Crystal, and Gold, Palace
Every city has to have an icon. Imagine New York without it’s statue, Paris without it’s Tower, Mumbai without it’s gate or Dubai without its Burj. You can have all the mineral assets you care for, but to really get yourself on the world map you need an iconic edifice – something that gets people talking, and demands to be photographed.
The capital of the Emirates already have several such structures but this year saw the opening of a new property that has made residents and visitors alike to sit up and take notice. The suitably named – Emirates Palace - Abu Dhabi’s newest hotel and conference centre, has attracted guests from across the world since it’s opening in March this year.
What is more the ‘hyper-luxury’ property has already been nominated for three awards in the World Travel Awards 2005.
Built in the style of a majestic Arabian Castle rising from the sand, the colours of Emirates Palace façade represent the different sands of the Arabian Desert. Emirates Palace Conference Centre houses the largest, most luxurious and technologically advanced meeting facilities in the UAE with the total meeting and conference space exceeding 7,000 sqm including a state-of-the-art auditorium for 1,200 persons, the country’s largest ballroom, a high tech Media Centre and over 40 additional meeting rooms.
The Palace also offers superlative leisure facilities with two stunning pool landscapes, two gymnasiums, two luxurious spas and a variety of fine dining options. Set on one million square metres and surrounded by a beautifully landscaped park with several open lawns, the Emirates Palace also offers spectacular outdoor venues for gala dinners and creative events and has fast become the capital’s landmark property.
Managed by Kempinski Hotels & Resorts, the Palace reflects the qualities and innovations of this part of the world in the field of tourism, while not losing sight of the traditional Arabic culture and hospitality. But the luxury of a seven-star property does not come cheaply and with room rates above the odds it is a haven of exclusivity. If you want to check out the $3 billion complex, you’d better have a good expense account: room rates run from $600 to $12,000 a night.
But this is a small price to pay for staying in one of the most hyped hotels in the world – one of the only elite seven-star properties, one of the most expensive to build and the world’s most wired hotel. That’s right - in addition to everything that discriminating travelers have come to expect, the hotel has boosted its security with 16 firewalls, secure telephones and 3.5TB of secure storage.