Prevue July-August 2017 - 66

Dubai
Over-the-top activities in a larger-than-life destination
[ON LOCATION] MELISSA BRYANT

W

hile models, celebrities, famous housewives and the
like revel in the lavish experiences and Insta-worthy
sights Dubai has to offer, the corporate crowd, too,
enjoys a wealth of luxurious meeting venues and
unique activities that make their trip to this emirate just as memorable.
"We pride ourselves on the uniqueness of Dubai and its one-ofa-kind features," says Issam Kazim, CEO at the Dubai Corporation
for Tourism and Commerce Marketing. "Where else can you
skydive over the world's largest man-made island with crystal
clear waters, ski indoors, then bask under the sun on the beach or
embrace the hustle and bustle of city life all in the same day?"

A FIRST-CLASS EXPERIENCE
Within the last half-century, Dubai transformed from a sleepy
fishing village to a desert metropolis, boasting man-made islands,
and a 5,400,000-sf mall with an aquarium, ice rink and theater.
Last December, we flew Emirates Airlines' new, daily nonstop
service out of Fort Lauderdale to the City of Gold for a taste of
what's offered to attendees. The Boeing-777 features an exemplary
Business Class cabin where each passenger receives a 78-inchlong lie-flat seat, 20-inch HD LCD screen and access to more than
2,500 channels of on-demand entertainment through the airline's
in-flight entertainment system.
"Dubai offers a variety of sights and attractions to meet the tastes
of business and leisure travelers alike," says Hubert Frach, divisional
senior VP of commercial operations, West Americas, Europe & Russian

66 | prevuemeetings.com

Federation, at Emirates. "It is known as a city of contrasts-from
futuristic architecture to vibrant traditional culture and diversity. And [it's]
a destination where you can check off top bucket list items, including
desert outings with sand surfing and dune buggy rides, views with
lunch at the tallest building in the world on the 123rd floor of the Burj
Khalifa, and even ski the slopes at the Mall of the Emirates."

STAR POWER
Dubai's diverse array of five-star accommodations means you
can focus less on the venue options and capabilities and more on
what your group truly desires out of their meeting. Consider the
One&Only Royal Mirage, which "offers a real sense of place [of
Arabia] and features unique venues with Arabesque architecture,
as well as natural light overlooking lushly landscaped gardens and
courtyards," says Alexandre Hulen, director of sales and marketing.
The property is set on 65 acres of private beachfront overlooking
Palm Island bay.
Speaking from experience, we suggest grabbing cocktails
at the chic, outdoor Jetty Lounge in The Palace-one of three
properties within the One&Only Royal Mirage. Not for the scant
opportunity to meet Matt Damon, who has made an appearance
at the understatedly elegant beach resort, but because this oasis
oozes luxury-from its abundant gardens and temperaturecontrolled pools down to its private beach.
"The resort is a great place to meet, and also enjoy
culinary offerings with restaurants featuring classic cuisines of
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue July-August 2017
