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- By: Faith Baggett,
CIMP and Andrea Sigler,PhD
CIMPA was invited to visit Dubai
and Oxford after the EIBTM show in Geneva. Faith Baggett, event coordinator
for a law firm in Washington DC and Andrea Sigler, CIMPA President, compiled
the impressions of the group for this report. They can be contacted at cimpa@cimpa.org
To say that the hotels we visited in Dubai are world-class is an
understatement. Our group experienced unparalleled heights of luxury and
technological wizardry that may have spoiled all of us forever.
BURJ-AL ARAB
This all-suite luxury hotel has been officially recognized as the
Tallest Hotel In The World by the Guinness Book of Records. Standing
on a man-made island lying some 280 meters offshore, it is truly an
architectural and engineering marvel.
Burj Al Arab re-defines service for all of the hospitality industry.
THE WELCOME! Airport transfer by
Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph limousine or via helicopter, with a 15-minute
birds-eye panorama of the city ending in a dramatic landing on the hotel’s
helipad on the 28th floor.
Guests are checked in before they arrive in the hotel. Upon arrival, they
are led directly to their suites (although
mesmerized guests actually usually choose to linger in the impressive lobby)
Entering the hotel is a visual treat. A burning flame set amid flowing
waters provides a symbolic welcome. Stunning carpets. Intricate crystal
chandeliers. Musical fountain. Shimmering waterfall, billows of dry ice and
2 glass-encased coral reefs
The spectacular sail-shaped hotel with gold-leaf ceilings is also
tech-savvy. Each guest is provided with a laptop computer, sophisticated
multi-media system that provides the largest selection of
satellite television channels available in the Middle East, a
video-on-demand system which can be enjoyed in a surround-sound stereo on a
wide-screen 42-inch plasma television. Other interactive tools for business
and entertainment allows guests to browse the internet, check and send
email, shop online or make dinner reservations.
For the security conscious, it is possible to check on the TV screen who is
ringing the doorbell before pushing a button to either open the door or
flash a “Do Not Disturb” sign.
EMIRATES TOWERS HOTEL
This is one of CIMPA’s nominees for its Best Hi-Tech Hotel
Award. Every room is designed to meet the needs of the busy executive,
featuring an in-room business center with a specially designed work station.
Standard facilities include a dedicated fax/printer/copier with a
private one-time number, and an interactive system complete with a mobile
keyboard offering internet and email services. Direct internet connections
via the TV screen provide instant access to the web and email facilities,
and feature an online information guide to Dubai.
In addition to 2 ballrooms, there are 17 boardroom style congress rooms .
Each room can seat up to 18 and offers the latest audio-visual conference
technology. A technology concierge is available 24 hours a day.
Club Executive guests are transported from the airport in a Mercedes S-Class
car.
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JUMEIRAH BEACH HOTEL
The Jumeirah Beach Hotel was named Best New Business Hotel
in the World, the result of an annual readers’ poll conducted by the
influential Business Traveller UK Magazine. Besides having most of what the
Emirates Towers Hotel offers, the Jumeirah Beach Resort has the added
attraction of private beaches, four swimming pools, a superb health and
fitness center and the Wild Wadi Waterpark on its grounds. Like its sister
hotels, the Jumeirah Beach Hotel is luxurious and tech-savvy. But it has a
more relaxed ambience.
RITZ CARLTON HOTEL
True to the Ritz Carlton tradition, this hotel exudes understated
elegance. We had dinner in a beautifully appointed meeting room. There are 2
additional private meeting rooms but banquets for larger numbers are catered
in the landscaped gardens and beachfront.
Guests could choose their pillows from a pillow menu (Soft? Firm? Very firm?).
At the Club floor, guests are treated to 6 complimentary menu showcases
through out the day and evening - continental breakfast, light lunch buffet,
traditional afternoon tea, hors d'oeuvres, cocktails and late light snacks.
There is bar service from 2:00 PM to 2:00 A.M, dedicated butler to attend to
one’s every need, private check-in and check-out, complimentary pressing
and laundry of 5 suits per stay plus the privacy of having steam bath in his
room.
ARABIAN INCENTIVE COMPANY
There are so many unique things to see and experience in Dubai.
But planning a meeting or incentive here from several thousand miles away
can potentially be a frustrating experience. I doubt that anyone in our
group could have done what we experienced without the assistance of
our host, the Arabian Incentive Company. They know the turf, they understand
the people and they are a group of experienced organizers themselves.
.
The Marketing Executive of Dannon Yogurt, which had 250 incentive awardees
in town while we were there said, ”This is the best incentive trip
we have had so far”.
The whole experience was extraordinary but this was our most memorable
day:
Four-wheeler jeeps picked us up from the hotel in the morning for a day of
dune-bashing, sand skiing, clay-pigeon shooting and swimming. There was time
to cool off with a quick shower at the Fort Hatta Hotel, in the middle of
the desert. Shortly before sunset, we were driven back to the sand dunes.
On top of one of these sand dunes was a champagne bar (Talk about an oasis).
We watched a spectacular sunset while sipping champagne and munching on
dates. There were camels to ride for a photo opportunity (Caption: “Here I
am on an Arabian desert. Eat your heart out!”)
As darkness quickly set in, we were given Arabian costumes for our Arabian
Night experience. From where we were, we could see the lights in what looked
like tents on the desert. It was, we were told, a Bedouin village (complete
with scented soap and flowers in the bathroom?). A sumptuous feast featuring
a large number of small dishes of Mediterranean salad, barbecued lamb.pork
and chicken, fresh fruits, Arabic sweets and tea started the evening.
Then we moved on to pillows around a quadrangle where a real belly dancer
performed and taught our faux American belly dancers how to move their
bellies with the music. Some of us were soon trying the Hubbly Bubblies
- Arabic pipes with what smelled to me like Apple flavoring.
The night was warm, the sky was clear and we were among friends.
It was a wonderful experience!
For more information on Arabian incentives, contact Emad Aref, General
Manager, Tel 971 4 266 6020 Fax 269 0884 Email:
emad@taico-dubai.com-
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OXFORD
- University Venues: A Meeting Option
Dubai is a whole new world and Oxford is another.
The University of Oxford is Britain’s oldest, the historic heart of a
diverse and ancient city. From the founding of the first 3 colleges in the
13th century, Oxford
established itself as a center of academic excellence. As the number of
colleges increased, they became self-contained communities with their own
living quarters, chapel, library, kitchen, dining hall and at one college,
even a Cathedral.
CIMPA visited Balliol College, one of the oldest colleges in the University.
By Oxford standards, it is a fairly large college with about 400
undergraduates and 150 graduate students.
As Carl Woodall, Domestic Bursar of Balliol College points out, “We offer
the best value for money in Oxford with a 24-hour rate including all
catering and all taxes of £70 (for a room with its own private bathroom).
Conference Oxford is the first point of contact for selecting one of Oxford
University’s 36 colleges. Sally Dunsmore, Marketing Executive, provides
information and advises planners on the logistics of planning a conference
in the University.
.
One of Conference Oxford’s clients was Zeneca, the major Pharmaceutical
Company which presented an important event for over 100 urologists working
in France. Delegates stayed at one of Oxford's oldest colleges, Wadham which
was founded in the 17th century and met at Rhodes House - where US President
Bill Clinton studied during his time in Oxford.
The event took place over 2 days and included a dinner at Blenheim Palace
where Sir Winston Churchill was born.
Renato Rossi from the Paris based organisers Selectour Pereire Voyages
said “Everyone enjoyed the experience of "going back" to
university. We had a very successful event."
For further information about the opportunties of organising a conference in
Oxford, contact Conference Oxford on
Tel/fax 01865 276190 Email: conference.oxford@keble.ox.ac.uk
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