Witnessed approx. 10% growth in 2024 compared to 2023, with Atlantis The Royal recording a higher growth rate than Atlantis The Palm.
Atlantis Dubai strengthened its presence in the Indian market by hosting networking dinners and recognising the efforts of its travel partners in key Indian markets – Delhi and Mumbai, in collaboration with its India representative, Indiva Marketing. The Atlantis Dubai delegation included Kyp Charalambous – Vice President, Sales; Rutuja Patil – Director, Sales & Leisure (Indian Market); Natalie Scott – newly appointed PR Director; and Darrshini Parthepan – PR Manager.
In an exclusive conversation with T3, Charalambous emphasised the significance of the Indian market, stating that its about consistency and a genuine commitment towards the market. “It’s about offering the right expertise, whether it’s food, services, experiences, or even the languages spoken across the resort,” he shared.
Discussing the purpose of the visit, Charalambous shared that the trip was focused on appreciation. “We welcomed key partners who have supported us, and includes high-end travel designers, agents, and partners. Our aim was to connect on a more personal level, share updates through visuals, and showcase new offerings like the kids’ club, restaurants, and more,” he said. He added that the focus was on those who have contributed business over the past six to eight months, particularly from Mumbai and Delhi.
“For the first time, we are approaching the market collaboratively, combining efforts from sales, public relations, and communications, along with representative from our meetings, conferences, and exhibitions team who usually handles inquiries from India remotely,” he noted.
He further added that they had travel agents joining from Ahmedabad, Chennai, and Bangalore, with a goal to engage with every city in a more personalised way. He highlighted that India is among Atlantis Dubai’s top 6 source markets, alongside the UK, Russia, Germany, and the US.
Speaking about the growth of the Indian market as a revenue driver, Charalambous noted, “Having a 4 – 5% contribution from India is healthy and aligns well with our overall strategy. It’s a strong revenue-generating market for us. In fact, we’re seeing over 40% growth in average spending, which reflects the market’s increasing value.”
“I’m not expecting the market to suddenly skyrocket, but I would love to see it maintain steady, healthy growth,” Charalambous said. “2024 was a very strong year for us, and if India continues on this path, growing even by 1% or 2%, reaching 6%, I’d be happy.” He further noted a positive trend in the average length of stay, which has increased to nearly 2 – 3 nights. “We’re welcoming more Indian guests during Diwali, Eid, and also around Christmas and New Year, that’s when we have observed a noticeable increase.”
Speaking about the brand’s overall performance, Charalambous shared that Atlantis saw approximately 10% growth in 2024 compared to 2023, with Atlantis The Royal registering higher growth rate, compared to Atlantis the Palm. “As we move into 2025, our aim is to maintain the strong momentum of 2024 while targeting a 5% increase in occupancy,” he added.
When asked about Atlantis’ collaboration with the Dubai Tourism Board, Charalambous shared that the partnership remains strong, with Atlantis participating in the upcoming summer campaign set to launch in May. “We also have a calendar of roadshows with Dubai Tourism across Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities. Additionally, we’re part of the Arabian Travel Market. We align with their program to ensure that travel agents invited under the Dubai Tourism Hosted Buyer Programme also visit Atlantis The Palm and Atlantis The Royal,” he said.