Les Clefs D’Or United Arab Emirates, the regional chapter of the Union Internationale Des Concierges d’Hotels (UICH), has hosted its annual General Assembly for the first time in Abu Dhabi, with support from Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi).

The meeting of members representing four and five star properties from all seven emirates and other GCC countries - under the co-ordination of the Abu Dhabi Concierge Group – heard from some of Abu Dhabi’s leading tourism providers in a workshop at the four-star Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi Yas Island Hotel, followed by an action-packed afternoon at the award-winning Yas Waterworld aqua park – recently voted the Middle East’s leading attraction.

“Visitor experiences across Abu Dhabi, and in particular Yas Island, continue to grow and we welcome the opportunity to influence these important destination advocates as part of our ongoing outreach programme to drive tourism growth to Abu Dhabi,” explained Saeed al Dhaheri, Tourism Information Services Manager, TCA Abu Dhabi.

The group - consisting of concierge and front of house staff from Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah - was also given an insight into the wide range of world-class options available on Yas Island, from the leading attractions of Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and Yas Waterworld, to the new Yas Beach set on the island’s tranquil southern shores, and the complimentary Yas Express shuttle service which connects all of the island’s sights throughout the day.

“As the venue for the annual Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, the championship-ready Yas Links golf course, a world class concert venue and six hotels, Yas Island is emerging as an international entertainment hub and through this opportunity, we are confident members will spread the message that there is now so much more to see and do in Abu Dhabi,” added Al Dhaheri.

The group also heard of the array of on-track and behind the scenes experiences at Yas Marina Circuit and the eagerly anticipated Yas Mall - opening in March 2014 with 235,000 square metres of floor space – which will be the largest shopping centre in Abu Dhabi and the second largest in the UAE.

Charles Ferrer, President of Les Clefs d’Or and chief concierge at the five-star H-Hotel Dubai stressed the value of hosting the meeting in Abu Dhabi, “As Les Clefs d’Or membership continues to grow, the opportunity to experience the destination strengthens our commitment to support continuous development of our members.”

The General Assembly comes as guests to Abu Dhabi’s 146 hotels and hotel apartments continue to grow. Figures to the end of May 2013 indicate across the board growth in guest numbers, nights, length of stay and revenues - 1.1 million guests have stayed in the emirate’s hotels this year – a 12% rise on the first five months of 2012.

“Our objective in hosting the cream of the UAE’s concierges here in Abu Dhabi is to demonstrate that there is much to recommend for visitors to the region, especially on Yas Island,” added Ferrer.

TCA Abu Dhabi’s commitment to extending destination awareness has already seen two concierge update meetings and first-hand experiences of Al Ain’s Wadi Adventure Water Park and most recently at the award-winning Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital.

“The concierge is a direct link between guests and service providers, and it is hugely beneficial to experience the destination - especially for our colleagues in the Northern Emirates - as guests often rely on our local knowledge and expertise to help plan their visits,” explained Oussama Itani, chief concierge at the four-star Crown Plaza Abu Dhabi Yas Island, host hotel of the assembly.

The 63rd UICH International Congress, a gathering of over 1,000 concierges from the world’s leading hotels, is due to be held in the UAE in 2016.

We accept Guest Posts

Download the Dubai City Guide iPhone mobile app

DubaiCityGuide.com is owned and managed by Cyber Gear