Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah To Get New $1.5 billion Royal Atlantis Resort

Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has approved the construction of a new Resort on the Palm Jumeirah Island by the Investment Corporation of Dubai (ICD).

ICD unveiled a plan for a US $1.4 billion Royal Atlantis Resort and Residences with a design that is set to dominate the Palm skyline.

Located on the crescent of the Palm Jumeirah and next to Atlantis Resort, the Royal Atlantis Resort will stand 46 stories tall, consisting of 800 rooms, suites, 250 luxury hotel apartments, retail area, infinity pool and private gardens. The hotel which is scheduled to open by 2018 will be developed in association with Kerzner International and will also house recreational and entertainment facilities.

Sheikh Mohammed said that the resort will develop and diversify UAE’s economy.

The announcement of the second Atlantis Hotel comes after US Hotel Operator Marriott announces that it will take over the management of the Atlantis hotel in Bahamas from the end of 2014.

ICD bought a 46% stake in Kerzner International in April this year, while Istithmar World, a subsidiary of DP World owns another 25% stake. ICD is also developing another Atlantis hotel in Sanya, China, that will be the third largest resort in the World on 60 hectares.

Dubai’s largest Atlantis resort had the highest inventory of 1569 rooms when it opened in 2008 but it was replaced by JW Marriott Marquis this year with a room count of 1608.

Atlantis, The Palm: ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Accepted..!!

Atlantis, The Palm Jumeirah took on the ice bucket challenge with 350 staff members pouring ice cold water on themselves to raise awareness and funds for the fight against Amytrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

People around the world have been accepting and setting the challenge, with a number of high profile celebrities participating in this generous cause.

Atlantis, the Palm was nominated by Ski Dubai to take on the Challenge, and the lifeguards, chefs and senior manager accepted it. Gerard Moss, The Senior VP of Human Resources, said that the guests enjoyed seeing the staff participate in a worthwhile cause for charity.

The hotel also made a donation for each of the participants to an international ALS-affiliated charity in addition to recording a video of the challenge. Click here to view the video

The hotel has gone ahead and nominated Emirates Airlines, football club Bayern Munich, and the most interesting nominee from the lost, The Buckingham Palace to take on the ice bucket challenge.

Picture courtesy: http://www.worldette.com/

Dubai Has One Of The Largest Concentrations Of 5 Star Hotels In The World

The New York Times said that Dubai has one of the largest base for 5 star Hotels in a long report released on Dubai on Tuesday, July 29^th. http://nyti.ms/1AIKUBc  

The hotel occupancy has remained above 80%, which is on par with London and New York, the paper reported.  “Dubai has one of the highest concentrations of five-star hotels of any major city in the world and one of the highest occupancy rates for hotel rooms,” said Chiheb Ben-Mahmoud, executive vice president and head of hotels and hospitality, Middle East and Africa at Jones Lang LaSalle. “Dubai is seen as trendy and dynamic, which is why designer hotels are now in line.”

Designer hotels are aiming to take a piece of the growing pie with luxury products, spa offerings and a keen attention to detail, according to the report. A Roberto Cavalli branded hotel is in the pipeline while the Palazzo Versace hotel is scheduled to open in 2015, it said. The Armani hotel in Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world opened in 2010 through a collaboration between Giorgio Armani and Emaar.

The paper reported that, several five star hotels have opened in many of the tourist hubs. “A drive along the Palm Jumeirah reveals newly paved paths leading to the luxurious entrances of the Waldorf-Astoria, Sofitel Dubai the Palm, Anantara Dubai the Palm and billboards for a coming W Hotel.”

“Like other hotels in the five-star segment, designer hotels have identified Dubai as an important market as the city strengthens its role as a business and leisure hub,” Ben-Mahmoud said. “But these fashion-branded hotels will only work as solid propositions, not a gimmick.”

According to research by consultancy Jones Lang LaSalle, international operators control about 68 percent of the 93,000 hotel rooms available in the city and a majority is in the five-star category. By 2016, more than 28,000 rooms will be added, mainly at the highest price point, where room rates are around $1,200 a night or as much as $10,000 for a suite, it said.

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