And the results are the closest to perfect that we have seen. Designed as an all-encompassing experience, the resort unfurls in a series of indoor/outdoor spaces. The temple-like lobby rises to 35 feet and is filled with sleek mood lighting effects, which alternate between blues, oranges, and magentas as the day progresses. Ranging in size from 650 to 4,000 square feet, the generous suites feature sleek, clean lines and neutral color palettes. Rounding out the luxury offerings at The Cove is an impressive series of firsts from the likes of Bobby Flay (opening his first Mesa Grill outside the United States), Cain nightclub owner Jamie Mulholland (launching his first beach club, Cain at The Cove), and style maven Eva Jeanbart-Lorenzotti, (who chose to launch her first luxury boutique, Escape, at The Cove). “The Cove is a wonderful place, it is unique, it is special in the way that it was designed, and the feelings that you have here. The idea of not starting in New York, or London or Paris, which is where you are expected to start, the idea of discovery, the idea of travelling- it all made sense,” said Jeanbart-Lorenzotti when asked why she chose to launch her flagship boutique at The Cove Atlantis. “Having the opportunity to work with someone like Sol Kerzner is an honor, and it is interesting because everyone here has that inspiration from him, which is being creative, thinking out of the box. It was a risk, and I think it was a fantastic one, and I am happy that I did it. I just think that he is an incredible businessman. He has managed to create his own Paradise Island, which is something that is completely unique,” she added.
South African-born Jamie Mulholland saw it differently. He confided to us that Kerzner was always one of his idols, and so he always strove to emulate his success. “To me, since I started my first club Cain in New York, I always thought ‘What would Sol do?’ I always looked up to him, and for me to open this beach club is a huge honor, but I also realize that I must deliver a great experience for his guests. I am confident that we have one of the finest beach club environments in the world, and we are going to build a great attraction for his hotel.”
So what does the future hold for a man who has single-handedly boosted the economies of entire nations and was recently dubbed “the greatest entrepreneur in the tourism industry” by Nelson Mandela- the ultimate prize of Las Vegas, perhaps? “You can never rule anything out,” says Kerzner. “I don’t do it to do it. I would go to Las Vegas if it made sense. I would only go if there was the opportunity to make it happen.”
The next few years will see Kerzner making it happen in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where a new chapter in the Atlantis saga is befittingly set in the burgeoning Persian Gulf state, a modern-day Atlantis story. The 112.5-acre site will crown The Palm, Jumeirah, one of three ambitious man-made islands, and will feature the region’s largest water park, a marine habitat housing 65,000 sea animals, 1,539 rooms, and an entertainment village, featuring over 80,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. Like its Paradise Island predecessor, Atlantis, The Palm will feature an arsenal of well-known names including Nobu (in his Middle East debut), Michel Rostang, and Ministry of Sound.
“The whole journey has been carefully designed as a sensory and emotional experience. From the first glimpse of the arch, visitors will be delighted by every detail. One of the most striking features has to be the Dig Lobby called Poseidon’s Court with its 40-foot wide window into the deep where Poseidon’s throne is located. It is surrounded by water and still sunken in the ocean,” said Kerzner Development’s VP of Development Gil Oveido, giving us a sneak peak into the wonders that are soon to unfold. “Without question, the most striking design element of the project is the Arabian arch beneath the bridge suite. This signature element, in a different form from the bridge suite in the Bahamas, gives the project the distinct cultural identity apart from all other resort projects in the world,” he added.
All these marvels aside, the gaming aspect will be noticeably absent from the Middle Eastern installment. “Dubai is an amazing destination. It is very unusual. From that standpoint, we think this is a place where we will succeed. The fact is that we don’t have gaming there. But, our food, beverage, and entertainment factor is still the biggest for Atlantis. If we could, we would like to have a casino in Dubai. But, I feel Atlantis will be successful in Dubai as a destination hotel.” says Kerzner. But Kerzner is not one to jump on the bandwagon. In fact, it was Kerzner’s One&Only Royal Mirage that headed a pioneering crop of hotels that have made Dubai the tourist haven it is today. But what made him invest in Dubai? “You have a government that is very interested in bringing in visitors to the city; you have an airline that is the most dynamic airline in the world. Dubai markets itself sensationally. And Dubai, by world standards, is pretty phenomenal. That is the reason why we are building Atlantis in Dubai.”
Also set in the Middle East, Mazagan, located 50 miles southwest of Casablanca, is set along a pristine stretch of Morocco’s Atlantic Coast. Named for the 16th century Portuguese fortification in modern day El Jadida, Mazagan will feature 500 guest rooms and suites, 20,000 square feet of spa space, and, of course, the ever-important state-of-the-art casino. An 18-hole Gary Player golf course will round out the luxury facilities offered at this $230 million development.
And so, as the sun sets over Paradise Island, and lights go up on Cain at the Cove, Sol Kerzner leaves us with a warm smile and these enduring thoughts: “It is all about the people. I just always want to make my customers happy, and I never stop thinking of new ideas.” Timeless words from a living legend.
