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…)

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…)

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…)

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…)

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…)

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…)

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…)