Virgin Holidays is launching its v-hub arrivals lounge, a facility designed to improve the first day abroad.

The v-hub is located in the Aquaventure waterpark at Atlantis the Palm - the most iconic hotel in the Dubai region that welcomes tens of thousands of British travellers each year.

Currently, many holiday-makers don’t make the most of their first day abroad due to the majority of UK flights landing early in the morning and hotel rooms not available to check-in until late afternoon. 

The new lounge has a range of innovative features designed to help make the arrivals process smoother, ensuring that travellers enjoy every minute of their holiday.

Upon arrival at Atlantis the Palm guests will be warmly welcomed and checked in at reception – before grabbing their swimmers and jumping on a buggy to Aquaventure waterpark where they can swim and slide to their hearts content. 

Rather than spend time twiddling thumbs until rooms are ready, customers can kick back and relax – ready to be notified when luggage has been delivered to their freshly prepared room.

Nicki Goldsmith, head of Caribbean and worldwide product, Virgin Holidays, commented: “We’ve all experienced the frustration you feel after a long flight, when you arrive at your hotel and your room isn’t ready. 

“Travellers want to make the most of every moment they’re away including the all-important first day.

“The v-hub will help make the time spent waiting time for your room as enjoyable as possible with holiday-makers encouraged to slap on their swim-gear and head straight out to Aquaventure at Atlantis.”

The v-hub is the first of its kind to be rolled out by Virgin Holidays, and is part of a focus by the tour operator to ensure every single minute of
holiday is maximised. 

Other initiatives include virtual reality in retail stores to make customers feel like their holiday has already begun, and the highly anticipated Departure Beach in Barbados – a beach-side airport lounge to make the last day of holiday as enjoyable as possible.

The v-hub has been delivered by UK design agency Resolution Interiors and Virgin Holidays intends to launch the concept in other destinations if it is popular with British travellers.