5.26 AM Friday, 29 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:56 06:10 12:26 15:53 18:37 19:52
29 March 2024

Dubai flies in families to surprise hotel staff

Published
By Bindu Rai

Tears flowed unchecked as 11 emotional Dubai residents were reunited with their families, facilitated by Dubai Tourism in a move that its CEO described as their way to thank the people who are the ‘soul of the emirate.’

An exclusive hotel competition held last year by Dubai Tourism invited employees of each participating outlet to post images or videos that best defined their #MyDubai experience with one winner selected from each hotel.

The 11 finalists, without their knowledge, won an all-expenses paid trip to Dubai for two members of their families to experience the city with them.

Last week, Dubai Tourism flew down families from the Dominican Republic, India, China, the UK, Portugal, Thailand, Venezuela, Australia, the Philippines to surprise their families, along with taking them on tour of the emirate, including a VIP Desert Safari experience and a hot air balloon ride.

Sue Chua, one of the winners of the competition, spoke to Emirates 24|7, saying: “They say ‘It’s more fun in the Philippines’ but after these last four days that we have spent with our families and those of other winners, it is definitely more fun in Dubai.”

Chua, who works at Media One Hotel, had selected her cousin Mary Jane Alfonso and daughter as potentials to fly down to Dubai for a visit.
Ask the mother-daughter duo and an emotional Mary Jane responded: “This experience has been amazing. We are so overwhelmed with what Dubai has done for us.”

Winner Ravinder Singh Manhas, from Punjab, also gushed about Dubai Tourism, which facilitated the flights for his sister-in-law Preeti Manhas, brother Varinder and neice, Shivanshi Thakur.

The restaurant manager at Four Points Sheraton in Bur Dubai, said: “When I signed on for this competition, I had no idea I would win. I never win anything, no raffles, no competitions, nothing.

“Last week, the public relations manager called me to come for a meeting one afternoon and suddenly, as I opened the door, I found my family standing there before me.”

Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, stated: “The idea behind this initiative was to reach at the grassroots level and connect with those who have left their families back home and chosen to make Dubai their place of residence; they are the soul of Dubai.

“What better way was there but for the emirate in turn to bring these people a little joy in their lives.”

When quizzed, Kazim did not deny the initiative also plays an integral role in promoting ‘brand Dubai’ to a global audience.

He stated: “We have set a tourism target of 20 million tourists by 2020. Over the next five years, we are taking active steps in promoting the emirate through initiatives we have planned.”

Kazim also did not deny similar initiatives are also in the pipeline in the coming months, adding: “We have several experiences planned on the #MyDubai and the Dubai Tourism front. All will be revealed in time.”