Dubai’s can-do approach and good value make it an ideal location for your events, says Michelle Mannion.
Dubai doesn’t understand the word “no”. So says Cathy Mead, director of corporate and MICE sales in the Gulf region for luxury hotel group Jumeirah, when she is asked why firms should hold their events there. It’s a sentiment echoed by everyone I meet in this corner of the UAE. Dubai has the kind of can-do approach that can make the seemingly impossible happen. Man-made islands in the shape of the world map? Check. Ability to ski on sand, sea and snow? Check. World-class meetings facilities? Check.
The emirate is a destination of choice for many event planners not only because of the recent boom in new facilities but because of its natural advantages. “Dubai is the best-placed city in the UAE,” says Frédéric Bardin, senior vice-president of Emirates-owned destination management company Arabian Adventures. “It’s 13 hours from Sydney and New York, and seven from Singapore and London.”
It’s well served by the airlines too – 120 of them fly in every week from 200 destinations. Add to that the hot climate, traditional Arabian hospitality, good infrastructure and high-quality accommodation and it’s easy to see why the emirate is attracting plenty of MICE trade.
The range of experiences available is also hard to beat. Programmes for incentive groups include scuba diving, paragliding, horse and camel riding, and skiing at one of the world’s largest indoor snow resorts, Ski Dubai. But it’s Dubai’s natural rather than artificial wonders that provide the most memorable activities. Desert driving is a speciality, and that can be followed by a meal under the stars.
Like so many places, Dubai is being hit by the global recession this year, which means there is extra value to be gained at the moment. It also means the meetings industry will be a key focus for hotels. “This year is all about MICE,” confirms Mead. And as more and more firms scale back on their events, hotels will be competing hard for business. That’s great for event organisers, but with so many properties the problem is deciding which to go for. To help you decide, here is a look at what the some of the biggest players are offering.
Madinat Jumeirah
Jumeirah’s sprawling Madinat Jumeirah complex (pictured left), on Jumeirah Beach, is like an Arabian miniature Venice, with its numerous buildings and gardens connected by tranquil waterways. Opened in 2004, it’s actually three properties in one – two hotels, Al Qasr and Mina A’ Salam, and Dar Al Masyaf, a collection of 29 luxury summer houses. In total, they comprise 867 rooms and suites.
The Madinat recently played host to the Dubai International Film Festival and boasts an impressive array of meetings facilities. The Madinat Conference Hall consists of the 1,880 sqm Joharah ballroom, which can hold up to 1,400 people theatre-style and breaks down into seven rooms; the Murjaan Ballroom, which can take up to 390 guests for a reception and splits into ten; and four meeting rooms. The Madinat Arena is a cavernous “black box” that can be set up however you want and holds up to 4,550 people. There’s also a 1,000-capacity amphitheatre and Fort Island, an outdoor function area in the centre of a lagoon, ideal for smaller parties for up to 180 guests.
As vast as the complex is, don’t expect to burn many calories getting from place to place – golf buggies and abras (water taxis) are on hand to whisk you around the resort and take you between its 44 restaurants and bars. Get round all those and you can assuage the guilt with a sunset yoga session on the beach – the iconic Burj Al Arab, visible to the left, provides a rather incongruous, if strangely comforting, backdrop to your stretches.
- Jumeirah Beach; tel +971 4366 8888; madinatjumeirah.com
The Monarch Dubai
Located at One Sheikh Zayed Road, the Monarch Dubai is ideal for those wanting to be in the thick of the business district. The 33-storey hotel opened in late 2007 and has 15 meeting rooms catering from four to 200 guests, while the grand 1,000 sqm Al Massa ballroom, accessed via a marble staircase, can host up to 800 for a reception. All feature state-of-the-art technology and a personal conference butler and team are on hand to help.
Health is also high on the agenda at the Monarch – its Quantum health club can provide five-minute health breaks during meetings, whereby a trainer will run participants through a series of stretches to get the blood flowing for the remainder of the session. Complementing this are the mini-massages offered during breaks by the hotel’s Balinese-concept Mandara spa.
- One Sheikh Zayed Road; tel +971 4501 8888; themonarchdubai.com
Al Bustan Rotana/ Al Murooj Rotana
Rotana’s Dubai empire now extends to ten hotels, with another two in development, and the Al Bustan and Al Murooj are particularly geared up for MICE events. Al Bustan, part of the Leading Hotels of the World umbrella, is located opposite Dubai International airport. The 275-room hotel opened in 1997 and was completely refurbished last year. Its meetings facilities include a plush, pillar-less ballroom that holds 1,500 guests and divides into three, and six other meeting rooms that can take up to 100 people each. It also has a health and fitness centre, spa facilities and three flood-lit tennis courts for after-hours matches.
Take a trip into the business district and you’ll find the stylish Al Murooj, situated off Sheikh Zayed Road, which has 247 rooms and suites and 137 furnished apartments. Facilities include a 1,000-capacity ballroom, five meeting rooms catering for groups of 14 to 60, and a range of dining options. Both properties have state-of-the-art technology in their meeting spaces, including audio-visual equipment, lighting and soundproofing.
- Al Bustan: Casablanca Road; tel +971 4282 0000; rotana.com
- Al Murooj: Al Saffa Street; tel +971 4321 1111; rotana.com
The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina
With its waterfront location on Jumeirah Beach, near Dubai Marina, and the Dubai International Marine Club situated on its grounds, it’s no wonder that water sports feature heavily in the Westin’s incentives programme. The jewel in its crown is the Archambault 35 racing yacht, on board which groups can test out their sea legs. Teams bond as they experience all aspects of crew and helmsmanship on board the 11-metre vessel and race against each other in an America’s Cup-style sailing regatta (see “Learning the ropes”, Business Traveller, July/August 2008).
Elsewhere in the 294-room resort, which opened in May last year, guests can enjoy a range of activities in the water sports centre, from windsurfing to wake boarding. The hotel’s Italian-designed conference centre consists of 11 meetings venues, while the ballroom can hold up to 1,200 guests. For outdoor events there is a 1,500-capacity beachside amphitheatre, and lawn and barbecue areas that can hold up to 5,000.
- Al Sufouh Road c/o Dubai International Marine Club; tel +971 4399 4141; starwoodhotels.com
The Address, Downtown Burj Dubai
One of the newer additions to the luxury market, the Address, Downtown Burj Dubai opened in October last year. At 306 metres and 63 floors high, it’s a striking addition to the Downtown skyline and is close to Burj Dubai and Dubai Mall. It’s pretty striking inside too – the décor is stylish and modern, and its design features include sparkling curtains located throughout the public areas of the hotel, made up of more than half a million Bohemian-cut crystals.
The hotel’s meetings and conference facilities cater for up to 550 guests and include two ballrooms, a boardroom and two meeting rooms. The Symphony ballroom has floor-to-ceiling windows facing Burj Dubai and can be divided into three venues for smaller events. For a panoramic view of the city, guests can take a trip up to the top-floor bar, Neos, one of the world’s highest sky lounges (open 6pm-2am).
- Burj Dubai Boulevard, Downtown Burj Dubai; tel +971 4436 8888; theaddress.com
Jumeirah Emirates Towers
Many more high-rise buildings may have grown up around the Jumeirah Emirates Towers on the Sheikh Zayed Road since it opened in 2000, but its sleek twin structures still stand out. The 305-metre high, 400-bedroom Hotel Tower features several fine-dining options, a boulevard of designer shops and high-spec meetings and conference facilities. The centrepiece is the elegant Godolphin ballroom, which you enter through the hotel lobby via a glamorous set of sliding doors. It splits into three sections and holds from 135 people U-shape to 1,000 people for a reception.
Also of note is the golf simulation room, where groups can practise their stroke with a champion golfer. You hit the ball with as much power as you can muster right against a fabric wall, on to which various leading courses from around the world are projected, but don’t worry about ducking in case the ball rebounds – the wall absorbs the impact and the ball drops like a stone.
If you want to combine city with beach or desert, you could also consider spending time at some of Jumeirah’s other properties – Jumeirah Beach Hotel and Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Desert Resort both have extensive meetings facilities and activity options for MICE groups.
- Sheikh Zayed Road; tel +971 4330 0000; jumeirahemiratestowers.com
Atlantis the Palm
It’s not only the fireworks at its opening party that went off with a bang – the meeting and conference facilities at Atlantis the Palm, which opened late last year, are designed to ensure events run smoothly. It’s particularly geared up for large events – it can sleep groups of up to 700, and the 2,100 sqm Atlantis ballroom, divisible into five, can accommodate up to 2,500 for a reception – but it can also cater for smaller meetings. Outdoor options include the Palm Grove, which is surrounded by gardens so is good for private gatherings, and the Aquaventure beach, where traditional Arabian barbecues can be hosted.
As you’d expect from a resort inspired by the myth of Atlantis, many of the group activities on offer have an oceanic theme. Team-building events can be held at the water attraction Aquaventure, while groups can interact with dolphins at the marine education centre Dolphin Bay, or explore the underwater world of the Lost Chambers.
- Atlantis the Palm; tel +971 4426 0000; atlantisthepalm.com
Intercontinental Dubai Festival City/Crowne Plaza Dubai Festival City
If you need a property that can hold big numbers, then the Intercontinental and Crowne Plaza could be the answer – between them they can accommodate up to 500 delegates. The two hotels, owned by the Intercontinental Hotels Group, opened in January last year and can work together to co-host MICE events. Situated in the Dubai Festival City district, the hotels have a waterfront location on the banks of Dubai Creek.
Sitting between the two hotels is the sleek Event Centre, a 3,800 sqm shared meeting facility spread across two floors. It features two ballrooms, each divisible into three sections; eight breakout rooms, with four more due to open this summer; and indoor and outdoor pre-function areas with creek views. When the work’s done, dinner cruises on the creek and balloon and helicopter tours are popular options; there are also two 18-hole golf courses nearby.
- Intercontinental Dubai Festival City: tel +971 4701 1111; intercontinental.com
- Crowne Plaza Dubai Festival City: tel +971 4701 2222; crowneplaza.com
Kempinski hotel Mall of the Emirates
If you really want a room with a view, try the Kempinski’s ski chalets – alpine-style suites of up to three bedrooms that overlook Ski Dubai’s ski slope and can accommodate six people for meetings. The Kempinski, opened in 2006, is located on Sheikh Zayed Road and is part of the huge complex that consists of Ski Dubai and the Mall of the Emirates. As well as the chalet option, the hotel’s conference wing on the second floor has 13 rooms that can accommodate up to 110 people, while an outdoor terrace can take 500 for a reception.
Among the activities that can be arranged are skiing lessons at the slope and a visit to the snow park. Alternatively, if you’re craving some sun and sand, desert safaris can be organised, as can Olympic-style team-building events on the private beach of the Kempinski’s sister hotel in Ajman, 25km from Dubai.
- Sheikh Zayed Road; tel +971 4341 0000; kempinski-dubai.com
Grosvenor House
It’s hard to miss the Grosvenor House at night – the 45-storey hotel is cast in a bright blue light that shines out across Dubai Marina. Inside, the property is all warmth and elegance.
Open since 2005, it’s part of Starwood’s luxury Le Méridien Hotels and Resorts brand and has 217 bedrooms and 205 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments. The meetings and conference facilities consist of five boardrooms, which hold up to 75 delegates, and the Windsor ballroom and pre-function area, which together can take up to 400 theatre-style or 250 for a banquet.
Activities that can be arranged include water sports, helicopter and balloon rides, golf, desert safaris and skiing. Delegates can also check out the Gary Rhodes-run restaurant Rhodes Mezzanine, the extensive spa facilities in the Retreat health club and spa, and the private beach at the Grosvenor’s sister hotel Le Royal Méridien, five minutes away.
- Al Sofouh Road; tel +971 4399 8888; grosvenorhouse-dubai.com
GETTING THERE
Emirates has five daily flights to Dubai from London Heathrow and three from Gatwick. BA flies three to four times a day from Heathrow, while Virgin Atlantic and Royal Brunei Airlines both fly once a day from Heathrow. Biman Bangladesh Airlines flies once a day from Heathrow, except Thursdays and Fridays.
