Hospitality Net

Built in the style of a majestic palace rising from the sand, Emirates Palace is an architectural wonder, set on a 100-hectare plot, with elaborate design and unparalleled facilities created with the sole purpose of whisking its guests into a world worthy of royalty where their every whim will be fulfilled and their every need catered to.

It boasts a staggering 114 domes covered in mosaic and topped with gold finials, with the largest, the Grand Atrium Dome, being a 42m wide dome with a surface finish of silver and gold coloured glass mosaic tiles. There is an impressive Arc de Triomphe-style entrance and the entire exterior is adorned in heather-coloured marble, the total amount of which used throughout the palace is 110,000 m3. The Palace will also house a magnificent collection of 1002 chandeliers made with Swarovski’s premier Strauss crystals.

Bond Communications has won the contract to install what is believed to be the world’s largest and most advanced hotel integrated multimedia system.

This advanced technology will be introduced into each of the 394 rooms, creating a luxurious, “tomorrow’s world” hotel environment, where guests will have fingertip control of everything from interactive TVs and in room entertainment, to lighting, air conditioning, personal computers, internet access and room service orders. In total, the hotel will offer guests 755 plasma screens, 50-inch screens for rooms and 61-inch screens in suites.

Guests at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi’s exclusive landmark conference and hotel venue managed by Kempinski Hotels & Resorts, will enjoy futuristic services with the latest technological breakthroughs. All areas of Emirates Palace including its 1300 metre long beach, pools, marina and gardens will be covered by a wireless internet access network. Palace guests and conference delegates will have easily accessible unlimited 24 hour internet access.

Emirates Palace is planning to introduce a range of innovative services made possible by the wireless internet access throughout the property. One such service is the Emirates Palace Online Library offering an extensive range of books, films and music our guests can choose from during their stay. You can take your laptop to the beach and watch your favourite movie, pick one of the latest bestseller books to read online or even have the book read to you using text on speech technology.

The Palace Conference Centre houses the most luxurious and technologically advanced meeting facilities in the region. The conference facilities include an auditorium with fixed seating for 1,200 guests, a main ballroom that can seat up to 2,400 persons and an extensive range of 40 meeting rooms including a Media Centre with 12 press rooms. In addition, six large terraces and a variety of pre-function areas provide many possibilities for breaks, cocktail receptions and banquets.

All meeting and function rooms come fully equipped with a projector, motorized screen, plasma screens, microphones, audio-visual systems, wireless and wire data systems, special sound system, video conferencing system, IP camera and broadcast camera connectivity. The hotel will also have a certain number of business guest rooms, which will be available for business clients and equipped with state-of-the-art technology, from laptops scanner and printer, to office essentials such as paper clips and stationery items.

Emirates Palace will employ approximately 2000 staff members representing approximately 50 nationalities, and it is estimated that on completion, 20,000 people will have worked to complete all phases of the Palace’s construction. Kempinski Hotels & Resorts has been chosen to operate Emirates Palace. As the oldest European luxury hotel group, Kempinski has vast experience in managing legendary properties such as the Adlon in Berlin, Ciragan Palace in Istanbul, Grand Hotel Europe in St. Petersburg and the Leela Palaces in India. Emirates Palace is a project of utmost importance and significance for the Kempinski Group, not only as its Middle East flagship but a landmark hotel worldwide.

Mr. Willy Optekamp, a hotelier with experience on four continents and in 15 countries, has been named General Manager of Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi. A native of Germany, Optekamp has worked and resided in Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and the Middle East during his 40 years experience in the industry. Boasting a track record which includes 10 years experience in the Middle East, Optekamp has ambitious plans for Emirates Palace and is well-equipped to carry them through.

“Emirates Palace brings a new dimension in hospitality to the world of both business and leisure travel and will lead the way in creating a new awareness of Abu Dhabi as a destination,” said Optekamp. “Its state-of-the-art conference centre and the ultra-luxurious facilities and beach club are sure to place Emirates Palace on the world map as one of the world’s finest hotels. My primary goal is to ensure that when guests walk through the Palace gates, they feel as though they have been whisked away to old Arabia with our staff catering to their every whim. Every guest will be treated like royalty. After all, they are at the Palace.”