FEATURE ABU DHABI
ATTRACTION WORLD – 0871 700 8888
www.attractionworld.com Attraction World is now selling tickets for Abu Dhabi’s hop-on, hop-off Big Bus Tour, which takes in the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, market, Yas Island and the Sky Tower at Marina Mall. The price is £35 per adult and £17 per child.
Tourism Talk
NABEEL AL ZAROUNI UK Country Manager, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority
“The UK remains Abu Dhabi’s leading
international market. In the first two months of this year 21,960 Britons stayed in Abu Dhabi’s 127 hotels, hotel apartments and
resorts, that's a 7% year-on- year increase.
“These visitors accounted for 105,274
guest nights, a 1% rise on the comparative months in 2011. “More luxury five-star hotels and
resorts are opening in 2012, while Abu Dhabi’s expanding choice of events – including the F1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix and Abu Dhabi Art, both of which take place in November – will help us reach our 2012 annual hotel guest target of 2.3 million, which is 200,000 more visitors than we achieved last year. “This year, we will be working with
our key trade partners to boost destination training and fam trip opportunities – it's important the trade keeps pace with all of Abu Dhabi’s new hotels and attraction openings. “More package holidays and dynamically packaged offers are among our key targets, and we’ll liaise closely with operators to deliver this product, and so give travel agents yet more product choice.”
From the Front Line SARAH BECKWITH
Marketing Manager for Middle East, Kuoni “The Emirates Palace is
our top performer for 2012, which is featured in our World Class brochure. Shangri-La Abu Dhabi is also popular and Le Meridien Abu Dhabi, added last year, is selling well for 2012, particularly as it has numerous dining options. Culturally, there is a lot going on and Abu Dhabi is definitely the one to watch in the region.”
MALCOLM DAVIES Product Manager, Funway Holidays "This is our second year
of featuring Abu Dhabi. We do a lot of multi-centres as well as stopovers. The majority of our sales tend to be in the higher-end properties; the Shangri-La Abu Dhabi sells well. Compared to Dubai, Abu Dhabi is more cultured and is suited to the more experienced, more sophisticated traveller.”
NIKKI HAIN Product Manager, Premier Holidays “With the recent
coverage of the England cricket team’s matches against Pakistan, and the on-going focus on Formula One, the awareness of Abu Dhabi and the perception of what the destination has to offer is growing. Boasting year-round sunshine and a host of sporting events such as tennis, golf and cricket, Abu Dhabi is ideal for a spring break”.
LEON BROOKER Travel Consultant, Tropical Sky “I was in Abu Dhabi at
New Year and it’s a very new, clean destination with hotels of a fantastic standard. The beaches are good, however, other than the shopping, there isn’t much else to do and I would suggest visiting for no more than three days. We get a few enquiries for Abu Dhabi, but it is not on most people’s radar yet.”
ABU DHABI Top Selling Tips...
• Put them on course… “Abu Dhabi Golf Club, which opened in 2005, is already established as among the world’s best and is probably the Middle East’s finest”
JULIANNE HOWARTH Senior Product Manager, Seasons
• Hit the road… “Taxis are extremely cheap, so there is no excuse not to get out and explore. For example, from Saadiyat Island to the marina (about 20 minutes), the fare will be about £5.50”
GILL O’SULLIVAN Senior Travel Consultant, Joe Walsh Tours
• Tell them to get on a bike… “Hire a bike and ride along Abu Dhabi’s six-km-long Corniche, dotted with inexpensive cafes, parks, greenery, fountains and a public beach which achieved Blue Flag status last year”
LISA JAMES Travel Writer
• If they can’t stand the heat… “Step away from the blistering heat and take to the ice at the Abu Dhabi Ice Rink, right in the middle of the desert.”
JULIANNE HOWARTH Senior Product Manager, Seasons
Room Report Rotana will open three hotels in Abu Dhabi’s Capital Centre. The 300-room Capital Centre Rotana and the 200- room Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana, are both four-star properties, while the 300-room Centro Capital Centre is Rotana’s budget brand. Sofitel has opened its first property
in Abu Dhabi, the Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche; the luxury 189-room Hyatt Capital Gate has opened next to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, while Anantara will open its third Abu Dhabi hotel, the Eastern Mangroves Hotel and Spa by Anantara in June. A five-star, 34-storey, Rosewood Abu Dhabi will open in autumn 2012 on Sowwah Island, the core of Abu Dhabi’s new Central Business District. Next year, Nurai, a Per AQUUM retreat will be opening on Nurai island, a private island just off the coast of Abu Dhabi, a five-minute helicopter ride away.
Where To Book It SILVERSEA – 0844 770 9030
www.silversea.com
Silversea Cruises’ seven-night round-trip Dubai cruise on Silver Wind includes a full day in Abu Dhabi, before carrying on to Kuwait City; Al Manamah; Doha in Qatar and Khasab in Oman. The cruise, in November, costs £3,100pp in a vista suite and £7,199pp in a silver suite. Flights are extra.
Above: The sun sets over the beach in Abu Dhabi. Several of the emirate's leading hotels have direct beachfront access.
www.sellinglonghaul.com • May 2012 25
Selling Tip
"Motor racing and theme park fans want to build Abu Dhabi holidays around visits to Ferrari World"
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68