LuxuryLive: Airtours Discovery Abu Dhabi
The first Discovery trip since the pandemic brought together 48 experienced travel designers from Airtour's top agencies and gave them an unforgettable, top class experience. "How do you actually get the most out of three days in Abu Dhabi?" one may ask. The simple answer is: by inviting highly motivated travel experts and creating a perfect mix of networking, inspiration, and luxurious highlights (oh, and a wink of sleep). Sounds like a mission for LuxuryWise – we just had to participate!
LuxuryLive: Airtours Discovery Abu Dhabi
The first Discovery trip since the pandemic brought together 48 experienced travel designers from Airtour's top agencies and gave them an unforgettable, top class experience. "How do you actually get the most out of three days in Abu Dhabi?" one may ask. The simple answer is: by inviting highly motivated travel experts and creating a perfect mix of networking, inspiration, and luxurious highlights (oh, and a wink of sleep). Sounds like a mission for LuxuryWise – we just had to participate!
Ready, steady, go! Everything is prepared at Jumeirah Saadiyat Island. And...
... the chic five-star hotel on the long white beach awaits the Airtours top partners.
Shukran! Thank you for the great gifts, which will prove useful in the coming days.
Great reunion! Beate Arnold (Airtours Private Travel) warmly welcomes all participants.
Top Job: Ines Stensbeck, Airtours Sales Germany, is the Keeper of Passports!
Airtours Director Steffen Boehnke and Ekaterina Vladimirskaya, Sales Manager Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts, kick off the opening event.
A few poses for the camera on the first excursion to Jubail Mangrove Park: Cornelia Feldmeier (Neuner Reiseservice)...
...Tanja Krause (TUI Stuttgart), and Yoko Heidrich (TUI Grünwald) are happy to oblige.
Attendees can choose to either walk through the nature park...
...or paddle by canoe!
It's only our first day but a quick trip to the souk makes us already think about gifts for our loved ones at home.
And what better souvenir than trendy Dubai chocolate?!
During the site inspection at the Royal Suite of the Emirates Palace Mandarin Oriental, the participants can already spot their next stop on the horizon: the Qasr Al Watan palace.
But first some bubbly! Cheers, Ralph Godbersen (First Reisebüro Neumünster), Heike Schiller (Reisebüro Schiller),...
...and Carola Hoffmann (TUI Travel Center Hersbruck)!
Blessing counted? Check!
Before the visit to the palace, there's some veiling and dressing-up fun in the ladies' room of the Mandarin Oriental.
From a magnificent hotel to a magnificent palace – the Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi is a masterful design for a seat of government, adorned with glistening marble, golden décor, and shimmering chandeliers.
After the tour of the palace, everyone eagerly awaits the Airtours presentation in this presidential setting.
Despite tech snafus, Steffen Boehnke's cheerful laughter takes center stage in front of Abu Dhabi's dreamy backdrop.
Thankfully the caterer's special access authorization went smoothly!
So we quickly switch plans and voilá: Dinner is served!
An honor that is reserved for state guests only – or for top Airtours agencies: an exclusive dinner and a fascinating light show right in front of the dazzling presidential palace. Granted only with an extraordinarily rare special permission for the Discovery travel group.
"We experienced so many highlights in such a short span of time that it is difficult to choose a favorite. The dinner at the presidential palace will of course remain unforgettable – a real goosebump experience! But what impressed me the most was the perfect mix of the trip: a bit of hotel experience, lots of impressive insights into the destination of Abu Dhabi and, above all, this relaxed, great group that took part in the full itinerary with so much enthusiasm and energy."
Michaela Hybrant, Owner · TUI Reisecenter Rasteder Schlossreisebüro in Rastede
Day two starts with the next highlight: a journey through time and cultures in the architectural marvel that is the Louvre Abu Dhabi.
Madame Mona Lisa offers Christian Perz (TUI Munich) the perfect selfie backdrop.
Pit stop with a short site inspection and a delicious lunch at the Park Hyatt.
Pumped and prepared, the group continues onward to the mosque.
Perfect evening light for the beautiful Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque!
Now it's finally time to wear some of the generous gifts we received!
The abayas and caftans look great on everyone and are attuned to the ambience.
Even if the time for the mosque visit is very short, a few pictures simply are a must in this beautiful scenery before continuing on into the desert!
“I really like the Discovery format with its mixture of networking and shared, incomparable experiences. I've been to the Emirates many times before, but now, with Airtours and this program full of highlights, I get to experience it again in a very special way. We also have a great exchange with the Airtours team and other agencies, which is fantastic for me as an agent from Slovakia, as there is enormous client potential for Airtours there.“
Christopher Riedl, Owner · RTravel in Dunajská Streda, Slovakia
Arrival at the Anantara Qasr Al-Sarab Desert Resort feels like "1001 Nights!"
A toast to a delightful desert dinner!
It's a journey to get here, but the magical atmosphere instantly makes up for it.
The delicious Arabic mezze are a real treat!
With a new location and an equally impressive backdrop, the Airtours presentation gets a Take 2. Curtain up!
Despite the fascinating desert atmosphere, everyone is paying close attention to the presentation.
Stargazing at midnight highlights (literally!) the wonders of our home planet.
Just be sure to wear sturdy shoes!
"We organize a lot of trips ourselves and our clients are used to everything running smoothly at these journeys. This is exactly what we expect when booking through a tour operator. We are very selective, so in addition to the monetary aspect, the cooperation with the tour operator must also keep up with our standards. With Airtours, both conditions are met for us as well as our clients. It's great that we can take part in such an impressive trip thanks to our joint success!"
Christian Hagemann, Owner · Fyne Travel by Hagemann in Aachen
After just four hours of sleep, morning comes and the sunrise beckons for the curious at heart.
Cameras out...
...to enjoy the magic of the desert dawn.
After breakfast, the air is let out of the tires for some off-road adventures...
...then it's off barreling through the sands!
Oli Kreipe, Mr. Inspirations & Trends for Airtours, has enjoyed his trip so far.
Everyone in Steffen Bohnke's Jeep is grinning from ear to ear – some other groups were...less enthralled.
Dune Bashing break Group One...
...and Group Two!
A few fleeting animal moments in the desert camp.
Peter Kuracina (TUI B2B Service Center Bratislava) poses with this tame falcon.
One last delicious lunch among the majestic dunes in great company.
The tireless attendees of course took a little infinity pool break…
… before enjoying one last sundowner over the beautiful hotel grounds and desert landscape.
As evening approaches, a wonderful journey comes to an end after just 80 hours.
Yay, we did it! A huge thank you from all attendees of Discovery Abu Dhabi to the two hardworking organizers: Stefanie Ritter (Airtours Events) and Katharina Bokelmann (Product Strategy & Key Account Management).