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In another technology first, Emaar Hospitality Group, the hospitality and leisure business of Emaar Properties PJSC, has introduced panoramic, 360 virtual tours of its hotels in Dubai.

The 360 virtual tours, captured in high-definition photographs and videos, offer visitors the opportunity to experience the unique value propositions of each hotel, discover its myriad facets and make an informed decision – be it for booking hotel stays, restaurants or pampering oneself at spas.

The 360 virtual tours cover properties under the premium luxury hotel and serviced residences brand, Address Hotels + Resorts; the upscale lifestyle hotel and serviced residences brand, Vida Hotels and Resorts; and the new contemporary mid-scale hotel and serviced residences brand, Rove Hotels.

Olivier Harnisch, Chief Executive Officer of Emaar Hospitality Group, said: “Introducing innovative digital experiences is part of our strategy to further enhance the guest experience. The 360 virtual tours open doors to the delightful and exceptional lifestyle offerings at our hotels, enabling visitors anywhere in the world to make informed decisions and plan their stay in vivid detail. We will continue to explore newer opportunities to strengthen our online engagement with our guests, underlining our commitment to provide value-added customer-centric experiences.”

The 360 virtual tours take visitors through the spectacular architecture that define properties under Address Hotel + Resorts, including Address Boulevard, Address Dubai Marina, Address Dubai Mall, Address Montgomerie, and Palace Downtown. The 360 virtual tours also take visitors through the exceptional ambience offered by Vida Downtown and Manzil Downtown, as well as the three Rove Hotels that are currently operational in central locations across the city – Rove Downtown, Rove City Centre and Rove Healthcare City.

To view, simply click on the hotel websites, which can be navigated via www.addresshotels.com; www.vidahotels.com; and www.rovehotels.com. The master-brand pages will take you to individual hotel sites, where you can take the interactive tours.

Each virtual tour, assembled through panoramic photography and videography, will provide all the features of the hotel in vivid details. From the exteriors to the interior, whether it is the lobby, restaurants, lounges, spas, event spaces, or the intricate details of rooms and suites, you can experience it all online.

The launch of the 360 virtual tours of all hotels is part of the ambitious digital transformation that Emaar Hospitality Group is bringing through several innovative initiatives. The objective is to enable visitors to become familiar with the hotels and understand the real value that awaits them. They can then simply make their bookings via the website itself, adding to their convenience.

The virtual tours can also be experienced over smartphones through the new native Apps that Emaar Hospitality Group has launched. Setting an industry-first, these Apps powered by Go Find It Technologies SA, enhance the digital lifestyle experiences of guests at Address Hotels + Resorts, Palace Downtown, Vida Hotels and Resorts, Manzil Downtown and Rove Hotels. The Apps of Address Hotels + Resorts, Vida Hotels and Resorts, Palace Downtown and Manzil Downtown have gone live with the Rove Hotels App to go live shortly.

Burj Khalifa and Dubai Fountain have been rated by international tourists as their favourite attractions in the UAE,  according to the latest Arabian Falcon Holidays survey participated by 1,212 respondents.

More than 70 per cent of international tourists said they were keen to stay longer in Dubai and explore more. This clearly reflects Dubai’s fast growing popularity as an international tourist destination. The desire to stay longer is over and above the one to two weeks’ vacation they already booked in Dubai based on the AFH survey which included only non-residents.

Dubai’s shopping malls, Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo, The Palm, and Dubai restaurants are the next favourites amongst the surveyed international tourists.

Al Mohannad Sharafuddin, Founder of Arabian Falcon Holidays (AFH), the largest independent timeshare player in the Middle East, said: “The strong vision of Dubai’s leadership has led the emirate to outpace global growth in tourism. Increased investments toward attracting tourists to Dubai, focus on ensuring happiness for all, alongwith 100 per cent customer satisfaction through initiatives such as the launch of Smart Happiness Index, make Dubai a highly attractive destination that offers an unmatchable experience to international tourists.”

“Speedy and comfortable procedures, starting right at the time you enter the airports, a friendly and efficient customer service in addition to a large number of unique destinations offering attractions for all age groups and interests, make Dubai the place of choice for families and businesses alike,” Sharafuddin added.

The growth in tourism has been particularly remarkable after His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE’s Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, approved the Dubai Vision 2020 for the tourism sector. This lays a strategic roadmap with the goal of attracting 20 million tourists (doubling the number welcomed in 2012) and AED 300 billion in tourism revenues annually by 2020.

To achieve this, Dubai will focus on three key areas: positioning the emirate as a leading family, event and business destination.

The preferences of international tourists, as revealed by the AFH survey, showed that family destinations top the list of favourites.

Dubai Garden Glow, Jumeirah Beach, Jumeirah Mosque, Desert Safari, Burj Al Arab, Waterparks, Dubai Parks and Resorts and Global Village are also amongst the hot favourites for international tourists.

The AFH survey also brought out the emerging trend of preference for longer stays amongst tourists. Nearly 50 per cent of the tourists spent four to seven days in Dubai, while 23 per cent stayed up to two weeks and 8.5 per cent of international tourists stayed longer than two weeks in the emirate, according to the survey.

“With a clear vision and a strategic roadmap that focuses on various aspects to attract tourism, Dubai is setting exemplary standards in tourism. Through its numerous achievements Dubai has brought many dreams to reality, and at this pace of growth, we eagerly wait to see its further accomplishments by 2020,” Sharafuddin concluded.