05 Feb Abu Dhabi Fam Trip – Part 1 (The City)
Abu Dhabi Fam Trip – Part 1 (The City)
Last week I was lucky enough to attend a fam trip to Abu Dhabi courtesy of Pearl Representation, Golf Dunes, Air Partner, Ethihad Airlines and Yas Viceroy.
The trip was kicked off in style with a sumptuous champagne breakfast in the Ethihad Lounge at Heathrow Airport. It was then all board for a six hour flight where we got to relax and enjoy an impressive selection of movies.
On arrival we collected by private transfer and whisked off to the Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi. A 5 star luxury property which sits on the famous Marina Circuit which is famous for hosting the Formula 1 and its striking whale like architecture.
Here we checked in for a two night stay and as soon as I arrived I was immediately impressed by the size and luxurious feel of the bedroom. Top end technology, stunning views across the circuit and every home comfort made for a relaxing stay.
Day 1:
The full program officially started the next day with an exciting selection of site visits which showed us a diverse range of properties.
Highlights included:
* A visit to Ferrari World a theme park which is perfect for holding large scale receptions with lots of attractions to get keep guests busy. From the fastest roller coast in the world to virtual reality simulators.
* The BRAND NEW Louvre Museum! Not quite ready to host events yet, but a specular building and the tours are fascinating
* A visit to the Etihad Innovation lounge here we got a sneak peek on what’s happening with the new Abu Dhabi Airport terminal and got to see the stunning selection of business and first class travel. Definitely worth considering for VIP clients!!
To end the day it was at tour of the Yas Viceroy itself which boasts an impressive selection of events spaces including a ballroom which can up to 300 people for dinner, a stunning rooftop bar which is perfect for pre or post dinner drinks and a selection of 5 restaurants. We ate in Kazu a Japanese restaurant serving the most stunning food and one of the most memorable dishes of Kobe Beef I have ever tasted!
Day 2:
Day 2 was a day of adventure! The first stop was at the Anantara Eastern Mangroves Hotel. A 5 star property but with a completely different vibe to the Yas Viceroy. Chic and relaxing with a stunning infinity pool looking over the water.
This property also has an impressive selection of activities including kayaking which is the one we had go at. The water was nice and calm making for easy paddling’s and it was a wonderful way to enjoy the natural scenery with impressive views of the cities sky scrapers behind.
It was then off to lunch at the Saadiyat Beach Club one of the cities coolest night spots. The perfect place for group sundowners -stunning beach views and pool surrounded by white linen beds and excellent service.
After lunch it was time to head back to the Marina Circuit to take part in one of the world’s ultimate motor sports- Drag Racing! A thrill seeking challenge where you race against opponent to see who can go faster- the secret is just to floor the accelerator!! This is an activity that I will never forget and would defiantly recommend this for an incentive program.