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Fit for a King The Emirates Palace is of such grandeur that it has to be seen to be believed. We talk to its General Manager, Hans Olbertz. |
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| Owned by the Government of Abu Dhabi and operated by Kempinski AG, the Emirates Palace has a majesty that is quite literally fit for a King. It is a symbol of Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s dedication to creating the most cultural destinations in the world. To get a greater insight into the latest developments, Emirates Golf caught up with Hans Olbertz. In January he became General Manager of Emirates Palace, the official hotel partner of the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship. What was your first impression of Abu Dhabi? I was here in 1988 to 1990. I then came back in 2004 and was already overwhelmed by the development of Abu Dhabi. However, when I came back this time I was particularly impressed about the infrastructure and the new projects that were in progress. What golf development plans are there? Looking at the projects coming up, I can see Abu Dhabi becoming an even better golf destination in five years time than it is at the moment. By then there should be at least seven to eight courses in or around Abu Dhabi. Can you tell us about the VIP Golf Experience that is on offer with Emirates Palace? Yes, “The Royal Experience” starts with a ride in a Rolls Royce to the Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Following a welcome by senior management and coffee in the Executive Room, golfers head to the Golf Institute for instruction on swing technique followed by a short-game session and on-course management tips given by the club’s pros. After an a la carte lunch guests will play the 18-hole National using air-conditioned Rolls Royce golf carts which provide cold beverages throughout the duration of the round. This really is a package for those golfers looking for the “WOW” factor! Have there been any significant developments at the Emirates Palace in the past year? We have opened the Embassy Club at the Palace and are working on further food and beverage outlets and the Emirates Palace marina. We opened the Palace Lounge in the East Wing for all suite and selected rooms as the exclusive retreat for our guests, offering business services, private boardroom and refreshments, complimentary throughout the day. What events have you put on? Over the past six months, we have hosted live concerts from Justin Timberlake, Elton John and Bon Jovi which attracted audiences of 13,000 to 17,500 at each event. We have also had several classical events, such as Abu Dhabi Music and the Arts Festival with performances from the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Bahrain Symphony Orchestra, Bolshoi Ballet & Orchestra, Sarah Chang and Lithuanian Chamber Orchestra and Anna Netrebko. Major international exhibitions have been held including the Arts of Islam and, currently running until September 4, the world’s largest exhibition of Picasso masterpieces held outside of a museum. What restaurants and bars are there? We have a variety of great restaurants and food outlets, including the award-winning Italian restaurant, Mezzaluna, headed up by Chef Luigi, and our Pacific Rim seafood restaurant, Sayad, run by Chef Bryan, in addition to the fabulous Lebanese restaurant, L’Auberge, and Iranian restaurant Anar. During winter, we open our barbecue on the beach, and if you want to enjoy Cuban music, check out our Havana bar. |
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