04 February 2014
JEDDAH - A senior management team from Atlantis, The Palm is currently on a visit to Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam to explore opportunities in the Kingdom's tourism sector. The hotel and resort located on Dubai's artificial island The Palm is managed by Kerzner International Holdings Limited.
Visitors from the Kingdom constitute the fourth largest segment of guests at the five-star hotel and resort. The UK, Russia, and Germany are the top 3 countries, Brett Armitage, senior vice president global sales at Atlantis, said.
Since the opening in 2008, Armitage said the marketing team has been focusing on tourists from the GCC states "developing programs and services inside the hotel to look after the GCC guests." Examples are the large suites accommodating up to 6 persons, menu offerings that include a dedicated Middle Eastern restaurant, employment of a high number of Arabic speaking staff, and education of the staff about cultural differences between Saudi and European families.
While competition on The Palm island has been growing - the island currently houses 6 hotels - Armitage said Kerzner keeps evolving the product to attract tourists. "This is one of the things I think that really sets Atlantis apart. During 2013, we invested another 28 million dollars in a significant waterpark expansion," doubling the number of rides and slides in the park and introducing a number of "world-first" rides, he explained, adding that the food offering in the waterpark had been "totally re-engineered" as well.
By touring the Kingdom and maintaining relations with travel agencies and corporates, Kerzner shows its commitment to continuing to develop the Gulf states which is "as strong now as it was 5 years ago when we opened Atlantis," the senior vice president global sales noted, adding that following visits to Riyadh and Dammam, his team would go to Doha, Kuwait, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Apart from Atlantis, Kerzner possesses several other hotel brands, including the One&Only boutique hotels in Cape Town, Dubai, Mauritius and the Maldives, among other places. Recently, Kerzner signed an agreement to develop and operate a One&Only resort in South-Obhur, Jeddah. "That is in the early stages," Armitage said. The 95,000 square meter resort, built and operated in partnership with Al Khozama Management Company and Saudi Oger, will boast of approximately 150 guest rooms, suits and villas, in addition to dining and retail options, a health spa, and 230 meters of beachfront.
JEDDAH - A senior management team from Atlantis, The Palm is currently on a visit to Jeddah, Riyadh and Dammam to explore opportunities in the Kingdom's tourism sector. The hotel and resort located on Dubai's artificial island The Palm is managed by Kerzner International Holdings Limited.
Visitors from the Kingdom constitute the fourth largest segment of guests at the five-star hotel and resort. The UK, Russia, and Germany are the top 3 countries, Brett Armitage, senior vice president global sales at Atlantis, said.
Since the opening in 2008, Armitage said the marketing team has been focusing on tourists from the GCC states "developing programs and services inside the hotel to look after the GCC guests." Examples are the large suites accommodating up to 6 persons, menu offerings that include a dedicated Middle Eastern restaurant, employment of a high number of Arabic speaking staff, and education of the staff about cultural differences between Saudi and European families.
While competition on The Palm island has been growing - the island currently houses 6 hotels - Armitage said Kerzner keeps evolving the product to attract tourists. "This is one of the things I think that really sets Atlantis apart. During 2013, we invested another 28 million dollars in a significant waterpark expansion," doubling the number of rides and slides in the park and introducing a number of "world-first" rides, he explained, adding that the food offering in the waterpark had been "totally re-engineered" as well.
By touring the Kingdom and maintaining relations with travel agencies and corporates, Kerzner shows its commitment to continuing to develop the Gulf states which is "as strong now as it was 5 years ago when we opened Atlantis," the senior vice president global sales noted, adding that following visits to Riyadh and Dammam, his team would go to Doha, Kuwait, Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Apart from Atlantis, Kerzner possesses several other hotel brands, including the One&Only boutique hotels in Cape Town, Dubai, Mauritius and the Maldives, among other places. Recently, Kerzner signed an agreement to develop and operate a One&Only resort in South-Obhur, Jeddah. "That is in the early stages," Armitage said. The 95,000 square meter resort, built and operated in partnership with Al Khozama Management Company and Saudi Oger, will boast of approximately 150 guest rooms, suits and villas, in addition to dining and retail options, a health spa, and 230 meters of beachfront.
© The Saudi Gazette 2014
