Kuoni Destination Management Specialists Get On Board With Abu Dhabi For Volvo Ocean Race Stopover

Published on : Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Abu Dhabi, UAE. November 5, 2013: Kuoni Destination Management Specialists, a Unit of the Kuoni Group, a leading global travel-related service provider in Destination & Accommodation Services, Tour Operating and Visa Processing Services, has partnered with Abu Dhabi to begin marketing a series of packages aimed at winning travellers to the United Arab Emirates’ capital for its Christmas 2014/New Year 2015 hosting of the Volvo Ocean Race Fleet.
The round-the-world fleet will be in the UAE capital for a fortnight when Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) will mount a two week activation of in-port races, concerts and entertainment in a purpose-built destination village and a celebration of all things nautical.
Kuoni Destination Management Specialists and TCA Abu Dhabi have now produced a quartet of packages – ‘Step Aboard;’ ‘Commodore’s Choice;’ ‘Top Deck’ and ‘Anchors Away’ – around the hosting with each tailored to individual tastes and with packages starting from US $ 785. The UAE’s Desert Adventures – one of Kuoni’s Destination Specialists– will act as DMC (Destination Management Company) for the packages and ground handling arrangements.
“We are going to market 13 months before the race hosting to give our packaging partners the time to activate the products and deliver tangible results,” said Mubarak Al Nuaimi, Director, Promotions & Overseas Offices , TCA Abu Dhabi. “We have specific aims in mind – to increase footfall to our destination village by 25% on the 2011/2012 hosting to 155,000 spectators; to build the accumulative economic impact to the destination by 30% to US $61 million and to raise hotel occupancy during the period by 15% to 36,000 room nights. This early start leaves us well place to achieve our deliverables and with Kuoni Destination Management Specialists as a global travel service partner we have tremendous outreach to achieve this.”
The six night/seven day ‘Step Aboard’ package is aimed at the solid sailing fan. It includes six nights in a three or four star hotel, an Abu Dhabi City Tour, and attendance at the Pro-Am Race, In-Port Race and Race Farewell ceremony and the New Year’s Eve headline concert.
The six nights/seven day ‘Anchors Away’ is for those that want to watch the sailing and also enjoy the luxury of Arabia. It includes six nights in a four or five star hotel, a private guided tour of Abu Dhabi city with lunch at the opulent Emirates Palace hotel, attendance at the headline concert, the Pro-Am Race Day, the In-Port Race Day and the Fleet Farewell and a day at leisure in the UAE capital.
The six nights/seven days ‘Top Deck Package’ is for those that want to push the boat out in style. It includes a stay in a four or five star hotel, private sea plane flight over Abu Dhabi city and High Tea at the towering Jumeirah Etihad Towers as well at attendance at the New Year’s Eve party. Top Deck clients will enjoy premium Race Village access during the Pro-Am Race Day and In-Port Race Day, experience VIP boat hospitality at the Race Restart and have a day at leisure in the emirate.
The five nights/six day ‘Commodore’s Choice Package’ clients will get to watch all the sailing and will get out to explore the mystique of Abu Dhabi emirate. The package includes a star in a five-star Abu Dhabi hotel, a day of activity in the city and attendance at the New Year’s Eve concert. Clients will enjoy premium Race Village access and VIP boat hospitality at the Race Restart. Once the fleet has departed, the clients will take a private helicopter ride to a five-star, luxurious desert retreat where they’ll spend the rest of their stay.
“There’s also eight à la carte activities to choose from so clients can mix and match how they want to spend their time in Abu Dhabi, giving a great opportunity to explore the emirate.
Kuoni Destination Management Specialists are delighted to join hands with TCA Abu Dhabi on this exciting event, that will support further awareness and growth of the destination on the international travel market,” commented Yasser Noman, CEO Kuoni Destination Management, CEO Desert Adventures.