Sol Kerzner’s passion for hospitality was recognized by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II with the award of the insignia of Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George (KCMG) for his outstanding and exemplary contribution in the area of business and community in the Bahamas. This highest honour was awarded in the annual Queen’s Birthday Honours list for 2010.

“I am truly humbled and most honored by these recent accolades,” says Sol Kerzner. “I would not be here today without the hard work and dedication of our people around the world. While I feel proud of all we have accomplished, there is still much more work to be done and we look forward reinventing the hospitality experience yet again in the next decade.”

With the opening of his latest resort, One&Only The Palm, Dubai, in November and the launches of Atlantis The Palm, One&Only Cape Town and most recently, the Mazagan Beach Resort in Morocco, Kerzner has continued to successfully grow during the two challenging years of the global recession.

Kerzner operates the successful 3,500-room Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas and the 1,500-room Atlantis, The Palm, Dubai. Kerzner also operates some of the top-rated luxury resort properties in the world, under the One&Only brand, which are located in The Bahamas, Mexico, Mauritius, Maldives, South Africa and Dubai.

Last week, Sol accepted the ILTM/UltraTravel Lifetime Achievement award in Cannes for his life-long service and dedication to international travel in Cannes. In February 2010, Kerzner was awarded the Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International Albert E. Koehl Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to advertising and marketing in the hospitality industry. Kerzner was also lauded for his humanitarian achievements outside the travel arena with two distinguished awards from both sides of the pond. Kerzner’s dedication to helping raise over £200 million for sick, disabled and disadvantaged children was acknowledged by The Variety Club Children’s Charity in London honoring him with their May 2010 19th Annual Lifetime Achievement Award. In June, Kerzner accepted Cornell’s 2010 Hospitality Innovator of the Year Award, given annually by the Leland C. and Mary M. Pillsbury Institute for Hospitality Entrepreneurship at Cornell University’s School of Hotel Administration.

“Sol’s enterprising spirit and boundless imagination are evident in the spectacular properties that he and his team have created in markets around the world,” said Tom Ward, Managing Director of the Pillsbury Institute during the awards dinner in New York. “From urban settings to remote islands, Sol has put a uniquely distinctive imprint on our industry.”

The Amwaj Rotana is a 5 star hotel situated at The Walk, Jumeirah Beach Residence. It offers 301 rooms and suites, numerous restaurants, plus a health club and swimming pool.

Timur Ilgaz, General Manager of Amwaj Rotana Jumeirah Beach Dubai said: “We are proud to launch Rotana’s first property with beach access in Dubai and our aim is to provide the ultimate in comfort and convenience, for great value accommodation”.

That’s not all though, as the hotel is also offering 100 lucky children the chance to enter into a raffle draw to meet Barney in person! From now until the end of July, simply spend AED 100 or more at InterContinental Dubai Festival City to earn a ‘purple ticket’. 100 of these will be selected to meet Barney after his performances. Every child who comes to the ‘Purple Brunch’ will also enter into the draw, with extra tickets available for the best dressed Barney impersonators!

Tickets for the Purple Brunch are expected to sell faster than the shake of Barney’s tail, so book yours quickly to avoid disappointment. For more information or to book your place on the Purple Brunch, call 04 7011128 or email restaurant.reservation@ichdfc.ae. To learn more about the dining options at InterContinental Dubai Festival City where you can spend AED 100 or more to earn the chance to meet Barney, visit www.diningdfc.com.

To win the holiday at Atlantis, applicants have to make a video depicting why they should win a holiday with nine friends or family for five nights. The awe-inspiring prize includes return economy class flights for all 10 guests, five deluxe rooms at Atlantis on a bed and breakfast basis, return private transfers, ten Dolphin Encounters at Dolphin Bay and a complimentary dinner at Ronda Locatelli.

There are three ways to enter the Atlantis Big Break Competition:

1.) Download the Atlantis iPhone application and go to ‘Win Amazing Prizes’. Make a video explaining why you and nine friends should win a holiday to Atlantis. Upload the video entry and fill in the competition entry form.
2) Visit www.atlantisdubaibigbreak.com and read the instructions. Make a video explaining why you and nine friends should win a holiday to Atlantis. Upload the video entry and fill in the competition entry form. The video can also be uploaded to http://www.youtube.com/atlantisthepalmtv
3) Visit www.facebook.com Search for the fan page “Atlantis Resort.” Click on Atlantis, The Palm and The Atlantis Big Break Competition. Read the instructions, make and upload the video entry and finally, fill in the competition entry form.

In addition, Atlantis is offering the ‘Romantic Rendezvous’ Competition where entrants only need to answer a multiple-choice question correctly after watching a short video. The winner of the “Romantic Rendezvous” will win round-trip economy airfare for two guests, three nights in an Imperial Club room, daily breakfast, one complimentary dinner in Nobu and Seafire respectively, a spa treatment for two in the Atlantis Spa and two Dolphin Adventures.

As the competition is judged by the number of total of votes, applicants should encourage their friends and family to vote for their video to increase their chances of winning. The ten videos with the most votes will then be reviewed by a panel of judges and a winner selected.

“This competition really gives potential guests an opportunity to show us their creativity on why they should come and enjoy Atlantis,” commented Alan Leibman, President/Managing Director, Atlantis, The Palm. “I can’t wait to watch the videos from the Atlantis iPhone application, the Atlantis facebook page, as well as the Atlantis website.”

To enter the Atlantis Romantic Rendezvous competition, watch a video on the Atlantis iPhone application, the Atlantis website at www.atlantisdubaibigbreak.com or by visiting the Atlantis Resort fan page on Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/atlantisthepalm

Both competitions are open until midnight (Dubai time) on 25 June 2010. Winners will be announced on 2 July 2010.

Commenting on the announcement, Omer Z. Kaddouri, Senior Vice President UAE of Rotana said: “The essence of Rotana is the diversity in its products and for us to be managing this newest property, which is Rotana’s first property with a beach access in Dubai, makes this statement stronger. Amwaj Rotana Jumeirah Beach’s team, headed by the General Manager Timur Ilgaz, has been working hand in hand with Rotana Corporate Office to ensure all areas of the opening are perfected for the operation of this attractive property”.

“Providing a great location to relax and unwind, this property is part of Jumeirah Beach Residence Complex and will be the ultimate comfort and convenience for great value accomodation” , revealed Timur Ilgaz, General Manager of Amwaj Rotana Jumeirah Beach Dubai.

This world class property offers 301 superb rooms, suites and one presidential suite with their modern designs overlooking the Arabia Gulf Sea. Each of the rooms and suites will have a high-speed internet connection and a variety of amenities and facilities. Amwaj Rotana Jumeirah Beach Dubai features exquisite dining venues including Rosso – Bar, Enoteca & Ristorante – an Italian restaurant with a convivial ambience offering al fresco dining, Benihana an American Japanese Restaurant and sushi bar with al fresco dining, Horizon, Sun Deck the pool bar and terrace, and Atrium the lobby lounge Café.

In addition, the hotel offers the most up to date technology in its 3 meeting rooms all offering daylight, one ballroom with private access, business facilities, a state-of-the-art fitness centre, outdoor temperature controlled swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam rooms.

Mr Abdin Nasralla, Vice President Meydan Hotels and Hospitality Division said “The Meydan and its offering of unique experiences is a gift not only to the racing world, but for all who can appreciate superior service and hospitality excellence. We are especially pleased to open The Meydan in time for this year’s Dubai World Cup where a room at the The Meydan will naturally make this already special occasion a once in a lifetime experience.”

The beachfront resort currently features 138 sea view guestrooms over seven floors. Spearheaded by Dubai-based architectural firm Rice Perry Ellis, there are plans to build an adjacent wing to house an additional 163 guestrooms, bringing the total number to 301. Of these, 18 are designated as suites including two Royal Suites, each providing more than 180 square meters (1,937 square feet) and offering a 180-degree panoramic view of the Arabian Gulf.

All guest rooms will be equipped with the finest bedding experience, state-of-the-art technology including wireless and wired internet access, iPod docking stations, flat screen televisions and DVD players as standard to enable guests to both work and relax in their rooms. Located on the third floor of the new wing is The Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge, offering six complimentary food and beverage presentations throughout the day and dedicated multi-lingual concierge service.

As the new wing is located away from the resort’s guestrooms and recreational facilities such as the Spa and swimming pools, General Manager Andrew Nasskau believes the impact will be minimal. “We are mindful of the effect that the expansion programme will have on our guests and we will make every effort to ensure that their comfort and enjoyment will not be compromised,” he says. “All our rooms and suites will still be occupied for the next two years, and the only areas that will be closed are La Baie, the spa pool and garden in front of the new wing.”

To capitalize on the requirements of corporate travellers, the resort will boast sizable meeting and function space to include an 800-square-meter (8,640-square-feet) grand ballroom that is divisible by six, a boardroom and three multi-purpose function rooms. In total, the resort will offer 1,160 square meters (12,528 square feet) of meeting space, all of which will be equipped with the most advanced technology. In addition to a world-class audio and visual set-up, the hotel’s Technology Butler, floral artist services and a dedicated catering and conference team ensures a seamless experience for all meetings and events.

Culinary offerings will be enhanced by the 10 new private dining rooms within an enclosed solarium in the Italian specialty restaurant Splendido, and the signature restaurant La Baie will be revitalized by a new concept and a larger dining space. During the day, sun-worshippers may enjoy the fresh look of the Pool Bar & Grill Pavilion which can accommodate up to 100 guests around the new swimming pools.

The new wing will feature the resort’s famed landscaped gardens including new outdoor swimming pools and a terrace. A 2,020 square meters (21,743 square feet) Spa and Fitness Center, with separate entries for men and women, will showcase a fully equipped gymnasium, beauty salon and 13 private treatment rooms.

The luxury hotel will occupy the lower floors of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world.

The hotel is the first of a series of Armani Hotels opening as part of a joint venture between Giorgio Armani and Dubai’s Emaar Properties.

The Emirate dominated the Best Resorts in the Middle East category, occupying the top 4 positions. The Burj Al Arab came first, followed by the Madinat Jumeirah, the One & Only Royal Mirage, and the Ritz Carlton. The Hyatt Regency was ranked 10th.

In the Best Hotels in the Middle East category the Jumeirah Beach Hotel was ranked number one. Other hotels receiving top marks were the Park Hyatt Dubai (3rd), Grand Hyatt Dubai (9th), Jumeirah Emirates Towers (10th), and the Fairmont Dubai (13th).

Over 25,000 readers participated in the survey. The results appear in the November issue of the prestigious magazine.

The Conrad Dubai is a 51-floor hotel on the Sheikh Zayed Road, now scheduled to open in 2011. Conrad Hotels is a luxury hotel brand, operated by Hilton Worldwide.

Depa specialises in fitting and out and furnishing five-star hotels, yachts, restaurants, luxury apartments, and other prestigious properties. The company based in Dubai.