The Atlantis President dismissed speculation that upcoming gaming resorts in the UAE could be a threat to the iconic hotel.
“As an integrated resort, we stand alone in this hemisphere,” Kelly said in a recent AB Majlis podcast hosted by Lisa Amnegard, editor of Arabian Business Traveller. His remarks follow announcements that MGM, Bellagio and Aria will develop 1,400 hotel rooms on Dubai’s upcoming ‘The Island’ project.
The new hotels are world-class entertainment brands in their own right, and famously feature gaming at their Las Vegas resorts.
Kelly, however, emphasised that Atlantis Dubai feels no threat from competitors replicating their entertainment and dining options.
“There are very few brands that can match our amenities, experiences and services,” he said. Since unveiling Atlantis, The Royal last year, “only four or five percent of Palm guests have shifted over,” Kelly noted, showing that the brand has benefited from the expansion and have penetrated a new market.
“We believe it has either taken share from existing luxury resorts in the city, or has caused travel to come to Dubai,” Kelly explained, stating that the portfolio expansion has helped the brand reposition the persona of what Atlantis is, rather than cannibalising business from its first flagship resort.
The two adjacent resorts have become destinations in their own right, offering distinct experiences to diversify. However, Kelly shared that plans to unify the resorts is definitely in the pipeline.
“We’re looking at different ways to do that, whether it’s cable cars [or] monorails boats,” he said. “It’s certainly an intention for us where we want to have greater interconnectivity.”
Plot thickens for dining, entertainment expansion
As one of Dubai’s largest luxury players, Kelly revealed plans to keep adding facilities and experiences in 2024. Beyond rooms and F&B, Kelly stressed enhancing Atlantis’ “entertainment pillars,” with seven hectares unused land, allows further development for the destination.
“We’re not really complete building out Atlantis, Dubai, the destination” Kelly said. “There’s more to come.”
From new retail activations to reimagined water parks, Kelly wants guests seeing “something different, new and special” on each visit.
Recent additions include a Dolce & Gabbana partnership at the Royal’s Cloud 22 pool. An upcoming Louis Vuitton activation will commemorate the resort’s first anniversary.
Aquaventure, already 22.5 hectares – and the world’s largest water park, will transform into the even bigger Aquaventure World.
Culinary firepower grows with new celebrity chef restaurant
To maintain its culinary leadership, Atlantis will continue its focus on F&B offerings and bring celebrity chefs to enhance their dining concepts.
As Dubai continues to emerge as a top gastronomic destination globally, collaborations with acclaimed institutions such as Gault & Millau are also important for Atlantis Dubai going forward.
“It’s important that we continue to drive those relationships with Gault & Millau. We do a lot of four-hands dinners where we’ll bring in highly regarded chefs from around the world, including those who are not featured here in Dubai just yet. This way, we can bring that level of food and cuisine to our customers direct,” Kelly said.
On the podcast, Kelly spoke about the most anticipated dining offerings to look forward to in the coming year. He announced that Swedish celebrity chef Björn Frantzén will open an intimate 27-seat fine dining restaurant at Atlantis, the Palm in October. Frantzén’s Harrods outpost Studio Frantzén will also debut.
Additionally, acclaimed restaurant group Major Food Group will bring their celebrity hotspot concept Carbone to Atlantis, the Royal. With locations in New York, Hong Kong, Dallas, Miami, Las Vegas and Doha, Carbone’s expansion underscores Atlantis’ strategy to keep evolving and maintain its status as the “most ultra-luxury experiential resort” in the world.
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