These are difficult financial times for the travel sector. Bookings are suffering and there is a general air of doom and gloom permeating throughout the industry. Therefore, it is with a degree of catharsis that we witnessed the $20m no-expense spared opening ceremony of the Dubai Atlantis. This was a Beijing- Olympics-ceremony-mocking display of wealth on an incredible scale. Aside from the astonishing fireworks display (which our extraterrestrial friends could have witnessed apparently), there was a lavish party attended by A-List celebrities including Michael Jordan, Kylie Minogue, Charlize Theron and Janet Jackson.

We have posted previously on the amazing rise of Dubai, and the Atlantis Palm hotel/resort is set to further increase its profile. There are soon to be two seven star hotels in Dubai – th Atlantic and the Burj Al Arab, who will come out on top in this ultimate-luxury battle?