Dubai steals spotlight in T.O. as Emirates showcases luxury flights, big adventures

STORY BY ERIC STOBER

Dubai was in the spotlight at the Delta Hotel in Toronto on Tuesday evening (Sept. 16) as Emirates Canada hosted an evening featuring the metropolis in the Middle East.

Up to 100 travel industry movers and shakers were in attendance, enjoying refreshments and a seafood buffet complete with oysters, mussels and crab.

“There are a lot of similarities between (Dubai and Canada),” Emirates Country Manager Shaz Peshimam said. “Both are very diverse in culture.”

He said that the relationship between Canada and Dubai is only growing. Emirates’ offerings from Canada to Dubai have expanded in recent years, boosting from five weekly flights departing from Toronto to becoming daily in 2023.

Flights are now also offered from Montreal daily.

The Toronto flight features the Emirates A380 plane, which has three different classes and luxury amenities such as shower spas and flat beds. From Montreal flies the Boeing 777.

“The best pajama party there is”

Emirates Senior Sales Executive Michael Roque said at Emirates, they believe flying isn’t just about going from point A to point B, but is about the experience and how the client feels at every touch point.

He said that the airline defines the industry standard for in-flight experience.

“We invest in our aircraft, we invest in our in-flight service, we invest in our ground services as well,” he said. “The best part is when your clients fly better, your business grows better.”

He highlighted its Bulgari-designed amenity kits for business class passengers, as well as full sleeper seats that make the aircraft feel more like a luxurious hotel rather than a mode of transportation.

That includes turn-down service and your own set of pajamas, as well as a lounge to hang out at before hitting the hay.

Roque said his first experience with the air lounge included being with about 20 other passengers… all in their pajamas.

“(They were all) talking to each other like they knew everybody,” he said. “I think it’s the best pajama party there is.”

Roque highlighted how Dubai isn’t just a destination in itself, but also a “launchpad” to over 70 cities around the world.

“The connection to Asia, Africa, the Middle East (from Dubai) is second to none,” he said.

Experience Dubai

The event also highlighted the Dubai Experience program Emirates offers, or DEX, which bundles hotels, activities and tours, and airport transfers to make the travel experience as easy as possible.

Once in Dubai, Emirates Sales and Operating Specialist Patricia Villanueva said there are many hotel options for all kinds of budgets and the airport is very well connected, so transferring should be seamless.

She highlighted the Atlantis hotel at The Palm, which has around 1,500 rooms.

“It’s a destination within a destination,” she said, noting there is complimentary access to the Aquaventure World, the world’s largest waterpark. “It’s fun for adults as well as for kids.”

As for the experiences on offer in Dubai, Villanueva highlighted a 12-minute skydive, where you can see the whole city in one go, from the Palm Jumeirah island to the Atlantis hotel to the desert.

 “You can see how big is the city,” she said. “It’s just an amazing experience to see Dubai from the sky.”

Reach Global Marketing Specialist Antje Splettstoesser highly recommended taking a small trip from the city to visit the desert. There, guests can stay at the Platinum Heritage camp, a luxurious experience that includes a land rover drive, premium tents and access to Bedouins to learn more about the area and its heritage.

Past patrons include Selena Gomez, Will Smith and Zendaya.

 “You really get the tranquility of the desert,” Splettstoesser said. “You can see the stars of night, they’re absolutely amazing.”

If visiting Dubai, UAE capital Abu Dhabi is only an hour away and she said it's worth a trip there. It will be home to a new Disney theme park in about five to seven years’ time.

Breaking records

For Dubai itself, the city prides itself in its prowess for breaking world records, which can make a fun sight-seeing tour for visitors.

Records broken include the tallest tower standing at 828 metres and 163 stories, the largest mall in the world, and the tallest observation wheel in the world, which features a private dining experience. Then there’s the largest urban zipline in the world, one kilometre across the city, during which you can travel up to 80 kilometres an hour.

 “Dubai is an exciting mixed cocktail of very old traditional Arabic heritage combined … with innovative character,” Splettstoesser said. “Dubai has it all.”

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