Dubai Hotel Travel

Costa Deliziosa is the first cruise ship ever to be inaugurated in an Arab city

A unique event staged in collaboration with the DTCM

Costa Deliziosa operating on regular Gulf cruises with forecasts of 150,000 passenger movements in winter 2010/2011

Theinauguration ceremony for the Costa Deliziosa, the new jewel of the Costa Cruises fleet and the first cruise ship ever to be named in an Arab city was held in Dubai on February 23.

It was attended by Dubai Crown Prince His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Emirates Airlines Group, His Highness Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, DTCM Director General Mr. Khalid A bin Sulayem, Mr. Pier Luigi Foschi, Chairman and CEO of Costa Crociere, Mr. Paolo Dionisi, Italian ambassador to the UAE, Mr. Corrado Antonini, Chairman Fincantieri and Mr. Gianni Onorato, President of Costa Cruises.

Together with her sister ship Costa Luminosa, the Costa Deliziosa represents the most exclusive and innovative member of the fleet; weighing in at 92,600 gross tonnage and with total Guest capacity of 2,826, the new ship is an emblem of Italian-made excellence. During winter 2009/10 and 2010/11, the 450 million euros-Costa Deliziosa and Costa Luminosa – Costa’s top of the range offer – will be offering 7-day cruises in the Arabian Gulf with departure from Dubai and stopovers in Muscat, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain.

The inauguration of the Costa Deliziosa, which constitutes another milestone in the development of the cruise industry not only in Dubai but also in the region as a whole, is the result of an a partnership between Costa Cruises, the first operator in the world to market regular cruises in the Gulf back in 2006, and the Government of Dubai, through the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing: this solid co-operation has contributed to the development of local tourism and will allow Italy’s no. 1 cruise line to clock up 150,000 passenger movements in Dubai in winter 2010/11 (compared to 44,000 in 2006/2007) with 31 port calls, generating revenue for the local economy estimated at 14 million euros* in 2009/2010. More Details »

The new Dubai Cruise Terminal has been formally opened by the Dubai Crown Prince His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, on Tuesday in the presence of VIPs and officials, including His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Airports and Emirates Airlines Group, His Highness Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, Mr. Pier Luigi Foschi, Chairman and CEO of Costa Crociere, Mr. Paolo Dionisi, Italian ambassador to the UAE, Mr. Corrado Antonini, Chairman Fincantieri and Mr. Gianni Onorato, President of Costa Cruises.

During the course of the festivities marking the launch of the one of the Middle East’s biggest cruise terminal facilities, the naming ceremony for a passenger cruise ship – Costa Deliziosa- took place, making Dubai the first Arab city to host such a prestigious ceremony.

Developed and operated by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) at the Port Rashid complex, the new facility, with a capacity to accommodate four cruise ships simultaneously, is expected to give a big boost to the high-yielding cruise tourism segment in the region’s best-equipped tourism destination.

The façade of the new Cruise Terminal building is based upon Dubai’s contemporary Arabic design and reflects emirate’s rich maritime heritage and present a strong positive image of Emirati hospitality. Special attention has been given to the exterior and interior of the terminal. Traditional domes, arches and carvings are the major architectural elements that constitute the exterior facades.

The terminal have a tourists support infrastructure which includes facilities like money exchange, ATMs, post office, duty free shop, souvenir shops, gift shops, and business centre with free internet access, Wi-Fi enabled for lap-top users, VIP Majlis, and toilets with access to physically-challenged visitors. More Details »

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. today announced the debut of its renowned Luxury Collection brand in the United Arab Emirates with the addition of Grosvenor House, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Dubai. Located on the exclusive Dubai Marina, the prestigious 45-story Grosvenor House hotel first opened its doors in 2005 and quickly became one of the world’s most acclaimed hotels.

Custom-designed to celebrate the essence of Dubai, the hotel seamlessly blends exquisite Arabian décor with contemporary sophistication. Offering the latest innovations in technology and design, Grosvenor House features 422 luxuriously appointed guest rooms, suites and apartment suites, world class cuisine, a state-of-the-art fitness facility and spa, business areas equipped with cutting-edge technology and unparalleled premium service with butlers on call 24 hours a day. More Details »

Each evening, hundreds of people head to Heritage Villages created in Al Shindagha and The JBR Walk in Dubai Marina to watch the rich Emirati heritage and culture unfolding before their eyes while taking time out to try out the best of authentic Emirati cuisines amidst the colourful and festive sights.

A desire to taste the truly local food is one strong reason that draws them to visit the sprawling venues during the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF-2010) which runs until February 28. More Details »

The Heritage Collections (Banader Al Turath) Exhibition, which was officially opened by H.H Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum at The Walk Jumeirah Beach Residence in Dubai Marina, is offering insights into Dubai’s glorious past and progress through 3000 years to residents and visitors from different parts of the world.

Organised by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) as part of its participation in the 15th edition of the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF), the show is being held at The Walk JBR for the first time and will run until February 28. It is open to the public from 5 pm to 10 pm.

After formally cutting a ribbon to mark its opening, H. H Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed, accompanied by scores of DTCM and DSF officials, toured the exhibition housed in a special marquee set up at the venue, located next to Hilton Jumeirah along the Arabian Gulf shores.

The Heritage Village, created by DTCM on the lines of a similar facility in Al Shindagha, is a big draw with the residents of Dubai Marina and surrounding residential zones, 75 per cent of whom being Westerners. More Details »

Emirates, the international airline of the United Arab Emirates, on Monday added an extra daily connection between its home base of Dubai and the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, bringing the total number to 21 weekly, non-stop flights.

The service has been established in recognition of the demand for flights to and from Malaysia and Emirates’ deep commitment to serving the Malaysian market. More Details »

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing’s (DTCM) representative office for the UK and Ireland has been presented with a trophy for being the Best Tourist Board at the Travel Weekly Globe Awards held in London recently.

This is the first time that DTCM has bagged this award beating destinations like Australia, Barbados, Spain, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK

The London-based representative office has also been presented with an ‘Investors in People’ Award in recognition of excellence in managing, developing, training and motivating people in an organization. DTCM is the only National Tourist Board in the UK and the only organization with in the Tourism and Leisure sector within London to be bestowed with this award.

Investors in People recognition is an international endorsement by a professional UK body that sets a level of good practice for improving an organisations progress through its people. More Details »

Royal Caribbean International’s ‘Brilliance of the Seas’ made her maiden docking into Dubai on Monday, marking the company’s official entry into the Middle East.

At a ceremony aboard the vessel, Mr. Khalid A bin Sulayem, Director General of Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) which operates the Dubai Cruise Terminal, welcomed the cruise ship and assured of assistance to the Royal Caribbean International in making this initiative productive.
In the presence of senior immigration, police, customs and DTCM officials, he presented a memento to the RCI’s top management.

The luxury liner will be making seven-night round-trip sailings to Muscat, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain from her home port of Dubai over the next four months, as Royal Caribbean International sets its sights on the region’s promising cruise market.

Brilliance of the Seas is one of the most elegant cruise ships in the world and boasts one of the highest space-per-guest ratios in the industry. It will add more than 32,000 guests in her first four-month season to the region’s burgeoning cruise sector – which is expected to grow 30 percent this year according to Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM). More Details »

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) is the Official Tourism Partner for the fifth edition of the Dunlop 24 Hours Dubai Motor Racing Event to be held from January 14 to 16 at Dubai Autodrome.

The event is being held under the patronage of Dubai Crown Prince His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

This was announced by Mr. Talal Al Suwaidi, Head of Region India, Middle East and Southern/Eastern Africa at DTCM’s Overseas Promotions and Inward Missions Department, at a Press conference held at the Dubai Autodrome Media Centre on January 13.

He said this was the first time DTCM was associating itself with the annual event.

The event will see the world’s second largest line-up of cars on grid with many teams and families coming across from Europe to Dubai top take part and support in the race.

DTCM will display a Heritage Village at the venue to highlight the Emirati heritage and culture and the transformation of Dubai into an international business and tourism hub.

Eighty teams, five hundred drivers from 26 countries and over a thousand team crew members will participate.

The race marks the start of the international road racing 2010 season and has grown in stature to become one of the biggest 24 hour races of its kind.

Dubai has emerged as the sporting capital of the Middle East with state-of-the-art infrastructure and facilities available for almost every sport, be it football, tennis, cricket, rugby or horse racing.

Sporting events are a major contributor to tourism economy in the emirate and we see its share going up in the coming years.

Originally published by http://www.dubaitourism.ae

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The Louis Vuitton Trophy which gets under way on 13th November 2010 in Dubai is expected to put wind in the sails of the UAE tourism industry.

The Louis Vuitton Trophy is one of the most coveted events in sailing and Dubai joins established premier regatta venues, including Auckland, Sardinia and Hong Kong as 2010 hosts.

Paul Cayard, Chairman of the World Sailing Team Association and skipper/strategist of Team Artemis, said: “I have been sailing in Dubai on several occasions. The conditions are ideal, the course is next to the shore and the atmosphere is exciting. DIMC is a fantastic host and I am sure our event here will open many eyes to this fantastic racing venue.”

Saeed Harib, President of the UAE Marine Sports Federation and CEO of DIMC, which will host the race, is delighted to be helping the growth of the sport in the region.? More Details »