Prevue March/April 2011 - (Page 74)

dubai the multi-culti middle east [on location] DaviD martin D ubai is one of seven emirates (states) that make up the United Arab Emirates, a cosmopolitan country actively engaged in MICE biz with the Western world. Abu Dhabi is the largest emirate and political capital. water skiing and sand skiing all in the same day,” says Jared Bachar, Director of the Dubai Convention Bureau. “The Mall of the Emirates boasts the largest indoor ski slope in the world with a capacity for 1,500 skiers at once.... We have a lot of cool tourism-related projects going on, projects that will keep Dubai on the tourist map for a long while.” And all of it is incredibly easy to access. Last year Dubai opened the Dubai Metro, the longest driverless train in the world. It’s an elevated link that connects most of downtown Dubai, including stops at the Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC), the Mall of the Emirates and about 10,000 hotel rooms. With three decades of experience, the DWTC hosts over 100 major exhibits per year, including dinners for 10,000 pax. “Everything works well here because we have been doing events for over 30 years,” says Karen Smith, Director of Int’l Sales for DWTC. “We have the whole package here. Dubai has a cando attitude. The government and the tourist department, we all work together here and we all think, Dubai first. The Middle East is changing and the Middle East is where people want to come and when they get here they say, ‘Wow.’” ARABIAN APLOMB The 160-room Armani Hotel Dubai opened last April in the Burj Khalifa building, the tallest freestanding structure in the world. The Armani experience is described as, “minimalist opulence,” which extends throughout the 450-seat ballroom, multiple meeting rooms and outdoor pavilion overlooking The Dubai Just 90 minutes away, Dubai is the business capital. Due to the region’s inclusive politics and citizenry consisting of over 200 nationalities, Dubai is fast becoming the de facto regional hub for corporate group meetings at the crossroads of three continents. National carriers Emirates and Etihad Airways are expanding their routes exponentially, with arrivals at Dubai International Airport in 2010 up 15% over ’09. For US delegates, there’s a spirit in the UAE that celebrates multiculturalism, the arts and an openness for sharing new ideas. For example, the new Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Louvre Abu Dhabi—the first extension of Paris’ famous museum—are scheduled to open on Saadiyat Island in 2013. “Emiratis are only 17 percent of the population in Dubai,” says Waleed Nabil, spokesperson for the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding, which provides tours for up to 130 people into the historic Bastakiya neighborhood. “We are used to mixing with foreigners for a long time now. Peace is always the first thing here, then economics, not politics.... [And] Dubai is always changing, every month you see new things.” How true. When you visit Dubai, you can’t help but be floored by all of the new, screamingly modern construction and variety of over-the-top group venues and experiences. “Dubai is the only place where you can go snow skiing, 74 | prevue magazine

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Prevue March/April 2011

The Westin Harbor Savannah
Omni Fort Worth
HelmsBriscoe/InterContinental
The Park Hotels, India
Palm Desert/Atlantic City/Asheville
Starwood Arizona
Return on Engagement
Marco Island Marriott, FL
InterContinental Paris/London
Las Vegas
Las Vegas Mettings by Caesars
Mandalay Bay _ MGM Resorts
Southern Finery
Caribbean
Puerto Rico
Barbados
Hard Rock Punta Cana
Pacific Mexico
Ireland
Dubai

Prevue March/April 2011