Dubai of dreams
The Arabian Travel Market had been conducted for several years in Dubai when Department of Tourism Secretary Ace Durano asked his Assistant Secretary — and head of Teams Japan, ASPAC and Middle East — Benito Bengson Jr. to check it out in 2008.
Asec. “Bong” Bengson recommended that the Philippines set up a booth the following year, to attract not only Middle Easterners but also the sizable expatriate community working in the host city. The result was highly positive, so that for the 2010 edition held last May 4 to 7, again the Philippines took over a large floor area at Hall 8 of the humongous Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre or DICEC on Shiekh Zayed Road in Dubai, the thriving showcase of the United Arab Emirates.
Together with many other Asian, European and Latin American countries, we made our pitch with a contingent of private travel and trade representatives. Tour operators of eight companies and officials of four hotel/resort companies made up the bulk of the delegation, shepherded by only three DOT reps: Asec. Bengson, Marietta “Babette” Sagudo and Donald Maldonado. Seat Holidays Dubai’s Godfrey Lim Dingal Jr. and Noel Herrera-Carcusia took care of the travel and lodging arrangements for the Philippine delegation.
The DOT’s efforts didn’t go unnoticed by the organizers. A day before the travel mart officially opened, a press conference held at The Address Downtown Dubai featured a pleasant surprise when the Philippines was presented with the New Frontiers Award. The distinction sought to “recognize destinations that make an outstanding contribution to tourism development in the face of staggering adversity.”
Asec. Benson received the award for the Philippines’ “efforts in the wake of September’s devastating typhoon, which poured over a month’s worth of monsoon rain onto the country in a few days.”
Also cited was how “the Philippine Department of Tourism implemented a multi-faceted campaign to lure tourists back to the Asian country, which also saw it endorse 28 new tourism projects worth US$821 million, with estimated employment capacity of 15,567 once operational.”
When the travel mart opened the next day, the RP booth stood out in one corner of the exhibit hall with its simulation of a tropical island setting, with wooden round tables and chairs topped by beach umbrellas — flanked by a materials display shelf and video monitor on one end and an attractive backdrop with a photo montage on the other.
Undoubtedly a large factor in the attraction provided by the RP corner was a Relaxation Zone, a separate booth decorated with colorful pandan mats and manned by four massage therapists who found their hands full in engaging the long queues signing up daily for 15-minute sessions on the especially designed wooden contraptions for a vigorous back rub. Adventurous visitors were also treated to a sampling of ventosa treatment in a curtained cubicle with a massage bed.
The enterprise was led by Philippine Wellness and Spa Association’s former president Jomar Fleras, the notable Malate fixture who has set up his own spa business. Helping him out were a couple of ladies, Maria Theresa Haleco and Lynette del Rosario Zolomayo, who were joined by Dubai resident Wil Estandian, a seasoned therapist who had migrated three years ago, and is often called upon by the DOT for unique hilot sessions offered in foreign travel marts, such as recently in Russia.
Well, the day the comfort zone opened, who would break the ice on that wooden horse and the ventosa bed but yours truly, since old friend Jomar readily agreed that a certified aficionado of the kneading and chakra-aligning business would be in the best stretchable position to assess the amenities.
Despite gaining eight circular red marks on my back that stamped me as a ventosa supplicant — and would prevent me from donning surfer’s shorts and nothing but at Dubai’s splendid Jumeirah Beach the next day — I just had to give Wil and the wellness people high marks for bringing me back to a relaxed state after a nine-hour flight.
No doubt all the foreign visitors who were lured in by the comfort zone, after touring all kinds of other booths where all they got were thick brochures and bags (Maldives had the best, albeit it was colored orange), came away pleased as punch, too. And were in the proper frame of mind when they discussed possibilities of flying over here for more of such splendid spa ministrations.
Seeing to that were the private sector participants who personally addressed marketing concerns and inquiries about onsite sales by prospective international buyers. Tour operators of eight Manila-based travel and trade companies and representatives of four hotel-resort companies made up the bulk of the Philippine delegation.
These included: Afro Asian Travel & Tours, Inc.’s president and managing director Angel Ramos-Bognot, Ark Travel Express, Inc.’s president (also of PTAA) Ma. Paz Alberto, Asia Gateway Travel’s manager/owner Ma. Milagros Joaquin, Blue Horizons Travel & Tours’ CEO Alexander Stutely and inbound sales manager Jayne Lim, CCT 168 Travel & Tours Corp.’s VP for operations Imelda Abni, Shroff International Travel Care, Inc.’s product development manager Sheena Shroff and marketing director Kristine Schroff, T.R.I.P.S. Travel’s vice president for Marketing Alfonso “Chiqui” Teotico, Turquoise Travel & Events Management Corp.’s managing director Rolando Maramo, Ascott Limited’s director of sales and marketing Joanne Golong-Gomez, Manila Hotel Corporation’s sales manager Marwin Velicana, Amelda Oropeza of the Oroderm Group of Davao City together with Oroderm Beauty Hotel’s manager Jesus Jade Antonio Garalde, and Shangri-La’s Boracay Resort & Spa’s GM Mark Kirk.
Ronald Jayme of Manila Bulletin and this writer were the media participants, while four cultural performers — Randy Guevara, Reinier Badiola, Cherry Hernandez and Francis Anne Virtudazo — of Sindaw Philippines Performing Arts Guild also helped attract mart visitors by offering half-hour-long performances onstage at the Culture Zone right behind the Philippine booth.
I had met at least two of the travel tour operators in previous roadshows cum media fam trips in Asian cities. It was good to touch base again with Angel and Chiqui, with whom I’ve shared fine memories of white-sand beaches in Lombok and Bali.
Angel came up with a welcome advisory on how the incoming administration may continue the excellent efforts of DOT Sec. Ace Durano. In fact we agreed that if there were one Cabinet member who ought to be retained, he should be it, since he has conducted himself apolitically and efficaciously indeed since he took over the helm of a department now unsure of the latest tourism bill turned into law that converts certain former semi-private agencies as part of the DOT’s line functions, headed by no less than so-called fixed-term midnight appointees.
Chiqui Teotico also pitched in with his own views, although he seemed more concerned that I avail myself soon, when we got back home, of an invite to his latest venture, the already well-reviewed Big Better Burgers which has outlets at the SM North Edsa Annex, SM Fairview Annex 2, SM Cubao, and the Shoppes @ Victoria Bldg. on Timog corner Panay Avenue.
From Mark Kirk of Shang Boracay, I learned more about the workings of the British parliament, which remained “hung” that week after their election of MPs. I also noted that our common friend Steve Tajanlangit’s latest project, the international airport in Carabao Island in Romblon, would indeed eventually benefit visitors to the first-class resort Mark ministers to, in terms of a briefer crossing to Boracay especially during the amihan months.
With the rest of the pleasant company, we enjoyed a dhow (traditional Arab sailboat) night cruise on what’s called the Dubai Canal, but which is wider than our Pasig in most parts. Asec. Bong also took some of us along to enjoy a frolicking welcome socials — “A Summer Winter Fusion Party” hosted by The Address Hotels + Resorts together with the travel mart organizers. The venue at The Address Dubai Marina was packed with over a thousand guests treated to cooking stands offering quite a fusion buffet, from dumplings to foie gras, tempura to roast beef and lamb, and well beyond the grilled kebabs on the riverside terrace.
Ron Jayme and I were also treated by Seat’s head honcho Godfrey to day trips that went beyond marveling at the dynamic architecture that characterizes Dubai. A desert safari on souped-up Toyota SUVs included dune-bashing and countless photo ops on desert sand, astride lumbering camels or motocross bikes, with dinner served on low tables around a dance stage in the center of a simulated Bedouin camp.
Of the cultural performances, the fire dancer was nothing special; I’ve seen better performers in Boracay. But the whirling dervish of a thousand spins took one’s breath away, especially when he cast aside an outer skirt and revealed an incandescent one lit up by small bulbs.
And of course, the belly dancer was much awaited by the Western tourists. They weren’t disappointed, as she went through the motions far beyond the elementary, replete with scimitars and other Arabian paraphernalia. It made us all wonder, however, how the stereotypical image of a midrib-and-thigh-revealing figure sashaying to possibly lustful gazes can ever be reconciled with the sight of groups of Middle Eastern ladies, likely from fundamentalist states, in black burkhas, a few even shielding their eyes with sun glasses for their own puzzling group photo ops by certain landmarks.
The two most renowned landmarks in Dubai are, of course, the seven-star hotel on the water, Burj al Arab, and the world’s tallest building for the nonce, Burj Kalifah. We made it to both, even managed to be shocked by the near-kitsch, over-the-top interiors of Burj al Arab. From a distance, the elegant exterior that resembles a dhow’s graceful sail was indeed impressive. The closer one gets, however, its borloloy features begin to turn appalling.
One has to pay through the nose to get inside the hotel. Our sponsors made sure to take care of the high-priced high tea, a seven-course merienda, that allows entry. The front lobby is quite small but promises more garish features, with gold and red in a furious duel for one’s attention. Huge columns that look like fat sausages hold up the inner tower from an atrium setting. They are plated with 22-carat gold, we are told. Elsewhere, everywhere, elegance is at a borderline level, mostly giving way to a tacky clash of otherwise civilized adornments.
Rather more elegant was the view from the glass-encased high-tea setting: an alluring sweep of sandy beach with an equally impressive backdrop that is the graceful facade of Jumeirah Hotel. Farther down Jumeirah Beach, a windy vantage allows for a more panoramic view that includes the billowing outlines of the exceptional edifices.
The world’s tallest building that is Burj Kalifah, at over 200 stories, appears like a series of thinning needles. Tours allow visitors to get to an observation deck. Before and after the smooth elevator ride, the passage through halls treats one to a historic and scientific appreciation of the engineering feat.
One other extracurricular treat apart from attendance at the travel mart was a luncheon meeting with Lalaine Chu-Benitez, publisher and editor-in-chief of the world-class Illustrado magazine that comes out monthly right from Dubai. Her cause is nothing but noble: to trumpet the success of Filipinos in the Gulf. Every year, she also organizes an awards ceremony that gives distinctions to Filipinas of substance.
Our country’s engagement in the 2010 Arabian Travel Market must augur just as well for a strengthening of travel and trade ties with prospective clients from the Gulf, whose interest in a tropical destination that offers substance and enchantment has been more than whetted.
