Atlantis Palm Island unveils its C&I target

Dubai mega-property identifies UK as key event market.

Atlantis Palm Island has set its C&I targets for the next 12 months and placed the UK as the top international market, outside the GCC.

Around 30% of its overall C&I business is targeted to come from the UK, said Atlantis convention sales director Vipin Khattar. "We've been lucky that the UK market has already been made aware of Atlantis due to the pre-opening publicity. In fact, our first group at the property was a UK construction firm, booked directly by the client, for an event with 40 delegates - and they checked in a day after opening."

The incentive appeal at Atlantis includes water park Aquaventure, with its near-vertical chute and a dolphin experience and a spa with 27 treatment rooms, both of which can be privatised, plus four celebrity chef restaurants for dinearounds.

However, Khattar insists that Atlantis is targeting the conference market from the UK: "Of our event bookings so far, 30% is for incentives, and the remaining 70% for conferences and meetings. Atlantis has the largest conference centre in Dubai and the entire West Tower area, which is home to our conference centre and 600 rooms, is all about business. We've tried to position Atlantis to allow for a distinct area for business that can be complemented by our leisure offering, so you won't get a suit walking past a pair of flip flops."

C&IT was among the first trade magazines to visit Atlantis within its first 10 days of operation. To see inside Atlantis - click here.