THREE DECADES OF
DUBAI TOURISM
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2020
A GULF NEWS SPONSORED SUPPLEMENT
Making Dubai the world’s most visited destination
DTCM’s marketing campaign has a bevy of Hollywood stars including Gwyneth Paltrow
Celebrating 30 glorious years of growth, Dubai Tourism and Commercial Marketing has been successful in branding Emirati hospitality as a benchmark for the global tourism sector
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hen Gulf News reported global market research firm Euromonitor International’s Top 100 City Destinations Ranking in December last year, placing Dubai in the top 10 most visited cities in the world, ahead of New York, Kuala Lumpur, Istanbul and Delhi, it was just another golden feather in the proverbial cap for Dubai Tourism and Commercial Marketing (DTCM). And the good news could not have come at a better time with DTCM celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2019. Working hard with successive milestones achieved year on year to help put Dubai and the UAE on the global tourism map, DTCM’s campaign builds on what Eu-
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romonitor International has to say, as reported by Gulf News. Dubai sets the pace “Dubai continues to lead the region in terms of numbers of arrivals, despite a flat growth rate during 2018. There has been increased focus on enhancing tourism offerings from the Middle East and African continent, and countries are working to market natural terrains and open new locations to keep the region competitive. Leading cities with good infrastructure such as Dubai and Riyadh, are investing in greater entertainment avenues such as theme parks, concerts, health and wellness and medical tourism.”
Dubai is the only Middle Eastern city in the top ten with more than 16 million visitors projected for 2019, jumping up from 15.9 million in 2018.
Setting the bar The principal authority for tourism in Dubai, DTCM plans, supervises and develops the marketing strategy for the Emirate as a leading tourist destination. DTCM also helps in marketing and promoting the emirate’s commerce sector, being responsible for the licensing and classification of all related tourism services that include hotels, tour operators and travel agents. In addition to its headquarters in Dubai, DTCM operates 20 offices worldwide. 20 million in 2020 DTCM is committed to strengthening Dubai’s economy by attracting tourists and inward investment while delivering Dubai’s tourism vision, which includes welcoming 20 million visitors per year by this year and make Dubai the most visited destination with more than 23 million visitors by 2025, in addition to being the most recommended city with the most repeat visitors. Well on course to achieve its goals, DTCM has played a pivotal role in
Dubai’s rise to prominence as one of the world’s leading tourism destinations, welcoming more than 15 million visitors in 2017. With a mission statement to strengthen the Dubai economy by attracting tourists and inward investment to the emirate, DTCM hopes to accomplish this by making Dubai the world’s most recommended leisure and business destination and raising the international profile of Dubai’s tourism and commercial offering. It is also working on redefining traveller expectations with cutting-edge solutions and service excellence across all tourism touch-points, while pioneering multidimensional, next-generation experiences that inspire people to visit and continue to return to Dubai to savour these experiences. Niche campaigns go viral Playing a critical role in developing the economic contribution of tourism to the emirate, DTCM is focusing on working with public and private partners to enhance the destination offering and effectively market it to the world, something the entity has been extremely successful in achieving. Its campaigns have been as slick as they have been viral, with the #BeMyGuest campaign featuring Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan, launched in 2018 as well as the ongoing A Story Takes Flight campaign featuring a trio of Hollywood stars with Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Hudson and Zoe Saldana. The success of such campaigns reaffirm the fact that DTCM is on the right track by marketing the Emirate as a rendezvous offering an entire bouquet of USPs that is hard to miss, proving Dubai and the UAE to be among the most cherished global destinations.
Thursday, February 6, 2020
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DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM & COMMERCE MARKETING – 30 YEARS | IMG WORLDS OF ADVENTURE |
Thrills galore at the world’s largest indoor theme park IMG Worlds of Adventure offers the whole family the ultimate adventure
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MG Worlds of Adventure, the world’s largest indoor theme park located in Dubai, UAE, promises guests an immersive indoor theme park experience. It brings together the best international and local interactive entertainment and globally recognised characters and superheroes. Building a theme park on this scale is an ambition that the visionary owners, brothers Ilyas Galadari and Mustafa Galadari, have had for almost as long as they can remember. There are five unique worlds at the park spanning across a vast 1.5 million square feet. The park also includes 25 original retail concept stores, 28 themed F&B outlets, over 1,500 employees and 4,500 parking spaces including a 12-screen state-ofthe-art Novo Cinema multiplex with an IMAX screen and three VIP theatres. Each zone in the park has been designed to be fully immersive. From the moment guests step into the entrance, to the retail and food and beverage outlets, they will experience a full immersion into a magical world. As the region’s first international mega-themed leisure and entertainment destination, the opening of IMG Worlds of Adventure as the largest indoor theme park was a major milestone for the UAE’s tourism and hospitality industry. IMG Worlds of Adventure plays a major role in placing Dubai at the centre of the glob-
al theme park industry and is one of the key entertainment and leisure destinations. It has set the stage with the development of this temperature controlled indoor destination, an iconic modern mega structure that is one of the most outstanding developments in the region. Visitors at the park will discover the excitement of an epic journey with thrills, speed and adventures across adrenaline pumping roller coasters and themed experiences. The park is unique as it offers the themed experiences based on Marvel and Cartoon Network,
featuring beloved characters and live meet and greets. Tourist attractions are one of the fastest growing industries especially in the Middle East where IMG has increased the
standards of amusement parks. Anyone looking back a decade years from now, will have to acknowledge that the opening of IMG Worlds of Adventure was the spark that launched
a whole range of new developments in the region for the theme park sector. Since its opening, the park has welcomed millions of visitors through its doors, with 30 per cent repeat visitation from local residents and 70 per cent from tourists with key markets being China, India and Saudi Arabia. These amazing visitor numbers and statistics are as such a testament to IMG’s goal to continually exceed “customer experience” which is a key driver of repeat visitation. Among the daily attendance, visitors to the park have included, royalty, international celebrities and famous athletes. IMG Worlds has been recognised as one of the best attractions in the region and received an extraordinary amount of positive response from the media during both the pre-opening and post opening stages.
With the amazing mix of thrills and chills, rides, live entertainment, extensive dining options, exclusive retail offerings and play areas, IMG Worlds of Adventure has created a theme park that appeals to guests of all ages, ensuring there’s something for everyone, especially for its younger guests. For those contemplating coming to IMG Worlds of Adventure during the festivities, the visits will provide a truly unforgettable and immersive experience, ensuring that guests are treated to a unique array of entertainment offerings such as live characters, parades and shows, Marvel and CN themed experiences alongside the roller coasters and attractions. To keep everyone entertained, the theme park’s street entertainment with its amazing performers, is guaranteed to put a smile on everyone’s faces.
Thursday, February 6, 2020
DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM & COMMERCE MARKETING – 30 YEARS
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| TWO SEASONS HOTEL & APARTMENTS |
Recharge, rejuvenate, relax
wo Seasons Hotel & Apartments combines upscale modern design and makes for an excellent choice in the centre of bustling Dubai. Featuring a wealth of amenities for families, business travellers, holidaymakers and guests, the Two Seasons is one of the 4-star award winning hotels in Dubai to offer a range of elegant accommodation boasting stunning views of the Jumeirah Beach seafront and the Palm Island. With a selection of 1,010 spacious suites and apartments spread over 41 storeys, the space is designed with relaxation on mind, offering space and unlimited comfort. Set in an unrivalled position in the heart of Dubai, the largest among “all suite” hotels in the Middle East is close to the white sandy Jumeirah Beach, the famous shopping malls, the heart of the business district and only moments from the metro station. Business travellers can take advantage of the superb business facilities, ranging from meeting and conference rooms to a fullscale ballroom for larger events. Recharge, rejuvenate and relax at the hotel’s dedicated wellness
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centre with a heart pumping session in the gym, or a soothing body treatment in the sanctuary of Dreamworks Spa. A schedule of exciting fitness classes adds a little extra to your stay with squash, spinning, martial arts and salsa
being some of the activities on offer, while a cooling dip in the pool is fun for everyone. With seven restaurants and lounges, every taste is catered to. The all-day dining restaurant, La Terrasse serves up a different flavour every evening via its themed buffet, but you can also dine à la carte if the mood takes you. Lebanese cuisine at Qutoof and Asian delights at House of Noodles will tempt you further. Try the sushi at Sushi Café or enjoy a coffee at Le Grand Café but be sure to squeeze in a sunset session at the 40th floor Sky Lounge. Two Seasons’ management company has ambitious expansion plans, aiming to launch new hotels in Dubai and Morocco in the coming years.
| OCCIDENTAL HOTEL |
Setting the bar in hospitality and gastronomy onveniently located close to the Expo 2020 site and a short 30 minutes away from the Dubai International Airport, Occidental Dubai Production City is the perfect option for leisure and business travelers alike with its quick service and a wide array of amenities. Located in the heart of Dubai Production City, the Hotel offers 239 keys comprising deluxe and superior rooms, junior suites and family suites spanning two wings, as well as signature restaurants, dedicated event and conference facilities including a ballroom equipped to host 350 guests. Designed to service the modernday traveler, each of the rooms is equipped with cutting-edge technology featuring smart automation systems, smart TVs and highspeed Wi-Fi.
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Quality leisure facilities For those looking for a more relaxing stay, the property also caters to guests who are looking for quality leisure facilities. The hotel houses two extensive gyms that are well-equipped for cross-fit enthusiasts as well as spaces suitable for yoga and Pilates and two rooftop temperature-controlled swimming pools. There’s also a steam room and sauna facilities where guests can unwind and pamper themselves during their stay. Dining options at Occidental Dubai Production City are truly delectable.
Staying true to its roots, this hotel offers an international gastronomic experience with a Spanish flare influenced by the Barceló Group’s origin in Mallorca. The light and airy Avenue Restaurant located on the ground floor is a multipurpose space for conferences and events. The dining area can be transformed and adapted for any event and has a fully equipped open kitchen where guests can order hot, freshly made
food to enjoy along with the wide selection of cold buffet dishes. Also, on the ground floor, Champs offers gastropub-style food, including burgers and chicken wings, along with a selection of drinks. It has a friendly and lively sports-themed ambience with multiple TV screens for you to watch sports events. The Stage Sky Lounge & Pool is one of the hotel’s most exclusive areas. Located on the roof terrace,
adjacent to one of the swimming pools, this stylish venue is inspired by Hollywood’s golden era and transforms from a relaxed location during the day to a vibrant venue under the stars by night. Barceló Hotel Group Established in 1931 and with over 85 years of experience, this family-run business has now evolved into one of the most prominent tourism groups glob-
ally with over 230 hotels in more than 22 countries and four distinctive brands, Royal Hideaway Luxury Hotels & Resorts, Barceló Hotels & Resorts, Occidental Hotels & Resorts, and Allegro Hotels. Besides hospitality, the group also dominates the travel and tourism space with an airline and 700 agencies. The Barceló Hotel Group has continued its steady rise to the top of the hospitality industry, becoming a renowned
name in the process. Barcelo Hotel Group was recently named by World Travel Awards as the World’s Leading Hotel Management Company of 2019. Adding to its current presence in the UAE, the group will be opening Occidental Al Jaddaf Dubai in 2020. This new hotel will feature 365 rooms and suites, 5 meeting rooms, 4 restaurants and bars as well as a health and wellness centre.