ABT-ACTE Russia Educational session: Dubai, a fairy-tale that never ends!
Dubai, the city that never stops surprising, delighting and bringing joy, and that is so popular with business meeting and event organizers, was the topic of ABT-ACTE Russia Educational session that took place in restaurant bar «Prozhektor» on June 18. «We have decided to take a creative approach to choosing the venue for our event, because we are speaking about Dubai, a fantastic city! And the restaurant has let us create the necessary atmosphere. Here hotel representatives, representatives of flagship airlines of the emirate could speak about the most modern and the most fascinating ideas for gala dinners, teambuilding, conferences and congresses». Partners of the seminar were Kerzner International, Jumeirah Group, JA Resorts & Hotels, flydubai, Emirates, ART-Tour. The sponsor of the event is Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing. Head of its Moscow office Sergey Kanaev was the first to take the floor.
The expert emphasized calm and cozy atmosphere all the guests of the city find themselves in: «Despite the local colour of the city that is inhabited by more than 200 nationalities, you feel very comfortable. Dubai inhabitants are very friendly, and it is a very important feature of the emirate. As you know, there are two words in the English language — safety and security. Here it is rather safety, because all the problems a traveller may have are already solved».
Dubai has a strategically good location, Mr Kanaev notes. It is equidistant from many important markets. It will take you about 8 hours by plane to get to the city from most countries. A flight from the majority of countries of Europe, Russia, Africa and Asia takes not more than 4-5 hours.
The emirate stretches along the Gulf, its radius does not exceed 35 kilometres. But at the same time lots of leisure and business facilities are concentrated there. The infrastructure is very compact and modern, but exclusive at the same time. «You know that Dubai hotels are real architectural masterpieces in the field of hospitality. Even a taxi ride is a kind of a city tour!» the expert said.
English is spoken almost everywhere in the city, this language is also used for business communication. You can meet Russian speaking people more and more often lately — in the hospitality industry, malls, as well as in offices.
Mr Kanaev drew attention of the participants to the fact that many people think emirate’s main income comes from oil, but is not true. At the moment it accounts for less than 3% of emirate’s revenues. Tourism has come to the fore: «Direct receipts from it account for 30%, indirect ones (the amount we spend in shops, restaurants, taxis) may reach 50% of the gross domestic product».
Dubai offers virtually fantastic MICE facilities. One of the special venues, Bateaux Dubai, is a roofed floating restaurant that makes a night tour of the Dubai Bay. «To see the emirate from water is a splendid sight», the speaker added.
The project that is to be completed next year is Dubai Opera. The venue is expected to become not only a place for musical performances, but also for top events.
You can fascinate your partners or colleagues with an excursion around the Gold Market — there are several hundred shops with gold and diamonds. Besides, if you decide to buy something in Dubai, do not hesitate to bargain! This is the culture, the tradition of the Arabian people. «Just try buying something in Dubai without negotiating. The seller will take the money, put it into the cash register, shut it and turn his back to you. But if you agree on a 70% discount, he will run after you for two quarters saying „Come again!“. And be polite — it is a feature of the East. If you understand you can not buy something — stop in time and do it in the correct way».
You can also hold gastronomic tours in Dubai — almost all cuisines of the world can be found in local restaurants! For example, your schedule may include an Arabian breakfast, a Japanese lunch and an American steak for dinner. «It is absolutely clean everywhere, and there is no reason to doubt food freshness — you can hardly find as tight food quality control in Europe as it is in the UAE», Mr Kanaev ended his speech.
Moreover, a lunch is often not just food, but a real adventure! Thus, you can travel to the underwater kingdom in the restaurant of the luxurious hotel Burj Al Arab. «First you enter a cell that looks like a small submarine», Mr Kanaev says. «You take a seat, and a beautiful girl in captain’s uniform appears, she asks you to fasten your belts, gets behind the control desk, pulls levers, and everything around you starts bubbling, the lift starts moving somewhere... An illuminator opens and you understand that you are underwater and going somewhere! Some time later the submarine brings you to the restaurant. Of course, your trip is an illusion, but what a nice one!» And this is just a small example, the expert added. There are lots of such unusual restaurants in Dubai.
Anastasia Vorobyova from Honeywell told the participants about her experience in event arrangement in Dubai on the example of her company, that has been running successful business on the territory of the UAE for many years. «Every two years we participate in Dubai Airshow, where the most important contracts and agreements are signed, our corporate revenues are behind them, as you understand», the expert started.
In 2013 the Airshow was held in the exhibition centre of Dubai International airport from 17 till 21 of November. More than 1000 companies from 48 countries presented their products on the total area of more than 150 thousand sq. metres.
«A sand storm started on the first day of the show, and it lasted for two days», the expert recalls. «Everything looked like an apocalypse. It was decided to cancel the main performances planned for the Airshow opening. Unfortunately, it was impossible to predict the storm».
Anastasia advised her colleagues to bear in mind natural disasters like that that may happen in Dubai, although the weather is almost always sunny in the city. Sometimes it is even too hot — summer temperatures may reach +50 and more.
The speaker also gave her advice on catering: «Try not to order any chicken wings or other dishes cooked in oil. Your guests will be wearing business suits and it should be convenient for them to eat what you order». Other important things included Vip-passes to the parking for top managers: «Your boss will be disappointed to find out on the spot that he does not have such a pass».
Ms Vorobyova also gave some recommendations for organizers of small events including less than 50 participants. In such cases an organizational letter is usually sent to all the delegates of Honeywell, asking them to take the same flight, if it is possible, and to fill in their data into a standard table where the employee can indicate whether he needs a visa or not. The reason is that meeting participants are usually company representatives from different offices. By the way, visa issues are settled very quickly in the UAE, which is a definite plus of holding events in Dubai. You need a passport copy, your electronic traveller’s photo, a questionnaire with your credit card number. Visa turnaround time is 1-2 working days. Visitors from Europe and the USA do not need a visa.
As for entertainment activities, Honeywell does not hold corporate dinners during large events. Common practice is separate meetings with the main buyers in a good restaurant. «As a rule, our employees are invited to some official events, so we try to give them full freedom and not to occupy their evenings», Anastasia explained. But as for small meetings, entertainment facilities are infinite.
You should remember that the working week in Dubai starts on Sunday and ends on Thursday. Besides, it is a good practice to ask the hotel whether it has a spirits license. «But in general Dubai is a city with a high level of comfort, so I think you will not have any problems with event arrangement in the emirate, or they will be minimal», Anastasia agreed with the previous speaker.
ART-Tour has virtually no difficulties in Dubai — here the emirate is called «the second home». The agency has been in the Russian market for 23 years already, and has dealt with tours and event arrangement all the time — including this destination.
ART-Tour was one of the first companies in the market that concluded direct agreements with hotels. «At the moment we have about 100 direct agreements with hotels in the UAE, including Dubai, mainly 5* and 5* luxury categories», Inna Plotnikova, head of marketing and PR department says. «And it gives us a great competitive advantage compared to other DMCs. Moreover, our own host company has been working in the emirate for more than 3 years. It means, you can contact us in Moscow and book services directly in Dubai, where we have a large number of employees».
The procedure of visa procurement in ART-Tour is also simplified: a questionnaire is not necessary, you need only your foreign passport and a traveller’s photo. «You don’t need a credit card either», the expert stresses.
The agency is ready to share its experience in holding events for 15, 100, 500, 800, 1500 participants. «Everything depends on your budget and fantasy», Inna addressed the audience. The agency also has an excursions department with highly professional guides. «What is more important, our staff may be reached night and day, i.e. it is possible to call them, say, at 3 am and ask the way to the library, for example. And at the same time we ensure constant quality control: we always know the time the traveller called and what the guide answered, at what time the car arrived, what transfer it was. That is our service is tried and true».
Natalia Podturkina spoke about «the best hotel on the planet» — Burj Al Arab 5*, the flagship hotel of Jumeirah Group. The hotel rises above the Gulf, has its own helicopter pad and a park of white Rolls-Royces to meet vip customers. Personal stewards are available 24 hours a day, and all the rooms have two floors.
Apart from numerous restaurants, the hotel includes the famous Sky Bar hanging 200 metres above the sea level. Burj Al Arab banquet hall can accommodate up to 250 persons. «Here we hold official gala dinners, carnivals and New Year programs», Natalia said.
The special feature of Jumeirah Beach Hotel 5*, which is an equally luxurious hotel of this chain, is the largest aquapark slide in Dubai, 18 restaurants and bars. And here you should not exclude the beach and the garden as MICE venues. The banquet hall for 900 persons can be transformed into 7 rooms.
The favourite city of Russian customers, according to Ms Podturkina, is Madinat Jumeirah (the city on Jumeirah), that has celebrated its 10th anniversary this year. The complex includes 5* hotels Al Qasr, Mina A’ Salam and small villas at the seaside.
In Madinat the largest conference hall in Dubai is situated, that can hold up to 4,5 thousand guests. The resort also has its own theatre for 442 visitors where you can hold corporate events.
Jumeirah Emirates Towers 5* business hotel has the greatest facilities for events: more than 12 conference halls, and all of then are transformable. There is also a venue on the top floor, a restaurant with a view. The business centre works 24 hours a day: this is the central hotel of the city where, as you know, a large number of offices are concentrated.
Special mention should be made of Jumeirah Creekside 5* — it is an ultramodern hotel literally 5 minutes away from Dubai International airport, and has its own swimming pool on the roof. Here, apart from traditional conference halls, there are rooms with unusual facilities. «Thus, you have at your disposal white walls you can write on with a black marker, and you can use Play Station during the break in your talks. But I should notice, that the halls here are booked a year in advance, right because of their unusual concept!», Natalia notified the audience.
It is quite easy to get to the hotels, the expert notes; everything in the emirate is convenient and compact. «There is a shuttle cruising around our hotels that takes guests also to the Mall of The Emirates free of charge», Natalia added.
Daria Vereschaga, representative of Kerzner International Resorts that includes three brands — Atlantis, One&Only and Mazagan, spoke about MICE facilities of the resorts of her chain. «Five star resorts of all the three brands provide top services for leisure, as well as for business», Daria stressed.
If you are willing to hold a corporate event under the motto «Luxury, beauty and Arabian fairy-tale», you can consider visiting One&Only Royal Mirage. The resort has a territory of 26 hectares, which is a picturesque palm garden. Arabian Court, one of its three hotels, borders with an amphitheater that can be used for corporate events in the daytime, as well as in the evening.
Another gem of the Kerzner`s collection in Dubai is One&Only The Palm resort, that is, according to the expert, very popular with groups. «If you want to arrange an exquisite event and to observe privacy of your important guests at the same time, it is what you should choose», Ms Vereshaga notes.
Another complex in the portfolio of the company, Atlantis The Palm, is a real icon of modern Dubai you can hardly imagine the emirate without nowadays. It is a resort town with more than 1500 rooms. Room surface varies from 45 to 1000 sq. m. Atlantis The Palm can hold up to 5 thousand guests and offers 14 conference halls.
There is a water park on its territory — it is one of the largest in the Middle East and Europe. It is absolutely free of charge for the guests. «Here you can arrange fabulous teambuilding. Take a slide with your partners or colleagues and I assure you, all psychological barriers between you will be gone. You will be discussing your small adventure the whole evening!», Daria shared her idea with corporate buyers.
Atlantis The Palm is also an underwater kingdom. There is an aquarium with the capacity of 11 mln. cubic metres on the territory of the resort. Here you will find 65 thousand sea animals that have their own hospital, a birthing centre, and a personal separate chef. And you can see all this with your own eyes!
Victoria Chatulova, sales manager of JA Resorts@Hotels, on her part, invited seminar participants to JA Jebel Ali Golf Resort — a resort that includes two five star hotels — JA Palm Tree Court and JA Jebel Ali Beach Hotel. They are situated on the seaside next to the famous Palm Jumeirah. The trip from Dubai International airport takes approximately 45 minutes. Al Maktoum airport is right nearby. The resort territory is 52 hectares. «For the past two years our private beach that is 800 metres long received the prestigious Blue Flag Award twice — for us it is a quality indicator, a very prestigious award», Ms Chatulova stressed.
JA Jebel Ali Golf Resort offers its guests more than 50 types of entertainment, including helicopter tours, when you can enjoy bird’s eye panorama of the city, as well as golf, fishing, horse riding — there is a private stable with instructors on the territory of the resort. Let alone a pistol club and three football fields. The resort offers its guests 16 restaurants and bars. «Besides, we can provide free transfer to the malls and the water park Atlantis», Victoria added.
Transformable conference halls can hold up to 700 persons. «Their separate entrance is a great advantage — it lets business travellers not be disturbed», Ms Chatulova noted. You can hold events for 2000 participants on the top level here.
Representatives of Fly Dubai and Emirates spoke about the ways to get to the palm gardens, skyscrapers reaching blue sky and wide shores of the Gulf.
Alla Zarubina from Fly Dubai, the airline that started its first flights in 2009, stressed that despite the young age of the airline, the air carrier offers travellers comprehensive service: «Some people think that Fly Dubai —s a low cost airline. It is what we started from, probably, but the situation is far from it nowadays. Our planes consist of economy and business classes».
The average age of the planes is three years. After an aircraft was used for three years for flights to Moscow, for example, it is used for flights on mass destinations in Saudi Arabia for some time, after which it is written off, and a new one is purchased. «There are no planes older than five years in our aircraft fleet», Alla noted.
At the moment the destination network of the airline includes 88 cities in 42 countries. And according to the expert, it is just the beginning. As for Russia, the air carrier makes flights not only from Moscow, but also from the regions — Mineralnie Vody, Krasnodar, Ekaterinburg, Kazan, Samara, Ufa. «Starting from this autumn we are adding two more destinations — Novosibirsk and Nizhny Novgorod. You should take it into account, when you plan events your colleagues from the regions may participate in — it is very convenient», Ms Zarubina addressed the audience.
Andrey Efremov from Emirates focused on technical facilities that are available during the flight: for example, most aircrafts, including those that make flights to Moscow, offer Wi-Fi on board. AeroMobile option is also available for travellers (the service that makes it possible to use your mobile phone during the flight).
Full HD screens are installed in economy and business classes. «Besides, according to Skytrax, our entertainment system in Emirates airplanes is one of the best. It offers you an opportunity to watch good films and to listen to any kind of music», Mr Efremov specified.
Groups of travellers who travel with Emirates are seated in one certain part of the plane. «If your delegation includes more than 35 persons, we install a registration desk with your logo», Andrey says. "We can also greet the group on behalf of the cabin crew in languages you choose (in case your group is multinational).
The educational session ended with a traditional lottery, the main prizes of which were a certificate for a free flight Moscow-Dubai from Fly Dubai and a voucher from Jumeirah Beach Hotel. Olga Varlamova from ARMZ holding was the lucky one who would visit the dream city.
She promised to share her impressions of her trip next time!
Marina Osipova