Travel Agent - April 14, 2008 - (Page 25)

TO MEET THE NEEDS OF TRAVELERS, Dubai International Airport will increase its capacity to more than 70 million people by year’s end and to over 210 million by 2010. By 2009, the new Dubai Metro will be up and running as well. It will be the longest, fully automated rail system in the world and will connect the three man-made Palm Islands (dubbed the eighth wonder of the world) to the mainland. Currently, the new Gateway Bridge and Monorail provide access to the officially opened Palm Jumeirah island, comprised of residences, hotels, marinas, shops and restaurants. The water-themed Atlantis (www. atlantisthepalm.com), one of the island’s 25 hotels, will welcome its first guests this September, followed by Mövenpick’s Royal Amwaj (www. moevenpicks-hotels.com). By the end of 2009, hotels from the likes of One&Only, Fairmont, Trump, Kempinski and W will nearly all be ready for sleepovers. After a total refurbishment, the QE2 will be open on Palm Jumeirah as a posh hotel in 2009 as well, and Cirque du Soleil will begin performing in 2010 in a custom-built 1,800-seat theater. Not surprisingly, there are currently dozens of best-to-book hotels everywhere you look—mainly in and around Sheikh Zayed Road—and scads more are on the way. The Raffles Dubai (http://dubai.raffles.com) opened this past October and Emirates Hotels and Resorts’ The Harbour Hotel LEFT: The Park Hyatt Dubai is adjacent to the world-famous Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club and minutes away from the city center ABOVE: A suite at the Park Hyatt Dubai has a balcony overlooking the harbor and the city skyline and Residence (www.emirateshotelsresorts.com/the-harbour/en) in the Dubai Marina is in the midst of a soft opening. The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina (www.starwoodhotels.com/westin) on Jumeirah Beach is now accepting reservations for arrivals beginning May 1, and the Armani Hotel Dubai (www.armanihotels.com), an Armani Hotels & Resorts property, will open in December inside what is now the tallest building in the world—the 150-story Burj Dubai on Sheikh Zayed Road. Off-Property Attractions Tax-free shopping ranges from souks (markets) to Saks Fifth Avenue to huge malls—including one with an indoor ski slope topped with real snow. Add Palm Jumeirah’s Golden Mile to the mix, with some 200 retailers—including the soon-to-open Barneys New York—and you can literally shop till you drop. Direct your bargain hunters to any number of the famous souks. The solid 24-carat baubles at the Gold Souk are pricey, but certainly less expensive than what you’d get in the U.S., and designer scents cost up to 50 percent less at the Perfume Souk. For saffron lovers, the finest quality can be had at a bargain price at the Spice Souk. (Note that the Souk Madinat Jumeirah—which sells everything from expensive rugs, saris and shawls to souvenirs—attracts lots of shoppers, but our insider found it quite touristy.) Another fun shopping experience is at Heritage Village. Close to the Dubai Creek area, it’s an interesting collection of potters, weavers, small shops and galleries selling very reasonably CONTINUED ON PAGE 26 April 14, 2008 TravelAgent | 25 http://www.emirateshotelsresorts.com/the-harbour/en http://www.starwoodhotels.com/westin http://www.armanihotels.com http://www.atlantisthepalm.com http://www.atlantisthepalm.com http://www.moevenpicks-hotels.com http://www.moevenpicks-hotels.com http://dubai.raffles.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Travel Agent - April 14, 2008

Travel Agent - April 14, 2008 Online Now Contents Contributors From the Editor From the Publisher Europe: The châteaux-hotels of the Dordogne and Quercy in France Middle East: Although Dubai is Expanding, it is not Bursting at the Seams Pacific/Asia: Pattaya is Southeast Asia’s Sunny Paradise Pacific/Asia Briefs Las Vegas: New York City Dining Comes to Sin City Hawaii: Accommodations in Hawaii for the Entire Family Central & South America: Cayo Espanto is the Private Island Resort for Clients to Get Away from it All Caribbean: Iberostar Property Opens in Rose Hall, Jamaica Running El Casino at the Sheraton Old San Juan Africa: Africa Travel Association’s 11th Annual Symposium Spotlight on the Djibouti Palace Kempinski Cruises: Experts Share Views on the Direction Cruise Pricing is Heading Cover Story: Home Counsel Car Rental: Vacation.com Joins with Hertz to Grow Car-Rental Sales Transportation Briefs Northeast USA: Brooklyn’s Hotel Le Bleu Agent Profile: Gary Mansour of Mansour Travel Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Violent Protests Halt Travel to Tibet Celebrating Company and Agency Innovations Sheraton Upgrades Brand through Renovations and Redesign Earning Opportunities and Agent Recognition In the Spotlight Editorial Index Advertising Index Classified Marketplace Trendwatch

Travel Agent - April 14, 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.