The rich and famous celebrated the hotels opening with an all-night party and $3million firework display 7 times the size of Beijing's Olympic Games opening ceremony.
Last night Dubai laughed off the credit crunch with an extravagant $20million opening ceremony for its latest luxury hotel, Atlantis, the Palm.
The lavish bash was attended by over 2,000 of the world’s rich and famous, with business leaders and CEOs mingling with sport starts and the Hollywood elite.
Four Michelin star chefs were on hand to serve up exquisite cuisine, Dom Perignon flowed throughout the evening and pop-princess Kylie Minogue provided the entertainment with a $2million performance and her Middle East debut.
Most notable however was the $3million firework display that lit up every branch of the Palm Jumeirah last night. Said by organizers to be 7 times larger than that put on for the opening ceremony of this year’s Beijing Olympic Games, the festivities were dramatic enough to be seen from space.
Housing 1539 rooms, Atlantis, The Palm offers the ultimate in luxury with suites costing up to $35,000 a night, the largest water park in the middle east and an 11million litre aquarium housing 65,000 fish and an enormous whale shark. It forms the focal point of the Palm Jumeirah, one of three man made, palm tree shaped islands taking shape on Dubai’s seafront.
"We built something that's quite extraordinary. We've got to tell the world about it" said renowned South African billionaire Sol Kerzner in an interview with AFP. Kerzner both funded the party and worked with the state owned developer Nazkeel to create the lavish hotel.
Opened unofficially on September 24th the hotel has reportedly seen an 80% rate of occupancy with the $35,000 a night signature suite fully booked for the foreseeable future.
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Richard Murphy
22nd Nov 2008 12:04
More power to them, We in America used to do the same thing when we used to build things, before all our jobs were shipped overseas.
LConni4@aol.com
22nd Nov 2008 13:41
I wonder how I'm going to pay for my next meal and people spend that kind of money for one nights sleep something is wrong with this picture. --Leo Conniff
Lowell Plummer
22nd Nov 2008 15:37
You have to be kidding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a total waste of money. Most of the world is starving, that amount of money would have gone a long way towards feeding them.
There must be absolutely no human compassion in the hotel owners nor in the guests.
I find it disgusting, they will not be seeing any of MY money.
I will take a litle of that money and put it to good use
Jim Sweeney
22nd Nov 2008 16:59
Americans can save on the airfare by staying at the Paradise Island Atlantis Hotel in the Bahamas-it is a great resort and has an International clientele-what more can you ask for-I've been there twice..........
Mike R
24th Nov 2008 23:47
35k a night? I make that in a year...
Ayman F (California)
25th Nov 2008 03:44
People should not be haters. It's better that they put this money to good use back in there country rather then lining the pockets of the Politicians like in many parts of the world. In regards to the poor migrants, they are lucky to have found a job that their own countries could not provide.
The funny thing is, it is NOT even oil money!!! LOL...Just better business practices...
