Play "Follow the Leader" this Summer

Dubai – April 18-April 23

I was expressly invited to be a delegate to the Global Travel & Tourism Summit, which is a big deal in our industry. This year, it was hosted by Dubai and addressed the impact of travel on the world, taking into account factors like cultural preservation, job creation, economic development, and environmental concerns. Technology and geopolitics came into play as well, and the conference was attended by lots of government officials, industry leaders, and other power players. The big-picture goal was to determine how travel on a global level can flourish and benefit both citizens and nations while treading lightly on the planet and making experiences as satisfying as possible. A tall order to be sure, but a great conference all the way around.

The ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed – or, officially, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum – was the host of the summit and introduced it. His leadership in promoting the region and in building the tourism industry is impressive. Luckily, Eric Ingrand, Unaira's Director of Business Development, accompanied me to take it all in.

The summit itself took place in a large round room and was reminiscent of a United Nations gathering in both appearance and attendance. Although people spoke in a variety of different languages, translators communicated the respective messages through headsets that we wore. The crowd included lots of CEOs of airlines and hotel groups, and the event was impressive all the way around.

Many people involved in the development of Dubai took the floor, sharing their experiences in launching and maintaining such an all-encompassing tourism initiative. They were joined by speakers who discussed issues ranging from pollution and fuel prices to green hotels and other timely topics. Government travel officials from a variety of nations contributed their expertise as well.

During the day, seminars and work-related activities took the forefront, all connected to travel trends. At night, however, a host of parties was the focus. One reception, in particular, was like something out of One Thousand and One Arabian Nights. It was set up like a desert camp, complete with intricately woven rugs, traditional dancing, palm readers, and even falconers. Its extravagance was completely in keeping with the whole affair, and attendees were definitely treated to Middle Eastern culture at its best.

Another highlight of the summit was a party held at the base of the Burj Al Arab, the iconic Jumeirah hotel designed to resemble a huge sail, and the nearby Madinat Jumeirah, an astounding resort that resembles an Arabian citadel. This event was flush with conference-goers, and spectacle was the deliberate centerpiece, from the drama of the architecture (both modern and traditional) to the beauty of Dubai and its people. All were fully evident, and it was a remarkable, memorable evening.

In short, my first trip to Dubai was amazing. Eric and I did all the customary tourism stuff and even treated ourselves to indoor skiing at Ski Dubai at the Mall of the Emirates, a huge retail and entertainment complex. While the sun was blazing down, we were chilling inside, decked out in cold-weather gear and clothing (all available for rent). Five different runs, ski instructors, a chair lift, restaurants, and even a retail shop completed the illusion of a high-altitude lodge – all in the middle of the desert. We had a ball for the hour and a half we tackled the slopes, and the snow was surprisingly great for skiing and snowboarding. It may have been 110° outside, but we were shivering inside – with both excitement and cold.

We also had amazing Persian food and gave ourselves over to the exoticism of eating unfamiliar but delicious dishes. We visited souks, or markets, where gold was prominently for sale, and we saw the most enduring parts of Dubai (even though it isn't a particularly old city) and visited the port as well. In addition, we went to Buddha Bar, a Dubai edition of the Parisian outpost, and had a fantastic time.

As proof of how small the world is, I also had drinks with Beau Welling, a golf course designer from Greenville, SC, who is helping with Tiger Woods' first endeavor in Dubai. The course – named Al Ruwaya, or "serenity" – is slated to open in 2009 and will be part of a private golf community. We talked about Beau's work on it over drinks at 1897 Bar, a plush, elegant lounge at Kempinski Hotel Mall of the Emirates.

Throughout the trip, Eric and I constantly marveled at a place that is so completely devoted to development of all kinds, business and tourism alike. Luxury hotels and condos were going up everywhere, and entire pockets of construction were devoted to latter-day villages dedicated to media, biotechnology, education, the Internet, and much more.

In addition, Dubailand, a theme park that will rival anything the world currently knows, is being constructed and will ultimately include seven different "worlds" comprised of countless entertainment components. Among them are sections dedicated to eco-tourism, sports, and attractions ranging from aviation to Legos.

Along with the theme park, Dubai is building golf courses, carving developments out of desert, and even creating land in the midst of the Persian Gulf. One of the most stupefying enterprises, Palm Island, is a resort that has risen offshore as millions of cubic yards of sand are dumped there and fashioned into livable terrain. The whole complex can be seen from outer space and will host hotels, shopping centers, and all manner of other attractions. Naturally, an airport that can accommodate the anticipated influx of tourists is necessary, and Dubai is going all out to construct what will be one of the world's largest of those as well.

Surprisingly enough, Dubai does not obtain much revenue from oil-related ventures (less than 10%). Rather, investors from around the world have contributed funding to its projects, and the collective desire is to create a mega-destination that appeals to all tastes. Already, a huge number of regional tourists visit Dubai, along with a large contingent of Australians; the hope is to go even further afield in drawing visitors.

To fuel the huge construction boom, Dubai imports labor from around the world, although its employment benefits are less than stellar. Typically, building goes on 24 hours a day, and workers are shuttled from location to location to add to the efforts. They are generally required to give up their passports when they arrive, and their salaries are not always paid to their satisfaction. Prostitution, too, is a huge industry in Dubai, and women from all over the world take their place among the ranks.

Even with such questionable dealings in evidence, women in Dubai have rights and can run businesses and hold office. This, of course, while they're clad in traditional garb. Their status, perhaps, is tied to the urge to accommodate Western tastes, a concession that gives rise to a curious dichotomy. For instance, visitors can drink even though the practice is illegal under Muslim law. Gambling, on the other hand, is not allowed at all. Not unexpectedly, tourists from North America feel quite comfortable when they visit, and English-speaking residents are easy to find.

Another sign of Dubai's growth is its push to build a monorail system that will eventually ring Dubai and function much like subways do in western countries. Interestingly, the whole system will not be premiered until its entire circuit is complete, unlike in some countries, where finished sections of public transportation are opened to use as soon as the paint is dry. It's just one more ambitious project in the works and one more thing to stay posted for as Dubai works mightily to position itself as a powerhouse in the travel and tourism world.