The opening of Etihad Holidays’ newest holiday shop in Abu Dhabi’s Marina Mall got off to a roaring start with a visit by reigning Formula One world champion Kimi Raikkonen.

As well as performing a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the F1 Ferrari star signed autographs and posed for photos with customers.

Tony Gauci, head of Etihad Holidays, said: “It was a real honour to have Kimi open our latest Etihad Holidays shop. The response from the customers was fantastic and really made the opening a very special occasion.

“To mark the opening of our last Etihad Holidays shop, in Khalidiya Mall in Abu Dhabi, we exhibited the Etihad Airways’ new replica Formula 1 racing car. We’ve gone a step further this time by getting the reigning Formula One world champion himself to perform the opening ceremony. “

The new holiday shop provides customers with a complete travel sales experience, offering holidays to key Etihad destinations as well as the full range of Etihad Airways products and services.

The opening was part of a series of events attended by the Ferrrari driver as part of Etihad’s ‘Kimi Day’ in Abu Dhabi.

Etihad Airways is the sponsor of the famous Ferrari F1 team for whom Raikkonen drives. The Abu Dhabi-based airline is also the three-year title sponsor of next year’s inaugural ‘Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix’, which will be staged in the UAE capital in November.

Visitors to the new holiday shop will be able to enjoy its interactive computer displays as well as the convenience and comfort of Marina Mall’s modern retail environment.

Marina Mall is the third Etihad Holidays shop to be opened in the UAE. The holiday division of Etihad Airways also has holiday shops at Al Wahda Mall and Khalidiya Mall

Since their opening, the two holiday shops have proved extremely successful, helping Etihad Holidays increase its revenue by more than 120 per cent over the same period in 2007.

Etihad plans to open its next holidays shop in the new Dubai Marina Mall before the end of 2008.

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