FEATURE ABU DHABI
carrier Etihad Airways on a major
sales programme for 2011 – Essential Abu Dhabi. This programme provides agents and customers flying Etihad with access to a wide range of special deals and exciting value adds in Abu Dhabi for accommodation, meals, attractions and experiences.
From The Front Line SHAMIRA KAUMAYA- HATT, commercial director, Sunset Faraway Holidays “Today more and more
visitors are experiencing the magic and uniqueness of Abu Dhabi. “The destination is steeped with ancient
culture and heritage strong traditions of desert hospitality and the people are just so friendly and genuinely warm in their hospitality to visitors. “Abu Dhabi offers a distinct blend of
East and West for all discerning travellers, whether it’s those seeking a relaxing getaway or an action-packed adventure break. There is a great magic about the destination and Sunset believes that whilst other destinations in the UAE are becoming saturated Abu Dhabi still offers a great mixture of beach and desert with great value for money.”
JULIANNE HOWARTH product manager Seasons “Abu Dhabi sells
reasonably well for us as a
winter sun destination, but also for family travel during school holidays. “The hotels that sell well for us at the
moment are the Emirates Palace, and Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara. “We’re currently looking at new hotel
products such as Rocco Forte, St Regis and Banyan Tree as potential for the new 2012 brochure. “I predict a really big year of growth
ahead for Abu Dhabi, with the F1 particularly being an important attraction towards the end of the year.”
TAHIR BHIMANI director, Abu Dhabi Travel Centre “Abu Dhabi [has] some of the best shopping in the UAE, a wide range of luxury hotels, great nightlife and many cultural and ecological attractions. “More Brits than ever are discovering
its charms having already visited Dubai and the Emirate is aiming for over two million visitors by 2012. “Future attractions such as the
Guggenheim Abu Dhabi and Louvre Abu Dhabi are going to place the destination firmly on the cultural travellers' map.”
DAVE ARCHER specialist travel consultant, Robert Broad Travel “I have always liked Abu
Dhabi and much prefer it to Dubai, although I get the impression it is still trying to play catch up with Dubai. The last holiday I sold there was to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this coming November. “I find the destination easy enough
to sell, having been involved in travel to the area for many years. “Clients who would be interested
are likely to have been to Dubai, stayed in good hotels and looking for something similar.”
ALEX LOIZOU The Private Travel Company “We feature a few of the
higher-end hotels in Abu Dhabi and they’re selling really well for us. "The Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri
and Emirates Palace are both fabulous properties, perfect as either a stopover or as a base to explore the city, with Shangri- La being closer to the airport and Emirates Palace nearer to the city centre. "Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by
Anantara is a wonderfully tranquil and atmospheric destination in its own right and as it’s only an hour away from Abu Dhabi city it makes for a perfect twin- centre combination. "It’s no wonder Abu Dhabi is growing in popularity as hospitality and traditional values await in abundance in this extraordinarily successful city, which has fully embraced the modern world whilst remaining as true as possible to its ancient culture and customs.”
Where To Book It ITC CLASSICS – 01244 355 527
www.itcclassics.co.uk The operator has four nights at The Emirates Palace, priced from £1,185pp, based on two adults sharing a Coral room. This includes breakfast and economy flights with British Airways from London- Heathrow, and private transfers. The package includes a stay four nights
and pay for three offer, a saving of up to £145pp. It is valid for travel completed by December 27 2011.
TRAVEL 2 – 0800 0224 182
www.travel2.com Five Nights at The Emirates Palace in a coral room on a B&B basis is from £929pp based on flights from London to Abu Dhabi with Qatar Airways. The price is for travel between July 1-July 16 2011.
SUNSET FARAWAY HOLIDAYS 020 8774 7100,
www.sunset.co.uk Five nights at the Intercontinental Abu Dhabi start from £859pp, in a deluxe room on a half-board basis. Flights are with Etihad from London-Heathrow. Private transfers are included for a deal that applies to travel between May 26-September 3 2011. Agents should also ask the operator – or contact the hotel direct – to take advantage of the current stay five nights but pay for four special offer.
Who Flies There? DIRECT FLIGHTS BMI - 0844 8484 888;
www.flybmi.com ETIHAD - 0800 731 9384
www.etihadairways.com BRITISH AIRWAYS - 0844 493 0 787
www.ba.com
INDIRECT FLIGHTS: From Heathrow MALAYSIA AIRLINES -
www.malaysiaairlines.com EGYPT AIR -
www.egyptair.com GULF AIR -
www.gulfair.com AIR INDIA -
www.airindia.com JAT AIRWAYS -
www.jat.com TURKISH AIRLINES -
www.turkishairlines.com MEA -
www.mea.com/lb From Gatwick QATAR AIRWAYS -
www.qatarairways.com ROYAL AIR MAROC -
www.royalairmaroc.com From London City: LUFTHANSA - www/
lufthansa.com From Paris: AIR FRANCE -
www.airfrance.com also has twice daily flights, via its hub at Charles de Gaulle Airport. •
UP CLOSE & PERSONAL
BY ADAM COULTER "I first visited Abu Dhabi about 20 years ago, when most people who lived in Dubai dismissed it as the dull neighbour. Back then it had a handful of hotels, no nightlife to speak of and no restaurants outside of the hotels. Fast forward to 2007 when I first visited
the Emirates Palace and the changes were very noticeable, starting with the hotel, a message to the world which said: 'We can compete with the best of them'. Nothing – not even in Dubai – had been
built on this scale before, and today the hotel is a huge draw for tourists. Now in 2011, following the launch of F1
and Ferrari World, the emirate is really about to step into the big time with the opening of two world-class museums: the Guggenheim and the Louvre, as well as a whole raft of top class hotels. No one can dismiss Abu Dhabi as the dull neighbour today!"
One of Abu Dhabi's white-sand beaches
www.sellinglonghaul.com • April 2011 55
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