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.”

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.

The paper quotes the company response as, ‘Nakheel continues to evaluate its projects and commitments against market conditions and opportunities. In doing so, the company also evaluates its cost base and efficiencies.’

Nakheel Properties is a state-owned property developer. Major construction projects include the Palm Jumeirah, Palm Deira, Palm Jebel Ali, The World, Jumeirah Islands, Ibn Battuta Mall, Discovery Gardens, International City, and Al Furjan.

The development, on the trunk of the Palm Jumeirah, consists of over 550 deluxe apartments and penthouses. They are housed in 2 buildings, separated by the Fairmont Palm Hotel and Resort.

Full completion is expected in the third quarter of 2009, with handover to owners shortly after.

In 2007 Nakheel purchased the famous ocean liner from Cunard and planned to anchor it at the Palm Jumeirah. She arrived in Dubai at the end of 2008 and is currently moored at Port Rashid.

The Tiara Residence is located on the trunk of the Palm Jumeirah and comprises 644 apartments in seven 15-storey towers.

The development also includes the Essque Hotel, set to open in 2010.

The development on the trunk of the artificial island includes 860 residential units (one, two and three bedroom apartments, plus townhouses and penthouses). It is a joint venture between Nakheel and IFA Hotels and Resorts (IFAHR).

All residences will be managed by the Fairmont Palm Hotel, scheduled to open in 2010.

IFA HR recently introduced a scheme allowing Golden Mile owners to either occupy their apartments or lease them through IFA HR.

Dubai based Seawings LLC, the only seaplane tour operator in the Middle East, has announced that due to growing demand, they will now start flights to and from the Emirate of Fujairah on the east coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Located on the Indian Ocean at the foot of the Hajar Mountains, the Emirate of Fujairah is known for its phenomenal wreck dives, plentiful coral reefs and abundant marine life.

The forty five minute ‘dock to dock’ flight provides views of Dubai’s most iconic landmarks including the Palm Jumeirah, The World Islands, Burj Al Arab, Historic Dubai Creek, Dubai Festival City, The Hajar Mountains, Dibba Coast and historic Fujairah before landing on the East coast of the UAE.

Seawings passengers get to enjoy the beautiful coral reefs, majestic mountains and brilliant beaches in a fraction of the time and in a way that many people would never experience.

Stuart Wheeler, CEO of Seawings said, ‘Considering the enormous potential in the east coast and with the tremendous growth in the tourism, we have been working hard to ensure that Seawings is conveniently located and offers customers a range of benefits within our product offering. By opening this new location, we look forward to catering to the demands of a larger segment of individuals and groups. Our passengers can explore the marvels and history of the UAE in a unique and convenient way without wasting time and energy on road travel. We will keep on offering new services and adding new tour options based on the customer requirements.’

Seawings - flights from Fujairah

The driverless light rail system travels runs along the trunk of Nakheel’s artificial island, from the Gateway Towers station to Atlantis.

A round trip costs Dh25 and a single Dh15.

The Middle East’s first monorail system was originally scheduled to open in December 2008 but was later delayed to April 2009.

The monorail is 5.4 km long and runs from the trunk of the Palm Jumeirah (Gateway Station) to the crescent (Atlantis Station). When operating at full capacity it will be capable of transporting 6,000 people per hour.

Testing has already been completed. Here’s a short video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn34C4_KMJI