Dubai Eyes 103.8 Business Breakfast Presenters To Broadcast Live From Melbourne, Australia During Victoria Week

The Business Breakfast, Dubai Eye’s award winning weekday business programme, will broadcast live from Melbourne, Australia as part of a special “Victoria Week” from 8 -12 May 2011.

Throughout the week, presenters Malcolm Taylor and Brandy Scott will be interviewing high profile industry leaders with links to the UAE, from a range of business sectors including finance, transport, sport and tourism. They will also be covering the inaugural Australian Arab Business Forum & Expo on 5-6 May, which aims to promote and facilitate two-way trade and investment between Australia and Arab nations.

The Forum is supported by the State Government of Victoria, which also works to promote and assist business links across the region through the Victorian Government Business Office, its Middle East and North African (MENA) office, based in Dubai.

The Victorian Government Business Office provides help and assistance for Victorian exporters trading throughout the region, and works closely with local companies looking to source products and services, business introductions and investment opportunities with Victoria.

John Butler, Commissioner – MENA, State Government of Victoria, said:

“There are already a number of high profile companies from the GCC region with business ties to Victoria. These include Emirates Airline, title sponsor of the Melbourne Cup, Australia’s major thoroughbred horserace, Etihad Airways who sponsors Etihad Stadium, Melbourne’s multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue and Toyota Australia, which manufactures all of the Camry taxis for Dubai and Abu Dhabi from its main factory located in Melbourne.

“Bringing the region’s most popular business radio programme to Melbourne will allow us to highlight the immense range of opportunities for businesses wishing to establish business links with Victorian companies, and to showcase the state capital, which was recently named the world’s second most livable city, as an excellent place to live, work and conduct business."

Steve Smith, Chief Operating Officer, Arabian Radio Network, said:

“We are incredibly excited to support this initiative and are looking to make this Forum a regular event. Business connections between Australia and this region are increasing at a significant rate and these types of initiatives only help to further enhance relationships between these economies.”

Mr Butler (left) joined The Business Breakfast presenters Brandy Scott (centre) and Malcolm Taylor (right), at the Dubai Eye studio prior to their departure to Melbourne to present them with a book called Melbourne Symmetry, a 112 page publication of recent images giving a contemporary perspective of Melbourne.

The Business Breakfast broadcasts every weekday morning from 6-10am on Dubai Eye 103.8.
 

Arabian Adventures Appoints Representatives In Australia And Brazil

Arabian Adventures, the Middle East’s leading Destination Management Company (DMC) and part of Emirates airline, has appointed PillowMINT in Australia, and Brazil Experts Bureau in South America as its official representatives in these markets.

The new representatives will provide a range of services to help promote the UAE as an exciting destination offering a variety of opportunities and experiences.

Arabian Adventures provides professional, high quality, destination management services to the world’s foremost tour operators, incentive houses, meeting and convention organisers, and cruise lines.

With over 300 professional, multilingual staff, Arabian Adventures is equipped to provide a wide range of exclusive tailor-made services. The company has experience handling groups ranging in size from two to 5,000 and its services include: explorer programmes, a range of tours, desert safaris, special interest activities and tailor-made trips.

In addition, it can offer planning services, such as contracting hotel space, and managing events, transfers and in-resort assistance. Arabian Adventures is an official safari operator in the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve – has offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Fujairah, on the East Coast of the UAE.

The appointments bring to 11 the number of Arabian Adventures’ global representation including those in China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States.

 

Free Night At Wolgan Valley Resort Spa In Australia For First Class Business Class Passengers On Emirates

Emirates has announced an exceptional offer for First Class and Business Class passengers traveling to Australia and New Zealand between now and the 15th December 2010.

Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, a stunning property outside Sydney, is offering a two-night stay for the price of one night, to Emirates passengers booked in First Class or Business Class on all flights to Australia or New Zealand. For the price of AED 7,094 (AUD1,950) per room per night (based on double occupancy), guests can enjoy a two-night stay in a Heritage suite, including breakfast, lunch, dinner, non-alcoholic beverages and a selection of regional alcoholic beverages with meals and 10% service tax. Also included are two on-site nature-based activities per day.

Located within its own 4,000 acre conservation reserve, and nestled between two national parks bordering the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, the conservation-based Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa sets new standards in luxury travel. Combining the expectations of the high-end traveller with the broader social, ecological and environmental aspects of the resort, it offers the only experience of its kind in Australia.

The secluded resort — opened in October 2009 — features 40 individual suites surrounded by private decks, each with its own indoor/outdoor swimming pool. Its architecture is designed to be reminiscent of traditional rural Australian homesteads.

The Au$125 million project was built on the philosophy of complete integration with its environment, and supports wide-ranging conservation practices. These focus on endangered species protection and the planting of thousands of native trees indigenous to the area, including one of the world’s rarest trees, the Wollemi Pine.

For bookings or more information, email reservations@wolganvalley.com or call +61 2 9290 9733.

Meat & Livestock Australia Black Box Culinary Challenge 2010 Honours Culinary Talent In Dubai

Culinary excellence in Dubai was honoured recently during the prestigious and exciting Awards Ceremony and Gala Dinner of the MLA Black Box Culinary Challenge 2010 which brought together 60 chefs from 15 top hotels and resorts as well as the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, who toiled in their kitchens for honors in one of the world’s top culinary competitions.

Organized under the auspices of Dubai Tourism and Commercial Marketing Department, by Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA), representing the Australian Meat industry, the main supplier of quality halal beef and lamb products to the local and regional catering markets, the MLA Black Box Culinary Challenge 2010 was held at Madinat Jumeirah and was overseen by no less than nine international culinary judges, representatives from the World’s Association of Chefs Societies (WACS), the Emirates Culinary Guild, Dubai hospitality industry and journalists from local and international F&B, social and lifestyle media.

Lachlan Bowtell, Regional Manager of Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) Middle East and North Africa, said: “Obviously, the Black Box Culinary Challenge has become an ideal platform for the hospitality industry in Dubai to challenge its gastronomic creativity and boost the already high standards in Dubai’s culinary sector, as one of the world’s most prestigious and sophisticated dining destinations. Contesting chefs showcased their talents in handling the best quality Australian beef and lamb products, which have become essential ingredients on menus in the UAE. On this occasion, we’d like to congratulate all winners of the Black Box Culinary Challenge 2010 and particularly, overall winner, The Address Downtown Dubai, as well as the first runner up, the Emirates Academy and second runner up, The Address Marina.

The list of participating hotels featured the emirate’s hospitality heavy-weights Madinat Jumeirah, Atlantis – The Palm, Hilton Dubai Jumeirah, Burj Al Arab, Coral Deira Hotel, Habtoor Grand Resort & Spa, Al Hamra Fort Hotel and Beach Resort (RAK), Radisson Blu Dubai Deira Creek, The Address Dubai Marina, Media Rotana Hotel, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Raffles Dubai The Address Downtown Dubai and Park Hyatt Dubai Hotel. The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management has also participated in the competition.

According to the Black Box Challenge’s procedures, Chefs have to gather one day before in the Black Box unveiling ceremony. Every team is assigned an identical black box that contains a wide variety of ingredients including Australian beef and lamb, from which chefs are able to unleash their creativity and creativity. Once teams’ ingredients are registered by the Challenge Coordinator, they have one hour to extricate their innovative nerve and produce four courses: appetizer, soup, main course and dessert. The judges mark every entry and the team obtaining the highest total mark is announced the Overall Winner.

After detailed deliberations between the Challenge’s judges, The Address Downtown Hotel was announced overall Winner of the MLA Black Box Culinary Challenge 2010, followed by The Address Marina and Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, consecutively. For the Best Table Display Award, however, Grand Habtoor & Spa distinguished its table with a fine blend of creative design and simplicity to snatch the Award. Jumeirah Beach Hotel’s table came second and Atlantis – Palm Jumeirah’s third.

The Best Main Course Award went to Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management whereas The Address Downtown received the Best Appetizer Award and the Best Dessert Award. Atlantis – Palm Jumeirah was also honoured with the Best Soup Award.

Rejoicing in winning the 2010 edition of the Black Box Culinary Challenge, the Address Downtown Chef, Daniel……., said: “We’re extremely happy with the MLA Black Box Culinary Challenge 2010 title, and I’d like to thank my team for their creative edge and also to thank Meat & Livestock Australia for providing the Dubai culinary industry with this unique opportunity that contributes to culinary best practice and encourage gastronomic innovation and excellence among prestigious caterers in Dubai.”
 

Fans Urged To Arrive Early To Twenty20 Match

Organisers of this evening’s Twenty20 match between Pakistan and Australia are urging supporters to arrive in good time and enjoy the build up to the first Twenty20 match to be hosted in the UAE.

A capacity crowd is anticipated for the game at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, which holds 25,000 supporters.

Fans will enjoy a programme of pre-match entertainment, which also incorporates the official inauguration of the stadium by senior UAE officials.

“There is going to be a party atmosphere as we inaugurate the Dubai International Cricket Stadium this evening,” said Macky Dudhia, General Manager, Sports Business. “Gates open at half past four this afternoon, and we advocate supporters making their way to the ground as early as possible to ensure they enjoy the whole event.”

Only a few tickets remain available in the AED 75 bracket, while the premium tickets (AED 950) have already sold out.

Ticket booths will be open at the stadium from 11:00.
 

Chapal Cup Close to Sell Out

Organisers of today’s Chapal Cup cricket match between Australia and Pakistan say that the game is close to a complete sell out. Only tickets priced at AED 250 and above are now available for today’s game at Dubai Sports City’s 25,000 capacity Cricket Stadium, with officials expecting the remaining tickets to be sold in the next couple of hours. Supporters who already have tickets, are being advised to arrive early for the game, which will start at three o’clock this afternoon. “There has been a spectacular response from cricket fans for this Series,” said Macky Dudhia, General Manager, Sports Business. “We want to ensure that everybody has a wonderful experience, and recommend that people make their way up to the Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium in good time.” Pakistan take a 1-0 lead into today’s game, having won the opening match at the stadium by 4 wickets.