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A great new video we've created that uses the new Le Meridien feel and music to give a stylish look at the Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina... enjoy the journey! You can also watch the video here
Over 65 photos from the recent Halloween party that was held at the Penguin Club at the Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina! The event was attended by more than 200 guests and visitors. View the photos here.
A video update from General Manager Michael Scully on the Mina Seyahi Complex...comments on end of Summer and what's to come in October and November. Also a few comments on why the Mina Seyahi Complex (Comprising of the Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, upcoming flagship property The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi and the Dubai International Marine Club) is an ideal choice for business travellers, couples and families alike.
A superb video about the Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) at the Mina Seyahi complex on Jumeirah Beach Dubai. The Dubai International Marine Club is an international hot-spot for sailing, racing, power-boating and a variety of other water sports. DIMC also features a world-class marina and features two of the best hotels in Dubai, including the Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina and The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina. You can also watch the video here
This November, enjoy a special weekend at the Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina with our limited-time Internet-only room rates!
El Alamein, Egypt: Defending World Class One Powerboat Champions Spirit of Norway took their second podium finish for the season at the Egyptian Grand Prix, yesterday. In round five off the eight rounds in the 2007 WPPA Class 1 World Powerboat Championship and the first round of the Middle East Championship, Spirit of Norway with Bjorn Gjelsten and Steve Curtis finished the 18 course lap in an impressive 00.46.08,81 docking an average speed of 133.42kmph around a shortened course of 57.59Nm. WPPA race officials earlier in the day shortened the course due to the rough sea conditions.
Everything went as per expectations for the five-time defending world champions as they led from start to finish. They never seemed to be in danger of losing their top spot to any of the teams, barring Sheikh Hassan Bin Jabor Al Thani and Matteo Nicolini in Qatar 96, but that too all too briefly. With a healthy 19 points difference to Qatar 96, Victory 77 adopted a more conservative approach and staved off all competition to end in third place and pick up 12 points.
“We got a really good start and that helped us hang in there. It was by no way easy out there as we had to work hard for this win,” Steve Curtis said after the race. “We knew we always had the speed, but we had streaks of bad luck this season. Hopefully we have got past this bit and the remainder of the season will be as we want it to be,” added Bjorn Gjelsten.
This was the second win for Spirit of Norway in the last four races where they were on Pole Position this season. “I hope we can be as competitive as we have been in the past few years for the last three races too,” Bjorn hoped. Also pleased with their second straight second place finish was Sheikh Hassan in Qatar 96. “The good thing is that we are in a position to push the leaders. We have a good set-up and we wanted to push Spirit of Norway even more than what we did, but then we decided to be more cautious after the distance between us and Victory 77 was more than 50 seconds,” Sheikh Hassan said.
“I think everything is peaking at the right time and we are building up nicely for our home race in Doha next month,” he smiled.
“I think we have done well to close the gap between us and Victory 77. The next three races are going to be important to all of us. We are headed to a very exciting end to the season,” predicted Qatar 96 throttleman Nicolini.
Victory Team Managing Director Khalfan Hareb who attended the race was thrilled with Victory 77’s third place finish at the Egyptian Grand Prix here yesterday. “Our strategy was not to go all out and win the race, but stay within the top three in order to maintain our position at the top of the standings,” Hareb said after Victory 77 held off a stiff challenge from Jotun through a major part of the race.
With another three races still to go in the season, Hareb feels the world title is still out for grabs for either one of the top three teams. But sitting at the top with 93 points, Victory 77 are among the front-runners. “We still have another three races to go and anything can happen. But we now go to Qatar and then the final two rounds on our home waters in Dubai. So the advantage is ours for sure,” added the Victory Team boss.
Hareb also had a word of praise for the guts shown by Victory 77’s Aref Saif Al Zafein and Jean-Marc Sanchez during the race. Sanchez’s nose started bleeding during the fifth lap of the race and Al Zafein had to do double duty of taking care of the throttle as well. “This all shows the importance of team work, and that’s what the Victory Team is all about,” Hareb complimented.
“Unfortunately for Victory 7, they broke an engine. Their pairing is good so far and am sure if they spend more time to familiarize themselves they will do very well”, Hareb added.
WPPA President, Saeed Hareb received a message from HH Sheikh Mayed Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum congratulating Victory Team for their win at the Egyptian Grand Prix. A veteran in organizing powerboat races, Saeed observed that the Egyptian Local Organisers did an incredible job with the support of the Dubai International Marine Club and the WPPA and IOTA officials. More than 20 staff from DIMC travelled to the continent to support and assist in the organisation of the event. “Considering that it is the first time that Egypt has organized such a huge event of this magnitude, it is commendable looking at the sea conditions as well”, Saeed said.
Provisional results for the Egyptian Grand Prix – Round Five of the 2007 WPPA Class One World Powerboat Championship – held at the Porto Marina, El Alamein:
1. Spirit of Norway 10: Bjorn Gjelsten (NOR)/Steve Curtis (GB) – 20 points
2.Qatar 96: Shaikh Hassan Bin Jaber Al Thani (QAT)/Matteo Nicolini (ITA) – 15 points
3.Victory 77: Aref Saif Al Zafein (UAE)/Jean Marc Sanchez (FR) – 12 points
4. Negotiator 50: Bard Eker (NOR)/Chris Parsonage (GB) – 9 points
5. Foresti & Suardi 8: Marco Pennesi (ITA)/Giampaolo Montavoci (ITA) – 7 points
Overall World Championship Points including bonus points:
Victory 77 – 93 points
Qatar 96 – 75 points
Spirit of Norway 10 – 69 points
Victory 7 – 44 points
Qatar 95 –36 points
Foresti Suardi 8 – 33 points
Negotiator 50 – 23 points
Spirit of Norway 20 – 20 points
SeveneleveN 18 – 14 points
Jotun 90 – 12 points
Fainplast 2 - 5 points
Le Meridien Mina Seyahi launches Barasti theme nights
Beachside setting to be foundation for unique evening experiences
Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina has launched a series of themed events at Barasti’s lower deck, Barasti Beach. Barasti is one of Dubai's perennially popular meeting places and this bar serves as a beach lounge and evening entertainment venue, in an exotic atmosphere set by the sea.
Michael Scully, General Manager of the hotel, said that the theme nights would do much to boost the many existing attractions at Barasti, which is already a favourite place for people to meet and socialise. "Barasti is undoubtedly one of Dubai's most popular venues. The theme nights we have just launched at Barasti Beach will provide a casual setting in which people can spend their evenings by the sea, with the added promise of great drinks and fantastic entertainment," he said.
He emphasised that Barasti Beach’s entertainment programme - encompassing song, dance, radio broadcasts and even Salsa lessons – will be spread over unique theme nights on various days of the week. "Extensive planning has gone into developing these themes, and we are confident that we have created just the right mix for Dubai's discerning tastes," he stated.
On Saturdays, resident DJ, Martin Metcalf will host his show The Saturday Sanctuary from Barasti Beach, broadcasting it live over 92FM from 4.00 to 7.00 pm. In addition, most days of the week will be dedicated to one of five theme nights:
Barasti and Barasti Beach are open every day of the week, with operational hours from 5.00 pm to 2.00am on Sundays to Wednesdays, and 11.00 am to 3.00 am on Thursday, Friday and Saturdays.
The Dubai Irish Society is all set to bring dancing and a night of fun to the Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina on the 15th of November, with the Irish Ceili. Visitors may purchase AED 100 tickets at the event (8pm) or from the Irish Committee...the event promises Craic and Ceol under the stars...complete with traditional Irish music and a delectable barbeque, served with traditional Mina flair! (Click on the image above to open a clearer, larger version of the same...or to download it)
A complete photo tour of Dubai City, that shows all the major areas and mega projects. The Helicopter tour starts from the Mina Seyahi Complex and onto the Palm Jumeirah...to the World Islands project and then to Bur Dubai, Al Qouz, Jebel Ali and back to the Dubai Marina and Jumeirah Beach. See the photos in the Mina Photo Gallery
Guests at the Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort and Marina and The Westin Dubai Mina Seyahi can enjoy helicopter services and packages, including a 30 minute tour of Dubai. Visiting Dubai - CLICK HERE to book a stay at the Le Meridien Mina Seyahi.
A Cocktail of Aerobics! Join us for our new class, cocktail of Aerobics combining a variety of different fitness elements. This unique class provides a complete workout, including:
'Cocktail of Aerobics' is available on: Monday Tuesday Wednesday, 10:00 AM 8:00 AM 7:00 PM
Contact club mina reception on 04 3181420 or club@lemeridien-minaseyahi.com
Dubai: With the 2007 European Championship under their belt, Victory 77’s Arif Al Zafeen and Jean-Marc Sanchez are set to retain their first place for yet another time in Porto Marina, Egypt where the fifth round of the 2007 WPPA Class 1 World Powerboat Championship takes place this week end.
Having taken their third win of the season in an incident filled Romanian Grand Prix, round four of the WPPA Class 1 World Powerboat Championship, Victory Teams – 7 and 77 are all ready to enthral and excite its spectators.
The two teams have had rigorous practice over the last month and are now ready to face up to the challenges. Earlier in the month Victory Team made its presence at an “On the Nile” event where they showcased the power of their boat. This was the build up to the Egyptian Grand Prix – the first of its kind ever.
Victory 7’s Nader Bin Hendi says, “we have had a pleasant run this season except for Romania and we are working even harder to prove ourselves this time round. We look forward to better racing conditions in Porto Marina and hope to have a great race.” Jean Marc Sanchez on the other hand who is still ecstatic about clinching the European Championship Title of the season says, “we worked hard all through this season and our performance has shown it. We are looking forward to a competitive race in Egypt and am sure we will prove our worth.”
Team Manager, Gianfranco Venturelli speaking from Italy said that, “after the Romanian Grand Prix, we analysed the situations and have had gruelling practices for both teams. We expect a good race in terms of weather conditions, start procedures and competitive racing, most of all safe racing.”
Porto Marina is more than a vacation and residential resort. It’s a lifestyle revolution in the Middle East. A magnet for the rich and famous, it attracts visitors from all over the world in search of sun, fun, luxurious accommodation, spa treatments, sporting facilities and quality entertainment.
Today, the Amer Group’s jewel in the crown, Porto Marina is considered the most fashionable resort in the entire Arab world. It’s the best-kept secret of jet-setters who glide into the marina on luxury yachts, and the newest discovery of international tourists looking for something special and different.
Porto Marina is built alongside a natural lake from which a long, sandy promontory stretches out into the sea. An aesthetic delight nestling between a network of lagoons and pools, it offers serenity for those looking to get away from it all and plenty to do for adventure-seekers, sport’s lovers and socialites.
Porto Marina enjoys an average of 300 dry days and 12 hours of sunshine per day throughout the year. So whether you want to tee-off on one of the finest 18-hole championship golf courses in the country, play tennis, go horse-riding, parasailing or waterskiing - Porto Marina has it all.
Guests looking to enjoy Dubai from the air now have the option of doing so from the Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina (Jumeirah Beach Dubai). Alpha Tours in combination with Falcon Aviation Services (FAS) have set up a base at the Le Meridien Mina Seyahi and offer various City Tour, City Shuttle and Exclusive Packages. A City Tour of Dubai for 30 Minutes costs approx AED 1150 per person on a sharing basis or AED 4,600 for an exclusive trip of 6 Passengers (max upto 450 kilos). Choppers in use are the Augusta A109 Grand and Eurocopter EC130, VIP configured with comfortable leather seats, climate-controlled sound proof cabin and a panoramic view. Contact the Info Centre at the Mina Seyahi for more details at +971 4 3993333.
For the fans of the Mina's spectacular range of restaurants and bars, a Dining Loyalty Program may be just the thing to get excited about! The 'Starwood Privilege' program features a superb range of dining and add-on benefits, including the fact that the member is entitled to dine on a complimentary basis at all participating hotel restaurants when dining with at least one paying guest. Members are also entitled to receive the Starwood Privilege Rate, which is an ongoing discount of 5% off the lowest available rate of the day at the time of booking , at participating hotels in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Other exciting features include local and global benefit certificates.
At the Le Meridien Mina Seyahi, members are also entitled to additional certificates: a 3-course dinner menu for two with a bottle of house-wine and also a 50% off dining certificate for upto 10 people (minimum of 4 people).
Interested in signing up? The program currently costs AED 850 for an annual membership. Visit the website at www.starwoodhotels.com/privilege for a sign-up form and full details or call our call centre at +971 4 3977171 (Open from 9am to 1pm and 2pm to 6pm from Saturday to Wednesday and from 9am to 1pm on Thursdays). You can also email customerservice_uae@starwoodprivilege.co.uk for enquiries and to make contact. The official website also features information and details on all our participating restaurants!
The primary objectives of the Dubai International Fashion Week are to encourage the growth of outstanding regional talent, to drive the fashion trade, and to promote and highlight designers from the region and beyond to create awareness among the ultimate consumers of fashion. DIFW brings together regional designers, retailers, the media, and fashion aficionados at an event aimed at pushing the fashion envelope forward in the region.
During the week, regional designers have a global platform to showcase their designs while global brands have a window of exposure to the regional industry. The Dubai International Fashion week (Spring Summer 2008 (SS08)) is being held next door to the Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina, from 22 - 25 October.
The 17th edition of the UAE Desert Challenge promises a spectacular climax to the international cross country rally calendar later this month, with a mighty line-up of cars, bikes and trucks assembling from the Middle East and overseas. Getting under way with a super special spectator stage in Dubai on 28th October, the UAE Desert Challenge www.uaedesertchallenge.com is held under the patronage of H.H.Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The event is the final round of both the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup for cars and trucks, and the FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship for bikes. The Dubai Desert Challenge is also sponsored by the Dubai International Marine Club and Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina.
Barasti will be celebrating the Rugby World Cup Final this Saturday! Features:
Enjoy a spooktacular Halloween at the Penguin Club on Saturday the 27th of October, including a magic show, scary halloween dress competition, spooky snacks and a Witches & Warlocks Disco! Contact the Penguin Club at the Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina (Jumeirah Beach Dubai) at +971 4 3993333 for more!
Halloween, or Hallowe'en, is a holiday celebrated on the night of October 31. Traditional activities include trick-or-treating, Halloween festivals, bonfires, costume parties, visiting "haunted houses", viewing horror films, and going on haunted hayrides. Halloween originated from the Pagan festival Samhain, celebrated among the Celts of Ireland and Great Britain. Irish and Scottish immigrants carried versions of the tradition to North America in the nineteenth century. Other western countries embraced the holiday in the late twentieth century. Halloween is now celebrated in several parts of the western world, most commonly in Ireland, the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom and sometimes in Australia and New Zealand. In recent years, the holiday has also been celebrated in various other parts of Western Europe.
The term Halloween (and its older rendering Hallowe'en) is shortened from All-hallow-even, as it is the evening of/before "All Hallows' Day",[1] also known as "All Saints' Day". It was a day of religious festivities in various northern European Pagan traditions,[2] until Popes Gregory III and Gregory IV moved the old Christian feast of All Saints' Day from May 13 to November 1. In the ninth century, the Church measured the day as starting at sunset, in accordance with the Florentine calendar. Although All Saints' (or Hallows') Day is now considered to occur one day after Halloween, the two holidays were, at that time, celebrated on the same day. Liturgically, the Church traditionally celebrated that day as the Vigil of All Saints, and, until 1970, a day of fasting as well. Like other vigils, it was celebrated on the previous day if it fell on a Sunday, although secular celebrations of the holiday remained on the 31st. The Vigil was suppressed in 1955, but was later restored in the post-Vatican II calendar.
In Ireland, the name of the holiday was All Hallows' Eve (often shortened to Hallow Eve), and though seldom used today, the name is still well-accepted, albeit somewhat esoteric. In Irish, the festival is known as Oíche Shamhna (Night of Samhain), or simply Samhain; in Scottish Gaelic it is Samhainn or Samhain; in Welsh, Calan Gaeaf to the Welsh; "Allantide" to the Cornish and "Hop-tu-Naa" to the Manx. Halloween is also called Pooky Night in parts of Ireland, presumably named after the púca, a mischievous spirit.
Many European cultural traditions hold that Halloween is one of the liminal times of the year when spirits can make contact with the physical world, and when magic is most potent (according to, for example, Catalan mythology about witches and Irish tales of the Sídhe).
Source: Wikipedia - read some more...
Under the auspices of the China Yachting Association, the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club and Longcheer Yacht Club, Team Dubai comprising Yousef Bin Lahej, Adel Khalid, Ben Graham, Christophe Vanek and a few more sailors will join competitors from France, Japan, the host country – China, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Brazil to compete in the China Coast Regatta - three days of racing in waters to the south of Hong Kong Island from 19th to 21st October 2007. The China Coast Regatta races will be island course races around the east and south of Hong Kong, together with windward/leeward (or other geometric courses) in Lamma Channel to the south of Hong Kong.
Sailing in their Beneteau First 40.7, Team Dubai’07 will race alongside 10 identical Beneteau First 40.7 Yachts amidst light to medium winds on the Shenzen. “We are happy to represent Dubai and the Dubai International Marine Club at a prestigious event of this nature and are looking forward to optimising our strengths and winning the Championship”, Yousef Bin Lahej said before leaving for Hong Kong. “This is an opportunity for us to practice before the Beneteau Cup to be held in Dubai on November 2nd, 2007”, he added.
Le Meridien debuts its signature bed, a great new in-room experience. Key features:
The initial Pilot results have been quite encouraging:
The new Le Meridien beds will become a standard feature in most Le Meridien properties over the next couple of years.
The Le Meridien brand has embarked on a well-plotted journey of re-discovery. There are great new things to come in terms of look, feel, products and experiences for our guests.
Le Meridien targets the needs and desires of the creative guest, who by definition is an active, self-confident, optimistic, forward-looking, curious, open-minded individual always looking to learn something new. The look and feel of the brand has been enhanced to reflect this core sensitivity and the pilot lemeridien.com website set to launch in a few weeks will be testament to this. Other superb initiatives guests can expect to see in the short to mid-term include exciting culinary journeys, refreshed in-room design, a trademark Le Meridien bed and a unique arrival experience! Stay tuned for much much more...
The Le Meridien Mina Seyahi Beach Resort & Marina was also among the first hotels in the division to undergo Service Culture Training, starting from hotel leaders and filtering down to all associates. Pictured above is a group from the training, led by Director of Service Culture EAME for Le Meridien, Sheraton and Four Points by Sheraton brands. We talk to Ian about the transformation...
Please tell us a little about your background and what you do?
I have an operational and training background, I have been with Starwood for over 19 years. I worked through several operational positions including Major Domo (Head Butler), Executive Housekeeper, Guest Relations, EAM and acting GM. In my training role I spent 9 years in Bahrain as Director of Training where I was able to assist with 9 hotel openings and conversions, setting up towers and butler services in another 7 hotels.
What are the main phases of this brand invigoration process?
Chic, cultured discovery to take the current Le Meridiens from 120 products to a life style brand that is creative,chic, cultured and discovery. From products to ideas, from service to experiences.
Why Service Culture Training?
To create a true brand - our guests need to feel the difference, our associates need to adopt a new culture, a new way of doing the processes they currently perform and it has to become part of the daily culture of service within our brand
How will our guests benefit from all this?
Emotional connections will be formed making our guests feel more at home, welcome in every property, experiencing new ideas and creative solutions to their needs and for Le Meridien also to help our guests to connect and discover new experiences during their stay.
The internationally renowned Le Méridien brand was established in 1972 by Air France "to provide a home away from home for its customers.” The first Le Méridien property was a 1,000-room hotel in Paris — Le Méridien Etoile. Within two years of operation the group had 10 hotels in Europe and Africa. Within the first six years the number of hotels had risen to 21 hotels in Europe, Africa, the French West Indies, Canada, South America, the Middle East and Mauritius. The group continued to grow and, by 1991, the total number of Le Méridien properties had risen to 58.
In late 1994, Le Méridien was acquired by UK hotel giant, Forte, which in turn was acquired by Granada Group plc in 1996. Through a merger in the summer of 2000 between Forte's parent company, Granada Group plc, and global contract catering giant, Compass Group plc — and the subsequent de-merger of the two companies in February 2001 — the ownership of the Forte Hotel Group and its three brands (Le Méridien, Heritage Hotels and Posthouse Hotels) passed solely to Compass Group.
In May 2001, Nomura International plc announced the acquisition of Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts from Compass Group plc for £1.9 billion and Le Méridien was merged with Principal Hotels, which was acquired in February 2001. In December 2003, Lehman Brothers Holdings acquired the senior debt of Le Méridien.
In November 2005, the Le Méridien brand and management fee business was acquired by Starwood Hotels & Resorts. The leased and owned real estate assets were acquired in a separate deal by a joint venture formed by Lehman Brothers and Starwood Capital (a company not affiliated with Starwood Hotels & Resorts).
Currently, Le Méridien is a global hotel group with a portfolio of more than 120 luxury and upscale hotels in over 50 countries worldwide. The majority of its properties are located in the world’s top cities and resorts throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and the Americas.
Watch the original Le Meridien Mina Seyahi video! With a super overview on Dubai Travel and Culture, Shopping, Water Sports, Sailing, Fishing, Accommodation, Dining and fun for families, couples and business travellers alike. You can also watch the video here