The opening of the 1,539-room Atlantis The Palm hotel in Dubai in September will drive Hayes and Jarvis’ plans to double its passenger numbers to Dubai within the next 18 months.
Hayes and Jarvis Middle East and Far East regional product and contract manager Andrea Loddo said within the past year alone the operator has seen its visitor numbers to Dubai increase by up to 40%.
He added the biggest problem currently in achieving further growth is a scarcity of available hotel rooms - a problem which should lessen when the new property on the Palm Jumeirah opens.
He added: “There’s no low season in Dubai, the growth (in visitor numbers) is incredible even in the summer season when it is 50 degrees centigrade.
“What is great about Dubai is during the summer season hoteliers always offer free up grades and half board. In the summer season it seems like it is great value for money.”
Loddo said Hayes and Jarvis and parent company Thomson send around 12,000 visitors to the destination annually. Despite the fact that up to 30% of these customers are visiting the destination as a stop-over, the average stay remains seven days.
The Atlantis The Palm hotel will open on September 24 and will also feature an Aquaventure water park which will be opened to the paying public.
Source:TravelWeekly
New Dubai property will further open up market
Bollywood to get a permanent Dubai address
By Jan Aslak Stannies | Jun 18, 2008
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (eTN) - Hollywood has already set its footprint in Dubai, now Bollywood moves into the Emirate. India-based Yash Raj Films (YRF), one of the world’s largest film distribution houses, and Dubai Infinity Holdings announced a joint venture to build a multi-million dollar theme park.
To be called the Yashraj Films Entertainment District, the theme park will offer attractions, a movie palace, hotels and unique Indian genre entertainment concepts.
"This is both an encouraging and exciting step for us," said Samira Abdul Razzak, CEO of Dubai Infinity Holding. "Bringing such an honored name into the UAE has been a strategic move as it attracts the core demographic of the country.”
Yash Raj Films, which started as a production house in 1970, is behind the success of many Indian blockbusters. Over the years, the company has grown to an entertainment giant running a studio, a music label and a home entertainment label for releasing DVDs and VCDs of movies.
“As cinema statistics indicate that Bollywood films gross higher than western films,” Samira Abdul Razzak added. “This will be a one of a kind partnership here in the UAE.”
"When YRF decided to venture into the theme park business, we found Dubai to be the most strategic location,” said Yash Chopra, chairman of Yash Raj Films. “Dubai has a booming tourism industry and aims to be the most visited destination in the World by 2015.”
According to Chopra, the first phase of the YRF Entertainment District is scheduled to be completed by 2012. It will then be in good company with the outlets of western entertainment giants such as Universal (King Kong, Jurassic Park), Marvel Entertainment (Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four), Paramount and SeaWorld, which all announced to open theme parks in Dubai between 2010 and 2012.
Also, MGM Mirage and Warner have announced plans to bring their superheroes to Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates.
Source:Eturbonews
