Ok, my fellow EK Ambassador Ung1 and I took a trip to the Sandpit this past week in order to prepare for the upcoming DO in just on 4 weeks time. Things are still a little fluid while we add the finishing touches - but we were very fortunate enough to talk with Emirates and planning is well underway for their official involvement.

In terms of the agenda and timings: Here's the first cut. For all events, we are going to ask you to RVSP. Only ONE event requires a deposit, and we'll explain how and why a little bit further down. On the EK Board, you'll see the dedicated posts to each event. Which I will populate with confirmed attendees only. Once you have digested everything - just let us know which events you want to sign up to. You can change your mind if you get a better offer! Please RSVP using this link. Scroll down to Post 27 onwards



THURSDAY 23 June
Welcome drinks and kick-off, 6pm
Venue: The Vista Bar (see above), InterContinental Hotel, Festival City Dubai
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/interco...i-festivalcity

(When we say "kick-off", this is a loose term which means, let's all meet in the one place over the course of several hours. It won't matter if you are not arriving into Dubai until Friday. There will be plenty of time for you all to buy me a drink )



FRIDAY 24 June
The Big Brunch 12.30pm until we fall off the chairs
Venue: The Park Hyatt, Dubai
Don't eat breakfast. And bring your Lipitor. You may want to wear pants with an elastic waist band! You're going to need to have a good lie down after you finish this. If you finish at all. It's a spectacular hotel and a wonderful setting. We have our own private dining area.
http://www.restaurants.dubai.hyatt.c...urant=Traiteur

Costs:
Option A - AED375 (US$107) No alcohol option. Just lunch + free flow soft drink
Option B - AED450 (US$122) Wine and beer option. And lunch
Option C - AED595 (US$160) (The "Prospero") This is the full monty. Free flow Veuve Clicquot, unlimited "mohitos", free flow beer and wine. And if can fit anything else in, lunch as well!

Reservations are required for this event and this is the only item on the Dubai Do agenda where you will need to provide a deposit, as the organizers (ie me) are financially responsible for the final numbers and any no-shows.

I know its expensive and yes, we looked at multiple "brunch" options during our recent trip, but we felt this catered to everyone. And we were recommended this hotel by several locals. So we made an executive decision.

Meet in the bar for either a coffee or a warm up Bloody Mary from 11.30am. More to come on booking conditions later.

FRIDAY Evening:
Own plans. Social networking. Or buy eightblack a drink.

SATURDAY 25th
Activity Day
We're going to list a range of activities - which members are free to sign up to. Some of these events may have a minimum booking condition, so we will need to see how we go getting the numbers. These events are not mandatory and you are completely free to go off an explore Dubai on your own or with a group of others.

One of our forum regulars, and EK Ambassador, mrtdxb, has kindly offered us the services of his companies internal travel department. They have all the local contacts, and the best rates. We'll post contact details shortly



Indoor Skiing
Ok, this was my idea. I'm a mad skier and thought the idea of indoor skiing with an outdoor temperature of 100 degrees was super cool. Cost is US$50 approx for 2-hours and includes all equipment hire, lift pass, etc etc. More details here. No minimum numbers. Meet at Dubai Ski at reception at 9.30am
http://www.skidxb.com/
Start: 10am
Duration: 2-hours



Desert Safari
Yes, it will be warm. Bloody hot in fact. But these desert safaris are an amazing experience. Were working with mrtdxb's office to work out what packages we can offer - and to ask which company is the best around. My suggestion is that this will be a half day event. For those of you who don't want to do the Safari - but want more action, we'll also provide a Dune Buggy option.
Start: 9am
Duration: half-day
Logistics: Probably pick up all participants from the one central hotel. More details to come...



At The Top at the Burj Khalifa
Is it the world's tallest? I forget. For those fascinated with tall buildings, this will be something for you. I will be staying put. Cost AED100 (or US$28, but you will need to book) because if you simply rock up, the charge is AED400 (US$110). Anyone who wants to volunteer to host this event, please contact me

Official EK Board Cocktail Party/BBQ
One of our forum Ambassadors, mrtdxb, has generously donated the use of his magnificent Villa, which is located here.



We're going to kick off from 4.30pm and it will most likely run into the wee hours of the morning. mrtdxb has kindly arranged the catering but I would like to make a request that everyone bring whatever it is they drink to the event. It's a good excuse for you to pick up some duty free on the way in. You will need to RSVP for this. The address will be on the back of your name tags, which will be handed out on Thurs night and/or Friday. Best thing to do is share a cab from your hotel with others to this gig.

SUNDAY 26th
Emirates hosted event - all day
Assume 9am to 5pm
Details to be posted shortly. For those non EK people - do not worry. This is not a day where we will be locked into a room talking about the pros and cons of EK's Skywards program. Because Dubai is EK's training, pilot and crew base, the resources at their disposal are immense. From crew training to catering to everything in between. I'm dealing with EK almost daily now on putting the finishing touches on this. Standby for details. It will be great.



SUNDAY 25th
Dinner 6.30pm onwards
Traditional Arabian Dinner
Venue to be advised (any locals, suggestions welcome)

Planning & Logistics & Hotels
Remember, whenever you arrive into Dubai is fine. Don't stress if you don't fly in until Fri. Or you have to leave sometime Sunday. And above all, you don't have to attend ANY of the events. Everything is optional. All we ask is that you have a good time, get to meet as many other FT'ers as possible (even try and be nice to people from the BA Board).

Hotels - there is an abundance of them. We visited 10 this week before I lost the will to live and needed a drink. So we have a good idea of range and quality. If you need any questions answered, feel free to PM Ung1, mrtdxb or me. Or trawl over TripAdvisor. Because it is summer, loads are light at most hotels and you should be able to get decent deals/rates - especially at the larger chains.

We visited:

• Intercontinental, Festival City (the Crowne Plaza is attached to the same complex, is close to airport, good atmosphere, club lounge)
• Grand Hyatt - (enormous, doesn't have a great feel but relatively good location)
• Four Points by Sheraton, Shk Zayed Road (I reckon hotels located on this strip are a pain to get to. Doesn't look a great hotel, lounge is average and for a little more money, you can stay somewhere much much better)
• Rotana, Shk Zayed Road (same as above)
• Shangri-La, Shk Zayed Road (same as above)
• Le Meridien, Airport Road (older style hotel and one of the alternative brunch venues. Go here apparently if you want to meet single female airline crew. Or something like that) Kidding.
• Park Hyatt, Dubai Creek (great location, good summer special, and where we are having brunch)
• Atlantis, The Palm (Basically Vegas in Dubai. Its enormous. But a fair hike. Not even the Klump family could make a dent in their buffet. Room rates not that great and no specials. Not as far as we could tell)
• Westin, Mina Seyahi (the problem with the Hilton, the Westin and the Sheraton (below) is that they are all located down the end of the waterway where there is massive roadworks and construction going on. The traffic snarls make Heathrow on a Friday afternoon look calm. I wouldn't stay at any of these hotels - just because you are hell and gone from most places and a good hour from the airport (traffic pending)
• Sheraton Jumeirah (see above) Older and smaller.

There are some good deals around. For example, the Park Hyatt has a summer deal, which includes a 3-night stay and is approx US$160 per night. You also receive 20% of all F&B, which means the full monty Brunch is AED475 (or US$130)

I will be on the ground from Thursday - around 2pm and will have a local cell number which I will PM to all confirmed attendees.

Getting around Dubai - taxis are relatively cheap - especially if you share. And all are air-conditioned and regulated, which means it is highly unlikely you will robbed at gunpoint and taken out into the middle of the desert. But if you did, it would make for a good story at the bar later that night.

Come back to the board often now - as we post updated details around the Emirates portion of the DO, as well as update re all the activities. And don't forget, if you plan on attending one of the events - please let us know by posting your intent in this thread. Close off date for the brunch is Wednesday 22nd June.

See you soon. BYDB