Desert Islands Resort & Spa by Anantara has unveiled its new 552 capacity Conference Centre on Sir Bani Yas Island. Developed by Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC) this new addition is the first and only venue of its kind located on a nature and wildlife island reserve.
Set along the shoreline of the Arabian Gulf and adjacent to Desert Islands Resort & Spa, the new Conference Centre is a versatile venue offering individually tailored event solutions and state-of-the-art facilities, including a ballroom and meeting rooms. The impressive Dhabi Ballroom is set to become an “in-demand” venue for large scale corporate retreats and can accommodate: 320 guests in banquet-style seating, 460 guests in auditorium-style seating or 552 guests capacity for cocktail events.
In addition, the Conference Centre’s three meeting rooms can be divided into six break-out rooms adding to the versatility of the venue, while advanced audio-visual facilities and state-of-the-art Business Centre cater to every business requirement. Complete with extensive outdoor terraces, shaded and non-shaded external decking along with an impressive entrance/reception lobby and stylish circulation corridors, the Desert Islands Conference Centre provides guests with an ideal environment for their event together with unique outdoor experiences including wildlife and nature tours, providing a behind-the-scenes look into the work that goes into caring for the wildlife on Sir Bani Yas Island. Other activities include horse riding, kayaking through the lush mangroves, archery and wadi-walks – to name but a few.
The Mice market counts for 15-20 per cent of Anantara’s total business mix in the UAE which is growing along the distribution and sales network internationally; in addition to the active support of Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) on exhibitions stands and road shows, where both the destination and Anantara’s hotels and resorts are showcased.
“The Mice market is the key to achieving budget for all three properties as these are generally midweek events that support need periods for us. The flexibility of the meeting space, destination and activities that we can offer groups, along with the incentives, makes us unique and allows guests to benefit from their experiences” said David Garner, regional director of sales and marketing for Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas in the Middle East.
With direct flights currently taking off from Al Bateen Executive Airport located in Abu Dhabi city to Sir Bani Yas Island Airport three times a week, this opens up new opportunities for large groups that can easily access the product and combine meetings with island- and water-based activities.