Etihad Airways signs agreement with ADTA to support Volvo Ocean Race

Etihad Airways has signed a multi-tiered agreement with Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) to support the emirate's involvement in the 2011/12 Volvo Ocean Race.

The deal sees Etihad Airways’ logo featured prominently on the hull and sails of ADTA’s Volvo Ocean Race yacht, Azzam (Arabic for determination), as well as across its Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing team clothing during the 2011/12 global event.

Etihad Airways also becomes presenting sponsor of the fortnight-long race stopover in Abu Dhabi, which begins on New Year’s Eve at the purpose-built ‘Destination Village’ on the Corniche Breakwater, as well as title sponsor of the In-Port Race on January 13, 2012.

The airline’s destination management company, Hala Abu Dhabi, becomes the preferred travel partner for the Abu Dhabi stopover.

“This race will take Abu Dhabi and our national carrier into key source markets where we will bring our combined market muscle to bear in optimising this unique opportunity for our mutual benefits,” said His Excellency Mubarak Al Muhairi, Director General, ADTA - which is behind Abu Dhabi’s involvement with the race.

The Volvo Ocean Race 2011/12, which begins in Alicante, Spain on October 29 and concludes in Galway, Ireland in summer 2012, is a 39,000 nautical mile, nine-month, round-the-world sailing race, taking in 10 destinations over nine gruelling legs across four oceans.