, 16 innovative dining outlets and 6,400 square metres of versatile event space.
Named after ancient Egyptian precious stones and Red Sea treasures, the catering and conference facilities are by far the largest and best-equipped in Cairo. At more than 6,400 square metres, the facilities comprise three ballrooms, a theater and twelve smart rooms and more than 900 square metres of pre-function space. All can be configured to specific needs, while state-ofthe- art audio-visual equipment rentals, and a qualified sound and lighting technician, are available upon request.
Innovative, themed coffee breaks, meals and cocktail receptions ensure an air of unrivaled luxury in unforgettable settings. Whether it’s a small, intimate meeting or a reception for up to 2,500 (1,400 for banquet seating), the trained Conference Services and Catering Team will help create lifelong memories for delegates. Fairmont Heliopolis & Towers also provides full catering services beyond Cairo’s premises at the location of the client’s choice.
