all the dish that’s fit to print
ampr fyi: abu dhabi state of mind
This week’s rendition of AMPR FYI comes from Dena DiOrio. Hailing from the great state of Ohio, Dena has been with AMPR for two years.
Waiting for my flight to board at the Etihad gate at JFK felt like waiting for any other flight, although it was most definitely not. I was on my way to Abu Dhabi, capital city of the United Arab Emirates, in the Middle East. First time for me to the region, so I was extra psyched. The 13-hour flight was long, but bearable, with all the on-demand movies, music and games one could possibly want while cruising at 36,000 feet above cities like Trabzon, Erzurum, and Shiraz. (more…)
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ramadan detox
Ramadan officially started August 11th and marks the month-long period where Muhammad is believed to have composed the Quran. In honor of this holy month, Muslims around the world will focus on inner peace and cleansing from now until September 9th through daily fasts during sunlight hours and abstain from any harmful habits that introduce toxins to the body (like drinking or smoking).
Ananatara resident spa guru and unofficial Ramadan expert, Liz Smailes, shared her advice with us on incorporating the relevant messages behind the holy celebration into daily life. (more…)
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elite traveler’s top suites
The Top Suites list is out! And we couldn’t be more elated. Elite Traveler Magazine has just released its list of the Top 101 Hotel & Resort Suites worldwide. Because of their amazing locations, beautiful designs, and 5 star amenities and services, it is a no brainer why newcomers Park Hyatt Jeddah-Marina, Club and Spa, Anantara Lawana Resort & Spa, and Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara made the cut. Congrats to all three wonderful properties!
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happy birthday, barack!
Celebrity sightings are all the rage these days, but let’s not forget about government’s royalty. In honor of Obama’s birthday, we’ve rounded up a few locales where you’re likely to run into an off-duty lawmaker or two. Who knows? Maybe you’ll get the chance to bend their ears about your political views over cocktails…
Bern, Switzerland
Bellevue Palace, in the capital city of Bern and right next to the Swiss Parliament, has long been a meeting place for politicians, royals, and dignitaries the world over. As the only 5-star hotel in Bern, the hotel’s luxury is renowned, as is its statesmanlike discretion, making it a natural host for world leaders. During WWII, Bellevue Palace was the picture of political neutrality, as was its famed restaurant, La Terasse, serving guests from Axis nations meeting in one half of the restaurant, and those from the Allied Powers in the other. (more…)
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keep’em coming!
Hospitality Design, the premier New-York based trade magazine, has bestowed upon Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara two, count’em, two awards this year. The annual awards honor hotels and resorts that utilize new materials and innovation in their creative process.
Qasr Al Sarab, in Abu Dhabi’s Liwa Desert was awarded ‘Best Hotel Spa’ and ‘Best for Luxury Public Spaces.’
Built to resemble the traditional Emirati forts found in this expansive desert, Qasr Al Sarab is an explorer’s paradise. Arabian ritual and tradition are the inspiration for the design of the resort and it’s on-site Anantara Spa as well, incorporating natural elements of water, wood, and stone with rich, earthy colors. The treatment menu reflects this in its signature mix of Eastern and Western beauty and wellness rituals. The Spa blends the time-honored Middle Eastern cleansing bath, the Hammam, with tranquil Thai methods to promote wellbeing, balance, and serenity. Treatments utilize natural and indigenous ingredients, such as dates, sand, honey, and olives to produce unique spa journeys for guests.
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royal tour of the mirage palace
Get the full tour of the Mirage Palace, a.k.a Qasr Al Sarab, in the magnificent Liwa Desert, Abu Dhabi, with Johnny Jet. Shokran, Johnny!
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celebs hit the green carpet?
At the beginning of the month, celebs took a break from their usual red carpet to attend the Elephant Parade charity auction, of which Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas is a strong supporter. Stars including Elizabeth Hurley, Goldie Hawn, and Princess Beatrice of York hit the grass to show their support of the protection and conservation of endangered Asian elephants. Despite the rough terrain, fashion did not suffer. Sporting colorful dresses and forever high wedges and heels, these celebs looked almost as good as the painted model baby elephants (all of which were on sale at the event, including Anantara’s own ‘Little Bird’). The auction marked the end of the Elephant Parade in London, which earned over $1.5 million dollars for this great cause!
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baby elephants on the move
Remember when we told you about the Elephant Parade, the installation of model baby elephants scattered around London? Run by Elephant Family, the goal of the charity is to raise awareness of the declining population of the Asian Elephant.
‘Little Bird,’ the baby elephant representing Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas, is somewhere throughout London. Now there is a little extra incentive to finding her, as the Director of Elephants at Anantara Golden Triangle, Mr. John Roberts, has announced that he would give out a free dinner to the first person to send in a photograph of themselves with ‘Little Bird’. And that’s not all! Elephant Family is offering the chance to win a vacation for two to none other than Thailand’s Anantara Golden Triangle where the lucky winners will train with mahouts at the resort’s famed elephant camp and learn about these gentle creatures. To enter, visit http://www.elephantfamily.org/how-can-you-help/events/competition/, fill out the petition, correctly answer the questions, and tweet a message to encourage your followers to sign the petition. The competition closes on July 9th, so hurry before it is too late!
The elephants are on the move! As the Elephant Parade comes to a close, 62 of these life-size, model baby elephants will be migrating from their positions around the city and congregating in Leister Square. July 3rd will mark the end of the parade, when these magnificent pieces of art will be auctioned off in hopes of raising over $2 million!
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baby elephants on parade
The Elephant Parade officially began in London this month. How will they fit, you might ask?
Well, the Elephant Parade is actually an open air art installation of life-size, model baby elephants positioned around the city. Elephants are painted by artists and celebrities, such as Diane von Furstenberg, Isaac Mizrahi and Lulu Guinness to inspire awareness of the plight of the Asian Elephant. With a current population of only 1,500 in the wild in Thailand (down from 300,000 at the turn of the last century), they face a severe risk of extinction.
Run by the small charity Elephant Family, these efforts require serious support from their patrons, which include Goldie Hawn and Sarah, Duchess of York. Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas is a sponsor and champion of this cause, and has a little baby of its own, known as ‘Little Bird,’ placed somewhere around Londontown. All elephants are for sale by auction and Elephant Family aims to raise over $2 million.
This is London’s biggest outdoor art event on record and runs from May to July 2010. If you are hanging out in Trafalgar Square or Green Park, these colorful creatures will be impossible to miss. So, enjoy the exhibit because it may be the only time you see an Asian elephant in London!
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to the victor go the…camels?
Last week New York Times’ T magazine took note of the annual Mazayin Competetion, AKA Camel Beauty Contest, which takes place in the desert two hours outside of Abu Dhabi.
Part of the Al Dhafra Festival, this seemingly oxymoronic tradition (Camels? Beautiful?) is actually highly competitive. There are, of course, millions of dollars in prize money to be had, but it is the old family rivalries that really get the blood flowing. There are last minute camel swaps and deals being brokered as camel owners from all over the UAE strategize to win the ’50,’ or the title of having the most exceptional group of 50 camels. The panel of judges will critique each camel individually, then score the contestants based on criteria from the Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, the Al Dhafra is all about celebrating Bedouin culture and is an ideal time to visit the region. The desert is full of festivities: a traditional souk is set up where visitors can shop for handmade crafts and sample native dishes, there is a date-wrapping competition, a poetry contest and even camel races!
The festival takes place annually in late January into early February. We’ll be checking back once the drama begins to unfold.
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