ATM 2014 opens with updated Tourism Vision 2020

ATM 2014 opens with updated Tourism Vision 2020

High profile panel lead discussions on state of play of year-old strategic framework ahead of Expo 2020 hosting; Dubai on track to meet goal of 20 million visitors and treble sector’s economic contribution by 2020 as industry partners embrace vision and regulatory initiatives drive development

Dubai’s goal of doubling the 10 million visitors welcomed in 2012 to 20 million by 2020 is the collective responsibility of all industry stakeholders, was the message shared at the launch session of the ATM 2014 seminar series, which opened today at Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre.

The opportunities, challenges and early successes of the government initiative, one year on from its official launch, were addressed by four top tourism industry leaders at a session entitled ‘Delivering the Tourism Vision for 2020 and how Dubai is marketed to the world’.

Leading the panel discussion was HE Helal Saeed Almarri, CEO & Director General, Dubai World Trade Centre and Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM), who was joined by Ghaith al Ghaith, CEO, flydubai; Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates; and Neil Jones, Chief Sales & Marketing Office MEA, Marriott International.

Opening the session, HE Almarri said: “Dubai’s position in the world, with what we have to offer, is very promising. The Expo 2020 win offers a clear message that Dubai is seen as a tourism and business hub for the region. We’re very proud to have won the right to host the event, but Dubai won’t stop; it will continue evolving up to, and beyond, 2020.”

DTCM has spent the last 12 months working closely with its partners in the tourism industry to implement the first phases of the detailed strategy, with Al Marri reporting that government departments and private sector companies have fully embraced the vision as the emirate fast tracks regulatory changes to facilitate further sector development in the remaining half of the decade.

Since ATM 2013, the Dubai government has already announced plans to create a fully integrated e-Permit and e-Ticketing system and shared details of an exciting incentivisation initiative that will enable hotel owners to bring forward construction timelines for three and four-star properties, with eligible developments granted a concession on the standard 10% Municipality Fee levied on the room rate for each night of occupancy.

At the start of 2014, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai and UAE Vice President and Prime Minister issued a series of directives designed to enhance and streamline hotel investment and development in the emirate, supported by ongoing infrastructure expansion. At the same time, the newly established DTCM affiliate, the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM) will focus on the international marketing and promotion of Dubai’s tourism and commerce credentials to a growing global audience.

Following the recent news that Dubai International Airport pipped London’s Heathrow as the busiest airport globally for international passengers in Q1 2014, and with the successful phase one launch of the emirate’s second international hub, Al Maktoum International, the role of Emirates and flydubai in bringing the world to Dubai was a key discussion point.

Commenting on the role of the emirate’s airline in driving inbound passenger numbers, Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO, flydubai, said: “Dubai’s vision is why we’ve been so successful. We set out to maintain the standard expected of Dubai, which sets us apart from typical low cost airlines because we’re innovative in introducing distinctive value added services.

“We now fly to 75 destinations, 48 not already served from Dubai and these are aligned to meet Dubai Expo 2020’s growth plans.”

“The challenge for 2020 is to meet the demand in services while developing the brand and have the best airlift in the world, and continue to accelerate in terms of quality,” added Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates.

The city has been named as a top destination to visit during 2014 by both the New York Times and the Trip Advisor Traveller’s Choice Awards, and the need to attract a broad visitor base, and position Dubai as a destination for budget as well as luxury travellers, was also addressed by the panelists.

“Dubai is a fantastic attractive city for tourists and business travellers and we believe Marriott can have 10,000 rooms in the city in 2020, up from 3,000 now. This is a unique destination with architecture and a rich cultural history, but we need help with partners such as airlines and cruise lines to build demand; but we’re bullish for the future,” said Neil Jones, Chief Sales & Marketing Office MEA, Marriott International.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, the show has grown to become the largest showcase of its kind in the region and one of the biggest in the world.

The 21^st edition of Arabian Travel Market 2014 takes place at Dubai International Exhibition and runs through to Thursday 8 May.

Photo caption one: His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri CEO, DWTC and Director General, DTCM

Photo caption two: At ATM from left to right, Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates, Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO, flydubai, His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, CEO, DWTC and Director General, DTCM, Neil Jones, Chief Sales and Marketing Office, MEA, Marriot International

For more information on Arabian Travel Market 2014, please log on to www.arabiantravelmarket.com

About Reed Travel Exhibitions

Arabian Travel Market is organised by Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), the world’s leading provider of exhibitions in the travel and tourism industry. Its wide-ranging portfolio of events around the globe covers leisure travel, luxury travel, meetings, incentives and business travel, as well as golf, ski and spa travel.  Reed Travel Exhibitions also organises Abu-Dhabi based global meetings and incentive exhibition, GIBTM which takes place annually in March. 

The RTE portfolio of 19 events are; World Travel Market (WTM), World Travel Market Latin America (WTM Latin America), Arabian Travel Market (ATM), International French Travel Market Top Resa (IFTM),  International Golf Travel Market (IGTM), International Ski Travel Market (ISTM), International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM), International Luxury Travel Market Asia (ILTM Asia), International Luxury Travel Market Americas (ILTM Americas), International Luxury Travel Market Africa (ILTM Africa), International Luxury Travel Market Japan (ILTM Japan), International Luxury Travel Market Spa (ILTM Spa), Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) (owned by Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau), Global Exhibition for Incentive, Business Travel, and Meetings (EIBTM), Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (GIBTM), Americas Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (AIBTM), China Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (CIBTM), India Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (IBTM India) and Business Travel Market.

September 2013 will see the launch of IBTM India in Mumbai and another exciting launch in the ski travel sector, with International Ski Travel Market in March 2014 in Austria.

RTE is a business unit of Reed Exhibitions.

About Reed Exhibitions

Reed Exhibitions is the world’s leading events organizer, with over 500 events in 39 countries. In 2011 Reed brought together six million active event participants from around the world, generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa and organized by 33 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions serves 44 industry sectors with trade and consumer events and is part of the Reed Elsevier Group plc, a world-leading publisher and information provider and a FTSE 100 company. www.reedexpo.com

Millennium launches summer offer starting at US$69

Millennium launches summer offer starting at US$69

Millennium & Copthorne hotels offer ‘Stamp Your Way...’ corporate summer promotion at ATM - three month promotion aimed at GCC travellers


9th May 2013 – Dubai, UAE: Millennium & Copthorne MEA launched its summer 2013 campaign today (9th May) at the Arabian Travel Market 2013 in Dubai.
The “Stamp Your Way This Summer”, which starts on 15th May 2013 and runs for three months until 15th September 2013 offering packages starting from US$69 per night, for either single or double occupancy.

This is the third summer promotional campaign that Millennium & Copthorne have undertaken, focusing on the GCC leisure market. The campaign was launched to capitalise on the increasing number of GCC residents that travel around the region to meet family and friends, attend cultural events and summer festivals.

“The offer is very straightforward and uncomplicated, which is what we know GCC leisure travellers prefer. Rates are subject to availability including all local taxes and service charges and applies for to both single or double occupancy,” said Moine Kandil, Vice President Operations.

The offer is available in all of the Millennium & Copthorne hotels throughout the GCC region including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Amman, Kurdistan, Muscat and Kuwait City and comes at a time when inbound and inter GCC travel is experiencing strong growth.
In Kuwait for example according to Alpen’s October 2012 GCC Hospitality Industry Report, by 2015 the Gulf state hopes to welcome one million tourist arrivals per annum.

In Qatar, tourist arrivals are expected to rise at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.9% between now and 2022, and the government’s US$65 billion commitment to infrastructure development has proved to be a major incentive for long term investment by leading hospitality providers.

Tourist arrivals into Oman are expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.7%, between 2012 and 2022 and the Ministry of Tourism aims to increase the GDP contribution of tourism from 2% in 2011 to around 3.5% in 2015. Occupancy rates are also expected to increase from 53% in 2011 to 58.6% by 2016,
Tourist arrivals in the UAE are forecast to grow at a CAGR of 5.3% between 2012 and 2022.
“The GCC leisure market is one of our fastest growing guest segments. The summer period is traditionally a time when corporate travel declines and leisure increases especially family travel. This offer is designed to increase our share of that market, and our package has already been exceptionally well received at this year’s Arabian Travel Market,” added Kandil.

Guests can book their stay by visiting www.millenniumsummeroffer.com
or any of the participating hotels.



Photo caption: Visitors crowd the Millennium & Copthorne stand at the Arabian Travel Exhibition 2013 – ‘Our package has already been exceptionally well received at this year’s Arabian Travel Market’ -

ABOUT MILLENNIUM & COPTHORNE HOTELS AND RESORTS

Millennium & Copthorne Hotels is a dynamic, global hotel company, which owns, asset manages and/or operates over 120 hotels worldwide. With almost 40,000 rooms worldwide, we are present on all continents with a portfolio of brands which serve different market segments, representing quality and value in every class.
From a single property in Abu Dhabi, we have expanded into various neighbouring destinations and are now recognized as one of the fastest growing regional hotel management company in the Middle East & Africa. Along the way, we have cultivated partnerships with reputable owners. Millennium & Copthorne currently operates 15 hotels, has 6 hotels due to open during 2013 and seeks 50 operating properties within the next three years for the MEA region.
Today, our depth of resources and reputation for proven growth clearly differentiate our regional operations, while our experience further elevates our proven commitment to become successful. With the motto “You are the centre of our world”, Millennium & Copthorne is committed to a customer-centric philosophy while ensuring returns for investors and owners.

Hanco signs trio of regional deals at Arabian Travel Market

Hanco signs trio of regional deals at Arabian Travel Market

Leading Saudi car rental and leasing company gathers momentum with signing of three new strategic alliances as part of ambitious regional expansion


Jeddah-based Hanco, one of the Middle East’s largest and fastest growing car rental and leasing companies, has announced the signing of a trio of strategic alliance agreements at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2013 with several Gulf-based tour operators.

This follows on from the announcement earlier this week of the launch of the group’s Dubai office, its first outside of the Kingdom, which marked the start of Hanco’s strategic expansion into the GCC, with a further five office openings scheduled for 2013.

The new strategic alliances cover operations in both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with an agreements signed between Hanco and Jeddah based Haj and Umrah tour operator Mamlakat Al-Asfar Travel & Tourism; Qasswa Travel & Tourism Company, also in Jeddah; and the UAE’s Lama Group of Companies.

“In taking our successful business model into neighbouring markets, as well as capitalising on new opportunities within the Kingdom, we are delighted to be providing renowned Hanco service and fleet capability solutions to some of the region’s leading tour operators and Haj and Umrah specialists. This trio of signings is another step in our strategic journey, taking Hanco to new markets and developing our reputation as a market leader,” said Hamad Al-Sulaiman, CEO & Managing Director, Hanco.

All three agreements cover the provision of both self-drive and chauffeur vehicles.

Hanco currently offers fleet management, Hajj and Umrah services, equipment rental and logistics support in Saudi Arabia, while rental, operating lease, limousine and bus transportation services are part of both its KSA operation and new UAE presence.

Visit Hanco at Arabian Travel on stand: CR-1416


Photo Caption: Azfar Shakeel, Head of Planning and Treasury with Mossaab M. Hashem, Sales & Marketing Director, Qasswa Travel & Tourism Company.

NEWS FLASH!! – DAY THREE AT ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET 2013

NEWS FLASH!! – DAY THREE AT ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET 2013

UNWTO & ATM MINISTERIAL FORUM WELCOMES OVER 25 MINISTERS AS SECOND ANNUAL MEETING EMPHASISES NEED FOR AVIATION AND TOURISM SECTOR SYNERGY

More than 25 ministers took part in the second annual UNWTO& Ministerial Forum at the Arabian Travel Market with delegates sharing their views on how to work together towards long-term aviation and tourism sector growth.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the event, entitled “Tourism & Aviation: Building a common agenda for growth”, was opened by UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai and Mark Walsh, Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions, organiser of ATM.
Addressing the issue of tourism and aviation Mr. Rifai highlighted that tourism and aviation need to move out of working in silos. “Tourism and aviation are siblings, and have been working together in parallel lines. We cannot see them separate from one another; with 52% of world travellers reaching their destination by air, their growth is intrinsically linked,” he added.
The UNWTO address set the scene for the ensuing discussion, which was dominated by the challenges and opportunities facing the aviation sector in the region, with Mr. Rifai touching on the related twin issues of taxation and visa facilitation.“There are visa regimes still belonging to a century that has past. Despite the fact that the UAE and Dubai are leading the way in opening up in terms of visa accessibility, the Middle East is still lagging behind as 70% of people still need visas to enter the region,” he said.

HRH Prince Sultan bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, President of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, launched the debate by reaffirming the region’s geographical relevance to the tourism sector.
“The Arabian Peninsula has always been a crossroads for different civilisations. These days those roads are in the sky rather than on the ground, and the same role that Arabia has played in the past is now similarly happening with airline networks,” he said, adding: “The alliance between tourism and air transportation is very much a non-separable alliance, and it is very important focus on aligning these two sectors to make places more accessible and affordable.
Highlighting the potential of regional cooperation, HE Reem Al Hashemi, Minister of State and Managing Director of the Higher Committee on International Expo Dubai 2020, said: “For mega events, we have to build synergies and expand the traveller experience. Expo 2020 is not just about Dubai, the region will benefit with visitors going on to explore Muscat or Petra, for example. We are promoting the region as a whole, expanding the picture, becoming more attractive and appealing - both to visitors but also to other airlines.”

HE Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director General, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing of Dubai, used the Middle East as a prime example of how tourism and aviation can work together, and what the rest of the world can learn from the region. First and foremost, to foster tourism and look to the future, countries and cities should look at adopting open skies policies. The development of airport, attractions and hotels are all important but the key is to allow airlines to fly without restrictions,” he commented.

Participants stressed the need to identify the links between tourism and aviation and set structures where tourism, civil aviation and airlines can work together. Other issues highlighted were the need to extend the principle of liberalization to more and more countries, the opportunities existing for regional cooperation in the Middle East, particularly in view of attracting long haul markets and the importance of aligning tourism objectives with airlines profitability.
Participating in the Ministerial Forum were the Ministers of Tourism of Bahamas, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Gambia, Lebanon, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Niger, Oman, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Seychelles, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Tuvalu and Vanuatu, the Director General of the National Council of Tourism and Antiquities of the UAE, the Vice-Minister of Tourism of Azerbaijan, the Director General of the Jordan Tourist Board and the CEO of the Mozambique Tourism Authority. Representing the aviation industry were the Vice President International & Public Affairs of Etihad Airways, the CEO of Dubai Airports and the Senior Vice President, Revenue Optimisation and Distribution, of Emirates Airlines.

Concluding Mr Rifai highlighted the importance of moving this agenda forward. “We have started a debate that has to go on and on. We will carry on at World Travel Market in London in co-operation with Reed Travel Exhibitions after setting a framework today and keep the conversation going”.

“The theme of Dubai’s Expo candidacy – connecting minds, creating the future - can become that which unites us together – so let’s connect our minds, put our thoughts together, and declare that we are on target to handle the issues of the time, and lead the way for the international community.”
The four-day tourism and travel show which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, event runs until Thursday 9 May 2013.

NEWS FLASH!!!!
THE RITZ-CARLTON HOTEL COMPANY, L.L.C. ANNOUNCES NEW RESORT IN MARRAKECH, MOROCCO

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, May 7th, 2013 – The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., the leader in luxury hospitality, has announced at Arabian Travel Market, the brand’s latest property in its growing North Africa portfolio. The Ritz-Carlton Marrakech is owned by Jnan Amar Company, a subsidiary of Al Amal Investment Company (SIAMA) part of Azmi Abdelhadi Group of Saudi Arabia.
The resort will be developed around the Jenan Amar Polo Fields, which is part of an upscale community on the Takerkoust Road, 20 kilometres from the city centre of Marrakech and 12 kilometres from the Lalla Takerkoust lake and nature reserve. The stunning fortress style resort will feature 60 hotel suites and 20 hotel villas of two, three and five bedrooms, bars and restaurants, a luxury spa and related leisure facilities. Jnan Amar Polo Resort development is envisaged as a powerful growth driver for tourism in the Marrakech region of Morocco, and the varied luxury components of the project coupled with its world-class polo fields will create a new lifestyle dynamic to the region.
The four-day tourism and travel show which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, event runs until Thursday 9 May 2013.

NEWS FLASH!!!!
ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES LTD HONOURS MIDDLE EAST TRAVEL TRADE AT ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET

Royal Caribbean completes 20 years in the Middle East
Dubai. 07 May 2013: Royal Caribbean Arabia presented six awards to senior travel industry partners from the Middle East at a special ceremony held at the Emirates Towers, Dubai. The event was attended by travel trade, media and VIPs.
The much sought after “WOW Performer” Awards were given to travel agents whose performance in 2012 went above and beyond expectations, supporting Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. in its mission to provide an unmatched level of service to all those that sail.
“We started promoting and selling our cruises to the Middle Eastern guests in 1993 and are sailing strong for the last 20 years. We attribute the increased interest in the region in cruising to our travel partners, without whom our consistent growth over 20 years would not have been possible,” said Lakshmi Durai, Executive Director Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises Middle East. “By honouring those who go the extra mile, who deliver “WOW” service to their customers, we can only begin to convey our gratitude for their commitment and belief in our ships, which feature more activities and amenities than ever.”
Winners were judged against an extensive list of criteria which includes guest volume, gross sales, year on year growth percentage, the consistent support over many years, knowledge and understanding of the product and the use of booking system.
The four-day tourism and travel show which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, event runs until Thursday 9 May 2013.

NEWS FLASH!!!!
Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar accounted for over 53% of passengers travelling from the Middle East in 2012: Amadeus air traffic analysis

Dubai-United Arab Emirates, 07 May, 2013: Released at a press conference at Arabian Travel Market (ATM 2013) today, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have emerged as the leading countries in the Middle East in terms of air traffic volume while Qatar demonstrated the strongest growth. The three countries together represented over 53 per cent or 52.8 million of the total 99 million passengers whose point of departure originated from the Middle East in 2012, according to Amadeus, a leading technology partner to the global travel industry.
Data indicates that Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar enjoyed an average growth rate of 10 per cent in air traffic volume in 2012 as compared to the previous year, thus outpacing, by a large margin, the 2 per cent growth experienced in the Middle East as a whole.
The four-day tourism and travel show which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, event runs until Thursday 9 May 2013.


NEWS FLASH!!!!
BIG BUS TOURS REVEALS NEW BRAND LOGO AT ATM 2013

Big Bus Tours, the largest operator of open-top sightseeing in the world, reveals its new global brand identity at the Arabian Travel Market 2013
In 2011 two highly successful businesses, Big Bus Tours and Les Car Rouges, merged under the Big Bus Tours name to become the dominant force in open top sightseeing across the globe.
Until now the organisation has been operating with three distinct brands – Big Bus Tours, Open Top Sightseeing and Les Car Rouges. However, the company has been working for some time to create a single brand to reflect their unified global identity.
This announcement and the unveiling of their new company logo coincide with the region’s largest annual tourism event – Arabian Travel Market 2013 (6th-9th May)
The new logo features a striking “B” that incorporates an iconic landmark from each destination in its centre. The colour of the double-decker buses remains burgundy, cream and gold; maintaining a balance between traditional and modern design.
The four-day tourism and travel show which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, event runs until Thursday 9 May 2013.

NEWS FLASH!!!!
ASCOTT BOLSTERS MANAGEMENT TEAM IN THE GULF REGION

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 7 May 2012 – The Ascott Limited (Ascott), the world’s largest international serviced residence owner-operator has appointed Sym K. Lee as Head of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for The Ascott Limited. In addition to Sym K. Lee, Ascott has also appointed a new Residence Manager, Jabier Cid, for Ascott Park Place Dubai, its flagship property in United Arab Emirates.
Lee will be responsible for developing growth strategies and overseeing Ascott’s business in the Middle East. Lee is also concurrently the Senior Vice President for Asset Management and Business Development for Ascott in Europe.
Lee said: “I look forward to working with the team in the Gulf to enhance our presence. There are several positive signs from the region’s travel and hospitality industry and there is tremendous potential for Ascott to expand its presence here.”
The four-day tourism and travel show which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, event runs until Thursday 9 May 2013.

NEWS FLASH!!!!
BIN MAJID HOTELS & RESORTS UNVEILS DHS150M EXPANSION PLAN

New corporate identity and two new properties revealed at Arabian Travel Market
Dubai, UAE (May 7, 2013) – Bin Majid Hotels & Resorts, a growing chain of hotels in the Gulf region, today announces in a press conference at Arabian Travel Market a Dhs150 million expansion plan covering the new corporate identity, a newly-opened hotel in Abu Dhabi and two upcoming hotels – a hotel apartment in Abu Dhabi and one in Ras Al Khaimah.
Dalal Saadeddine, CEO, Bin Majid Hotels & Resorts, said: “It is with great honour and pride to share with you another milestone in the history of Bin Majid Group and there’s no better platform to announce this but here at ATM. We have embarked on a Dhs150 million expansion plan to support the growing tourism industry. There’s a big potential in this industry and we are seeing a tremendous increase in the number of visitors choosing the UAE as their preferred tourism destination. With the new properties and upcoming ones in the pipeline, we will soon be recognised as a leading hotel and leisure company in the UAE and the region.”
The four-day tourism and travel show which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, event runs until Thursday 9 May 2013.

NEWS FLASH!!!!
BLUEBAY GROUP’S SUCCESSFUL LAUNCH IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND PERSIAN GULF

BlueBay Group, a company constantly innovating and in the process of international expansion, has presented today its new brand Armada BlueBay. The event was attended by various political authorities of Dubai, Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Among guests from Spain, the presence of José Eugenio Salarich, Ambassador of Spain in Dubai deserves a mention, and Spanish government representatives, including the President of the Council of Malaga and the Mayoress of Marbella, as well as business personalities and members of the Chamber of Commerce.
Armada BlueBay is a magnificent 4 star resort located in Jumeirah Lakes Towers, the most exclusive area of Dubai. The resort consists of 3 spectacular last-generation towers, located right by Jumeirah Lakes, opposite the luxurious Emirates Hills residential estate, The Palm Jumeirah and Dubai Marina, close to the business and financial district. The opening of the first Armada BlueBay hotel is scheduled for summer 2013. Armada BlueCity and Armada BelleVue apartment complexes, located in the second and third tower, will open in 2014.
The four-day tourism and travel show which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, event runs until Thursday 9 May 2013.

NEWS FLASH!!!!
GERMAN MCSA LAUNCHES E-TRAVEL SOLUTIONS FOR THE ARAB WORLD AT ATM

May 8, 2013, Dubai, UAE: The Berlin-based e-travel platform McSa has announced at Arabian Travel Market 2013 plans to boost business links between Europe and the Arabian Gulf and launched a top-notch travel portal dedicated for the Gulf.
From its base in the heart of Europe, McSa offers consulting, online marketing and PR services for international travel, tourism and hospitality business.
It Works on B2B as a peer to contracted companies, thorough understanding their strategic and commercial objectives thus devising results-driven marketing programs.
‘This year, McSa is extending links to the Arab Gulf to provide businesses with quality services and advice to market products effectively and efficiently’ said Yassin Al Tayyan, Managing Director, McSa.
The four-day tourism and travel show which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, event runs until Thursday 9 May 2013.

NEWS FLASH!!!!
STAY-AT-HOME OR FLY AWAY WITH DNATA

Dubai’s dnata has released its summer programme to the travel trade at Arabian Travel Market, offering a combination of family deals, regional and international destinations and value-added offers including free travel and accommodation for kids.
Bookings must be made by June 30, and all holidays feature transparent pricing inclusive of taxes and service charges.
Among the special deals in the region are daily rates at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City for AED 495, including free accommodation for children, upgrade to an executive Creek view room and breakfast, while deluxe desert pool villas are on offer at the Banyan Tree Al Wadi, Ras Al Khaimah for AED590 per person per night, both valid until August 31.
Other offers include three nights at a four-star hotel in Disneyland Paris from AED3.030 per person, or AED6,525 including airfare, valid until July 7, while packages in the Indian Ocean range from AED3,895 for five nights at the Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa, which includes two nights free, to five nights at the Maritim Hotel Mauritius from AED4,760 per person, with free breakfast and dinner daily.
The four-day tourism and travel show which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, event runs until Thursday 9 May 2013.

NEWS FLASH!!!!
ANANTARA RESORT PIONEERS NEW RESIDENCE CONCEPT

Offering the opportunity to reap rental rewards from luxury resort investment, the new Anantara Residences on the Palm Jumeirah have received a positive response at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, according to developer Seven Tides.
CEO Abdulla Bin Sulayem said the unique twinning of high-end resort facilities with premium residential accommodation offers both flexibility for the investor and additional inventory for the resort operator which can take in apartment and penthouse units at times when they are not in use by the owners.
“A luxury lifestyle is on offer with exceptional interior design where residents also have access to the extensive facilities at the adjacent 293-room Anantara Dubai Palm Jumeirah Resort & Spa –opening September – which features 33,000 sq ft of lagoon pools, six dining and entertainment venues, the Anantara Spa and more,” he said.
“At the request of the owners, management of their properties can be handed to Anantara, a unique opportunity that gives the perfect combination of return on investment combined with accommodation on one of the world’s premium resort locations.”
The residence/resort option is available at many destinations worldwide, but Seven Tides and Anantara are among the pioneers in the Middle East, and Bin Sulayem predicted that it was a viable funding vehicle for mixed-use developments that could grow in popularity.
“The injection of additional inventory to a resort can be beneficial to the operator at peak times, and with apartment and penthouse accommodation, the latter with private pools and terraces, it is particularly relevant for regional markets.”
The four-day tourism and travel show which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, event runs until Thursday 9 May 2013.

NEWS FLASH!! – DAY TWO AT ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET 2013

NEWS FLASH!! – DAY TWO AT ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET 2013

NEWS FLASH!!

MIAMI AND THE BEACHES LAND IN DUBAI

First time exhibitor at Arabian Travel Market, Miami and the Beaches Convention & Visitor Bureau, aims to inform the travel trade of its luxury lifestyle that could be attractive to the regional market.

According to Gisela Marti, vice president, marketing & tourism at the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, it is the first time for Miami to proactively engage the Middle East travel industry in the Gulf: “We believe our multi-cultural urban city in many respects shares a number of similarities with major cities in this region, and we are here to say ‘Welcome! Come visit and join us in Miami for a fun luxury lifestyle experience.’”

Among the summer attractions is the Miami Spa Month taking place in July and August, during which time visitors are invited to test out a range of luxury spas with promotional treatments from just US$99. (www.MiamiSpaMonth.com)

Also exhibiting is Bal Habour, the glamour and fashion capital of the US south-east which is offering complimentary cultural initiatives, a Kids Club run by the Miami Children’s Museum and a Beach Fitness Programme.

The four-day tourism and travel show which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, event runs until Thursday 9 May 2013.


NEWS FLASH!!

THAILAND TARGETS MORE MIDDLE EAST BUSINESS

Tailor-made packages, niche markets, enhanced use of social media and widening the Thailand tourism product beyond Bangkok and the beaches are on the agenda at Arabian Travel Market.

Representatives from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Chiang Mai, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau, the tour operator and travel industry sectors are working on an enhanced promotional campaign to continue growth out of the Middle East market.

TAT director of the Dubai and Middle East office, Chalermsak Suaranat, said that during the past two years, the number of visitor to Thailand from the region had grown considerably: “While the UAE remains in top position bringing 108,994 visitors to Thailand in 2012, other GCC countries are also emerging as potential expanding markets including Oman, KSA and Kuwait.

“Last year, Oman produced 65,690 visitors to Thailand, an increase of 21.7 per cent compared to 2011 -this was the highest increase across the Middle East region – and to further boost tourism we will be organising a series of road shows and familiarisation trips to Thailand, inviting media from the GCC as well as the Levant region including Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt to promote the destination.”

Throughout the remainder of 2013, the TAT Dubai & Middle East Office will be implementing a range of marketing strategies to attract Middle East tourists through the ‘Charm of Thainess’ which includes ‘Thai Experience’, ‘Thai Way of Life’ and ‘Thai Culture’.

TAT Dubai will also continue to reinforce the Thailand brand “Amazing Thailand Always Amazes You”, with a core focus on authenticity, value for money, and hospitality - in a recent survey conducted by the TripAdvisor travel site, Bangkok was rated the world’s second Best City next to New York for tourist shopping and third Best City for Value for Money.

Suaranat added that in 2013 a focus will be to offer tailor made itineraries, customised to individual clients’ requirement from a holiday in Thailand – whether it be group or individual. Middle East travellers are perfectly suited for this campaign as we focus more on the needs of each individual, couple, group or family.”

Niche markets being promoted in the region include Health and Wellness, Wedding and Honeymoon, Green Tourism and Golf, where he said Thailand offered exceptional value for money compared to other parts of the world: “Major and minor surgery along with cosmetics and dental care at the kingdom’s many numerous and highly qualified and specialised hospitals are being promoted as well as Thailand’s spa and wellbeing centres.”

The four-day tourism and travel show which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, event runs until Thursday 9 May 2013.


NEWS FLASH!!

HUNGARY FOR MICE AND MORE

Hungarian Tourism PLC has used Arabian Travel Market as a platform to launch a focused marketing drive for its unique health products in the Middle East markets, as well as meeting and event packages to Budapest and the area surrounding the famed Lake Balaton.

Ceo Marianna Dené said the region had become an increasingly important source market in the past two years: “We see positive signs to suggest that this trend will continue and expect a further increase in visitors from the region in 2013.”

As part of the latest promotion, cosmetic procedures and spas at the country’s specialised clinics and hospitals are being promoted as well as Hungary’s traditional medicinal water therapies, while MICE clients have been targeted with value-for-money, efficient infrastructure and services and warm Hungarian hospitality.

Competitive pricing is also a feature of Budapest’s attractions as one of Europe’s bargain capitals, which also boasts a 5,000 room inventory of first class and luxury hotels and accommodations and is running a Summer Festival from June to August, while Hungarian Tourism is also confident that Europe’s largest fresh water lake, Lake Balaton, as a natural and safe holiday destination for Arab families.

The four-day tourism and travel show which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, event runs until Thursday 9 May 2013.

NEWS FLASH!!

NOVOTEL SET FOR SUMMER OPENING IN AL BARSHA, DUBAI

A further 465 rooms are set to open this summer on the Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai, when the Novotel Dubai Al Barsha is launched, according to an announcement from Accor at Arabian Travel Market.

The 42-storey property has more than 100 inter-connecting family rooms and 89 furnished suites, and also features 10 function rooms catering for up to 250 participants at meetings and events – while a Meeting@Novotel promotion provides an all-inclusive customised meeting service for between 10 and 50 delegates.

Other facilities include free wi-fi throughout the hotel, a dedicated MAC web corner, a Cajun Louisiana restaurant and four other outlets, plus the Balance by Novotel fitness and spa centre with seven treatment rooms, two saunas and two steam baths and outdoor pool.

In addition, a Family & Novotel promotion is on offer permitting up to two children under the age of 16 to share their parents’ room with free breakfast; a 50 per cent discount on a second room for those aged between eight and 16, late check-out until 1700 hours on Saturdays, subject to availability, welcome gifts, supervised Kidz Club, children’s menus and baby equipment.

Opening rates launched at ATM start at AED350 per standard room, exclusive of taxes and service charge.

The four-day tourism and travel show which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, event runs until Thursday 9 May 2013.



NEWS FLASH!!
ATLANTIS, THE PALM UPS ITS GAME

Flagship Dubai resort, Atlantis, The Palm has announced the launch at Arabian Travel Market of a number of innovations to drive business in existing and new markets during summer 2013 and beyond.

One new activity is the Ultimate Snorkel, offering guests an opportunity to swim in the 11 million litre Ambassador Lagoon with more than 65,000 residents, including sharks and rays, accompanied by experienced marine guides.

In addition, a 40-metre waterslide tower is being added to the Aquaventure waterpark, introducing new thrill rides utilising cutting edge technology, while additional extra casual dining facilities are also in the pipeline.

Meanwhile, to target emerging markets, Atlantis has engaged a number of Chinese, Russian and Indian language speakers to man its toll free booking number in order to streamline the reservation process for travellers from these countries.

Other buoyant emerging markets for Atlantis include Nigeria and Australia, the latter encouraged by the new Qantas/Emirates airline partnership that became operational in last month.

“We have seen fantastic growth in the Australian market and are expecting a further 35 per cent rise in the second half of 2013,” said svp marketing, Ravini Perera. “Australian travellers are savvy, they want authentic dining and entertainment experiences beyond the shopping malls … Atlantis is perfect for them.”

HRH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed opens Arabian Travel Market

HRH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed opens Arabian Travel Market

Dubai Deputy Ruler inaugurates ATM 2013 as Middle East’s biggest travel and tourism event celebrates 20 years of industry milestones

HRH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, officially inaugurated Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2013 today, in the presence of senior government officials, leaders of the regional and international travel industry as well as high-profile participants.

Cutting the ribbon to mark the opening of the 20th anniversary edition of the show, His Royal Highness then toured the exhibition with Mark Walsh, Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions, organiser of Arabian Travel Market, and various dignitaries as the four-day industry showcase got underway.

This year’s sell-out anniversary edition, which is taking place at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, will welcome over 3,000 exhibitors from 87 countries with exhibition floor space covering more than 22,000 square metres.



Photo caption: HRH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai (middle), cuts the ribbon to mark the opening of Arabian Travel Market 2013 in the presence of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, CEO and Chairman, Department of Civil Aviation, The Emirates Group and Dubai World (Left) and HE Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, DTCM & CEO DWTC (right).

For more information on Arabian Travel Market 2013, please log on to www.arabiantravelmarket.com

About Reed Travel Exhibitions
Arabian Travel Market is organised by Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), the world’s leading provider of exhibitions in the travel and tourism industry. Its wide-ranging portfolio of events around the globe covers leisure travel, luxury travel, meetings, incentives and business travel, as well as golf, ski and spa travel. Reed Travel Exhibitions also organises Abu-Dhabi based global meetings and incentive exhibition, GIBTM which takes place annually in March.
The RTE portfolio of 19 events are; World Travel Market (WTM), World Travel Market Latin America (WTM Latin America), Arabian Travel Market (ATM), International French Travel Market Top Resa (IFTM), International Golf Travel Market (IGTM), International Ski Travel Market (ISTM), International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM), International Luxury Travel Market Asia (ILTM Asia), International Luxury Travel Market Americas (ILTM Americas), International Luxury Travel Market Africa (ILTM Africa), International Luxury Travel Market Japan (ILTM Japan), International Luxury Travel Market Spa (ILTM Spa), Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) (owned by Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau), Global Exhibition for Incentive, Business Travel, and Meetings (EIBTM), Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (GIBTM), Americas Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (AIBTM), China Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (CIBTM), India Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (IBTM India) and Business Travel Market.
September 2013 will see the launch of IBTM India in Mumbai and another exciting launch in the ski travel sector, with International Ski Travel Market in March 2014 in Austria.
RTE is a business unit of Reed Exhibitions.
About Reed Exhibitions
Reed Exhibitions is the world’s leading events organizer, with over 500 events in 39 countries. In 2011 Reed brought together six million active event participants from around the world, generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa and organized by 33 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions serves 44 industry sectors with trade and consumer events and is part of the Reed Elsevier Group plc, a world-leading publisher and information provider and a FTSE 100 company. www.reedexpo.com

Past, present and future in focus as Arabian Travel Market opens for business

Past, present and future in focus as Arabian Travel Market opens for business

Global professionals join 25 international tourism ministers in Dubai for 20th edition of leading regional event; retrospective to celebrate tourism milestones as technological innovation shapes the next two decades of industry growth
Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2013, the region’s leading travel industry showcase, opens its doors today, (Monday 6 May), with four days packed with activity dedicated to the future of tourism, while honouring industry milestones from the last 20 years.
Celebrating two decades of regional industry milestones as the Middle East’s pre-eminent tourism and hospitality platform, ATM runs until 9 May at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre. The show will welcome over 2,500 exhibitors from 87 countries, covering over 22,000 square metres of floor space, compared with just 300 companies and 2,000 square metres when the show first opened in 1994.

A total of 25 international tourism ministers will participate in the second annual UNWTO/ATM Ministerial Forum on Tuesday 7 May, with the theme of setting a common growth agenda for tourism and aviation. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the forum will look at how tourism policies and aviation can work together more closely in order to support sustained economic growth and sector development.

Visitor numbers are also set to break records this year, with Reed Travel Exhibitions, organiser of ATM, looking to build on the 2012 figure of 17,000 registered visitors. “This is a far cry from the 7,000 tourism professionals who visited for the very first time in the early 90s and a glowing testimony to all of our stakeholders,” said Mark Walsh, Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.


His Excellency Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing and CEO of Dubai World Trade Centre said, “For one week in May every year the travel industry arrives in Dubai to take a look into the future of travel and tourism. As Dubai has grown, the show has grown with it and become one of the most important events on the global industry calendar. For those exhibitors and visitors who attended the first ATM, the Dubai of today would have been a city beyond imagination.”

Echoing that sentiment, Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Gulf, Middle East & Iran said, “ATM has served as a catalyst for attracting key industry figures from across the globe, while underlining Dubai’s position as a regional centre for major events, especially as the city bids to host Expo 2020. Emirates has been a pivotal player at ATM since its inception, and for 20 years we have celebrated many milestones at ATM. It’s an ideal platform to showcase our constant innovation and new initiatives across the Emirates Group.”

Ali Abu Monassar – Chairman, The Vision Destination Management, added “ATM will continue to play a major role in the growth of the tourism sector as the industry platform that connects this region to the world.”

ATM has been an annual fixture on the Dubai calendar for 19 of its 20-year history, relocating only once – to Bahrain – in 1995.
This year’s event will be both a retrospective and an opportunity to look ahead at industry trends, with a strong focus on technology. Today’s line-up opens with a panel session entitled ‘20 Years: Now, Then and Tomorrow’, featuring the expert insight of industry leaders including HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President, CEO and Chairman, Department of Civil Aviation, The Emirates Group and Dubai World; HE Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General, DTCM & DWTC;
Iain Andrew, Divisional Senior Vice President, dnata; HE Marwan Al Sarkal,
CEO, Sharjah Investment and Development Authority – Shurooq; Thierry Antinori, Executive Vice President, Passenger Sales Worldwide, Emirates; Gerald Lawless, President and Group CEO, Jumeirah Group and Mark Walsh, Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.

The introduction of the all-new Digital and Technology Day will see sought-after speakers from some of the world’s most influential tech companies including Tech Theatre sponsor, Google, as well as senior executives from TripAdvisor and Amadeus, share invaluable industry insight.

Toufic Tamim, Vice President Sales & Marketing – Middle East, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, the official host hotel for ATM 2013 commented - “After a successful association with ATM over the last 12 years, it has been remarkable for us to watch and experience on a first-hand basis how the show has evolved. Regionally and internationally, it remains an extremely important, show for anyone in the inbound and outbound tourism business,”

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, the show has grown to become the largest showcase of its kind in the region and one of the biggest in the world.
Arabian Travel Market 2013 will be held at the Dubai International Exhibition and Conference Centre from 6-9 May.


For more information on Arabian Travel Market 2012, please log on to www.arabiantravelmarket.com

About Reed Travel Exhibitions
Arabian Travel Market is organised by Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), the world’s leading provider of exhibitions in the travel and tourism industry. Its wide-ranging portfolio of events around the globe covers leisure travel, luxury travel, meetings, incentives and business travel, as well as golf, ski and spa travel. Reed Travel Exhibitions also organises Abu-Dhabi based global meetings and incentive exhibition, GIBTM which takes place annually in March.
The RTE portfolio of 19 events are; World Travel Market (WTM), World Travel Market Latin America (WTM Latin America), Arabian Travel Market (ATM), International French Travel Market Top Resa (IFTM), International Golf Travel Market (IGTM), International Ski Travel Market (ISTM), International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM), International Luxury Travel Market Asia (ILTM Asia), International Luxury Travel Market Americas (ILTM Americas), International Luxury Travel Market Africa (ILTM Africa), International Luxury Travel Market Japan (ILTM Japan), International Luxury Travel Market Spa (ILTM Spa), Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) (owned by Melbourne Convention + Visitors Bureau), Global Exhibition for Incentive, Business Travel, and Meetings (EIBTM), Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (GIBTM), Americas Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (AIBTM), China Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (CIBTM), India Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (IBTM India) and Business Travel Market.

September 2013 will see the launch of IBTM India in Mumbai and another exciting launch in the ski travel sector, with International Ski Travel Market in March 2014 in Austria.
RTE is a business unit of Reed Exhibitions.

About Reed Exhibitions
Reed Exhibitions is the world’s leading events organizer, with over 500 events in 39 countries. In 2011 Reed brought together six million active event participants from around the world, generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed events are held throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa and organized by 33 fully staffed offices. Reed Exhibitions serves 44 industry sectors with trade and consumer events and is part of the Reed Elsevier Group plc, a world-leading publisher and information provider and a FTSE 100 company. www.reedexpo.com

Show history copy


2013:

- Venue: Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The show occupies more than 22,000 square metres.

- Exhibitors: over 2,500 exhibitors from 87 countries.

- 20th anniversary of the Arabian Travel Market.


2012

- Venue: Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The show occupied more than 20,800 square metres.

- Exhibitors: Visitors met with 8,317 exhibiting personnel across 348 main stand holders.

- Visitors: 17,575 visitors attended the show with Buyers Club attendance up 38 per cent. ATM lured 161 Hosted Buyers and 13,241 travel trade professionals. The 2012 edition reported an 8 per cent increase in overall attendance.

- The inaugural United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and Arabian Travel Market industry forum took place.

- New Frontiers Award winner: Japan

2011

- Venue: Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The show occupied 19,557 square metres.

- Exhibitors: Visitors were able to meet with 7,348 exhibiting personnel. There were 353 main stand holders this year.

- Visitors: 16,636 visitors attended the show with Buyers Club attendance up by 20%. 154 Hosted Buyers visited Arabian Travel Market 2011.

- There were 13,313 travel trade professionals in attendance at the 2011 show.

- Over 48,000 members of the public visited the exhibition over the four days.

- New Frontiers Award winner: Chile

2010
- Venue: Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The show occupied 20,036 square metres.

- Exhibitors: Visitors were able to meet with 7,228 exhibiting personnel. There were 6 new exhibiting countries this year.

- Visitors: 14,835 visitors attended the show with Buyers Club up by 6%. 138 Hosted Buyers visited Arabian Travel Market 2010.

- There were 11,641 travel trade professionals in attendance at the 2010 show.

- Over 2000 members of the public visited the exhibition on Consumer and Careers Day.

- New Frontiers Award winner: Philippines

2009

- Venue: Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre occupied 20,228 square metres

- Exhibitors: Visitors were able to meet with 6,980 exhibiting personnel. There were 8 new exhibiting countries this year.

- Visitors: 15,026 visitors (6.5% year on year increase).

- All 146 Hosted Buyers were new visitors to Arabian Travel Market and the number of the travel trade professionals in attendance nudged up 5.14 per cent.

- 2211 members of the public visited the exhibition on Consumer and Careers Day.

- New Frontiers Award winner: India

2008

- Venue: Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. The show occupied 25,658 square metres - a 4.3% increase on 2007.

- Exhibitors: There were 7 new exhibiting countries this year, and products and services showcased on the exhibition floor increased by 9%.

- Visitors: 14,046 (2.2% year on year increase) attended the show with an 18.6 per cent increase in VIP Buyers. Visitors represented 114 countries.

- All 119 Hosted Buyers were new visitors and comprised decision makers from the premium leisure industry, the golf sector and from Meetings, Incentives, and Conferences & Exhibitions (MICE) market.

- 2225 members of the public visited on the exhibition on the consumer day.

- New Frontiers Award winner: USA

2007

- Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre - The biggest in the series, the show’s 14th edition occupied 24,600 square metres - up 11 per cent on 2006.

- Exhibitors: Nearly 2,600 exhibitors, a 24 per cent increase over the previous year, took part. More than 64 countries, participated while 115 exhibitors from 34 countries were new to the show. First timers included China, Croatia, Macau, Palestine, Peru, Ras Al Khaimah, Swaziland, Taiwan and Zimbabwe.

- Visitors: More than 12,850 trade professionals from 108 countries attended - up 5.1 per cent on 2006 – with an 8 per cent increase in overseas visitors.

- The show recorded a 7 per cent increase in media, attracting more than 1,000 local, regional and international journalists.

- Arabian Travel Market 2007 featured a host of initiatives, including an expanded seminar programme, an upgraded media centre and a new dedicated area for travel and technology.

- Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) established a permanent office in Dubai.

- New Frontiers Award winner: Mexico

2006

- Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre

- Exhibitors: Arabian Travel Market 2006 had 38 per cent more allocated floor space, spanning 22,229 square metres, to accommodate 1,750 exhibitors from 59 countries, including 114 first time participants.

- Visitors: 11,674 trade buyers attended from 99 countries, 974 media – up 29 per cent from the previous year.

- New Frontiers Award winner: Thailand
2005

- Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre

- Exhibitors: 102 companies and tourism organisations were first-time exhibitors at the event.

- More than 1,664 exhibitors from 64 countries, including 57 national and regional tourism bodies took part, including South Africa, which had a national pavilion for the first time.

- Visitors: Nearly 11,000 trade visitors from 94 countries attended the show with almost 7,000 from the Middle East, demonstrating the show’s growing regional popularity.

- The New Frontiers Award was created to recognise outstanding contributions to tourism development in the face of overwhelming adversity supporting the chosen destination by donating exhibition space at event to the value of US$10,000.
2004

- Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre

- Exhibitors: More than 1,400 exhibitors from 55 nations

- Visitors: 8,606 trade professionals from 96 countries attended, which was a 25 per cent increase on the 2003 event.

- Overseas visitors hit the 8,224 mark.

- More than 773 registered journalists – a 13.6 per cent increase on 2003

2003

- Venue: Airport Expo Dubai

- Exhibitors: 783 exhibitors from 55 countries took part.

- Visitors: 12,111 visitors from 73 countries attended the 10th anniversary edition of Arabian Travel Market in 2003.

- Travel trade turnout was 6,883, up 20 per cent on 2002 while overall attendance rose by six per cent.

- A total of 695 journalists covered the show.

- 982 VIP guests were received on site.

- 4,441 consumers visited during the two public day sessions towards the close of the show.

- The show featured a seminar on space tourism, conducted by the President and CEO of Space Adventures, Eric Anderson.

2002

- Venue: Airport Expo Dubai

- Exhibitors: 700 exhibitors representing 56 countries. 4,592 exhibiting personnel took part.

- Visitors: 11,418 visitors from 69 countries attended the show: 5,643 were trade visitors or Meridian Club members, 600 media representatives and 5,175 were consumers. Some 70.6 per cent of trade visitors were of managerial status. International trade visitor attendance was 2,035.

2001

- Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre. This was the biggest ever show in the series, took up 8,000 square metres.

- Exhibitors: 782 companies from 59 countries participated.

- Visitors: Trade visitors reached 6,366 – an increase of almost 7 per cent on Arabian Travel Market 2000. Consumer attendance soared to 4,420.

2000

- Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre.

- Exhibitors: Over 700 exhibitors from 55 countries occupied 7,100 square metres in floor space.

- Visitors: The show attracted some 5,961 trade visitors from 86 countries. Trade visitors from Saudi Arabia registered an 11 per cent increase while those from Kuwait were up 13 per cent on 1999 figures.

1999

- Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre.

- Exhibitors: 619 exhibitors from 42 nations in a 6,000 square metre show.

- Visitors: A total of 6,406 trade visitors – a 15.3 per cent increase on 1998
Almost two-thirds of trade visitors were of managerial status or above.

1998

- Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre.

- Exhibitors: 530 exhibitors from 41 nations took up 5,400 square metres of floor space.

- Visitors: 7,200 visitors from 63 countries. More than 80 per cent of visitors had direct purchasing power. The hosted Gold Buyers Programme was introduced.

1997

- Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre

- Exhibitors: 450 exhibitors from 47 countries took part.

- Visitors: 7260 visitors – up 14 per cent on 1996. The daily average of trade visitors increased by 20.6 per cent year on year. International visitor attendance shot up 41 per cent year on year.

1996

- Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre

- Exhibitors: 400 companies from 49 nations and a new feature added - the Arabian Travel Market conference.

- Visitors: A total of 5,785 visitors.

1995

- Venue: Bahrain International Exhibition Centre.

- Exhibitors: The event featured more than 300 companies from 35 nations.

- Visitors: Over 4,000 visitors, including in excess of 3,000 trade visitors attended.

- This was the only time the show was staged in Bahrain.

1994

- Venue: Dubai World Trade Centre.

- Exhibitors: 300 companies from 52 nations participated. Almost 50 per cent of exhibitors hailed from outside the Middle East.

- Visitors: More than 7,000 visited the show - including 2,500 consumers.

- Arabian Travel Market covered 2,000 square metres of floor at the Dubai World Trade Centre in its first year, 1994.



Industry history copy

2013

• Arabian Travel Market celebrates its 20th Anniversary event in Dubai.

• Dubai Airports starts the new year with the opening of Concourse A on January 2. By February 10, the entire new facility is fully operational.

• On April 1st, Emirates and Qantas mark the official start of their historic partnership, with the first Qantas flights departing from Sydney and Melbourne to London via the international hub of Dubai.

2012

• Passenger traffic reaches 57.68 million making Dubai the world’s second busiest airport for international passengers.

• Qatar National Hotels Company is re-named as Katara Hospitality at Arabian Travel Market 2012, to reflect the company's heritage and its international expansion plans.

• Dubai Airports announces a US$7.8 billion (28.8 billion AED) airport and airspace expansion programme which will boost capacity at Dubai International from 60 million to 90 million passengers per year by 2018.

• Aviation is now established as a vital contributor to the UAE’s economy, contributing more than AED145 billion ($39.47bn) or 14.7 per cent to the national GDP.

• Construction of the US$1.2 billion (AED4.4bn) Kingdom Project Construction work is due to start on site on April 1, 2013 and is expected to be completed 63 months later in 2018. It is planned to be the tallest tower in the world.

2011

• On December 13, Mina Zayed in Abu Dhabi welcomes for the first time the Costa Favalosa cruise ship. The fleet is billed as "the most advanced" liner ever deployed in the Middle East.

• The Royal Opera House opens the first opera house in the Middle East.

• Al Ain city is named as a UNESCO World Heritage Site

• Dubai Airports announces US$7.8 billion Strategic Plan 2020, involving a series of expansion projects at Dubai International (Concourse D for all airlines, 60% increases in aircraft stands, and expansion of Terminal 2)


2010

• Ferrari World opens its doors to the public on the 4th of November 2010. Ferrari World is not only the largest indoor amusement park in the world, but is also home Formula Rossa, the world's fastest roller coaster.

• Oman Air becomes the first airline in the world to introduce both OnAir internet and OnAir Mobile phone services

• The tallest building in the world opens, the Burj Khalifa, at a staggering 828m (2,716ft) high.

• Qatar wins the big to stage the 2022 World Cup finals.

• Dubai Airports opens the first phase of Dubai World Central (DWC) for cargo operations on June 27.

2009

• The first section of the Dubai Metro Red Line, covering 10 stations, is ceremonially inaugurated at 9:09:09 PM on 9 September 2009, by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Ruler of Dubai. The Dubai Metro is the first urban train network in the Arabian Peninsula and more than 110,000 people, which is nearly 10 per cent of Dubai’s population, used the Metro in its first two days of operation.

• Debut of Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
• The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) opens offices in Milan and Rome

• The Palm Jumeirah Monorail starts operation on May 6, 2009 and is the first monorail in the Middle East.

• Terminal 2 undergoes major refurbishment for the launch of flydubai, Dubai’s own low cost airline.

• Work begins on Concourse A, the A380 dedicated facility for Emirates’ fleet of super jumbos.

• Passenger throughput surpasses the 40 million mark with traffic reaching 40.9 million and Dubai International becomes the world’s fastest growing airport among the top 50 major hubs.

2008

• The Emirates dedicated Terminal 3 opens in October and within a month 500,000 passengers had flown out the terminal. This is the world’s largest single terminal and expanded Dubai International’s capacity to 60 million.

• Atlantis opens its doors to the public on September 24, and is the first resort to be built on the Palm Jumeirah.

• In July the Government of Dubai establishes flydubai. On 14 July 2008 flydubai signs a firm order with American aircraft manufacturer Boeing at the Farnborough Air Show for 50 Boeing 737-800s with a total value of $3.74 billion,

• Dubai Mall opens in November this year with approximately 635 retailers, marking the world’s largest-ever mall opening in retail history.

• The Dubai Fountain is the world’s largest choreographed fountain system set on the 30-acre manmade Burj Khalifa Lake, at the centre of Downtown Dubai. It is 900 ft. (275 meters) in length – equivalent to that of over two football fields.

2007


• In early October 2007, the Palm Jumeirah becomes the world's largest artificial island. Also, 75% of the properties are ready to hand over, with 500 families already residing on the island.

• Sharq Village & Spa opens as Qatar's first branded luxury resort

• Nas Airline a low cost carrier based in Saudi Arabia is launched in February.

• Department of Civil Aviation is restructured leading to the formation of Dubai Airports –operator of Dubai’s airports – alongside Dubai Civil Aviation Authority – the local aviation regulatory body.

2006

• The 15th Asian Games, officially known as the XV Asiad, is Asia's Olympic-style sporting event that is held in Doha, Qatar from December 1 to December 15. Doha is the first city in the region and only the second in West Asia (following Tehran in 1974) to host the games.

• Emirates is the first airline in the world to install personal in-seat email and SMS services in all classes throughout the whole fleet

• ADTA forms Tourism Development & Investment Company (TDIC), launches Saadiyat Island to the world – the future home of the Louvre Abu Dhabi (2015), Zayed National Museum (2016) and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi (2017).


2005

• Ski Dubai opens in November. The indoor resort features an 85-meter-high indoor mountain with 5 slopes of varying steepness and difficulty, including a 400-metre-long run and the world's first indoor black run.

• Emirates Palace opens its doors in November. The hotel cost a total of USD3 billion to build, making it the second most expensive hotel ever built.


2004

• Oman becomes a member of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.

• Jazeera Airways starts operations as the first non-government owned airline in the Middle East. To date Jazeera Airways in one of the Middle East’s non-government owned airlines.

• The first Bahrain Grand Prix takes place at the Bahrain International Circuit on 4 April 2004. It makes history as the first Formula One Grand Prix to be held in the Middle East, and is given the award for the "Best Organised Grand Prix" by the FIA.

• The Dubai International Film Festival (DIFF) is launched, now the oldest film festival in the Gulf region.

• Jumeirah Group becomes a member of Dubai Holding - a collection of leading Dubai-based businesses and projects - in line with a new phase of growth and development for the Group.

• The design phase begins on the New Doha International Airport (NDIA) in a response to a projected demand for additional international passenger capacity to the region. The current airport handles 4.2 million passengers a year, whereas the new airport will be able to handle 24 million a year after the first phase of construction which is set for the second half of 2013.

• Excavation work begins for the Burj Khalifa in January 2004.


2003

Emirates shocks the industry at the Paris Air Show with the biggest deal in civil aviation history - a staggering order for 71 aircraft at a cost of $19 billion.

Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) in the Middle East and North Africa begins operations.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, commences commercial operations on November 2003, with its first flight from Abu Dhabi to Beyrouth.


2002


• Qatar, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia all become members of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation.

• 2002 marks the opening of Al-Mamlaka Tower in Riyadh. Taking over from the Al Faisalyah Tower which was completed in 2000, Al-Mamlaka is now the tallest tower in Saudi Arabia.

• In 2002, the Dubai Tourism Commerce Marketing forms the Dubai Convention Bureau (DCB) to conduct all international bids on behalf of the emirate for attracting major events to Dubai.

• Abu Dhabi International Airport completes series of expansion projects. These involve a new 4,100m runway and taxiway, a new satellite terminal, a rapid transit shuttle and a series of 18 new aircraft stands that cost approximately $230m.

• Dubai International Airport is ranked the second fastest growing airport in the world according to the Airports Council International (ACI) traffic statistics. The facility handles around 18 million passengers and is established as the aviation hub of the Middle East


2001


• Construction of the Palm Jumeirah Island begins in June. The island has been created using 94 million cubic metres of sand and 7 million tonnes of rock.

• Bahrain becomes a member of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation

• The Ritz-Carlton Doha opens its doors, at the time the tallest building in Qatar.

• 2001 sees the establishment of the first cruise terminal in Dubai. In the first year of operation the terminal received approximately 7000 passengers and 50 ship calls.

2000

• The Saudi Commission for Tourism & Antiquities (SCTA), a state-run organisation devoted to developing the tourism sector in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is founded.

• Al Faisalyah Tower in Riyadh, the tallest tower in the city at the time, opens that year.

• The Jumeirah Emirates Towers opens its doors and is the third tallest hotel in the world at the time of launch.

• Sheikh Rashid Terminal, also known as Terminal 1, opens, marking the start of a new chapter in Dubai’s aviation history. Built as part of the first phase of the general expansion project at a cost of AED2 billion, the terminal increases the Airport’s capacity from 10 million to 25 million.



1999

• Burj Al Arab, the world's tallest offshore hotel, opens in December.

• An agreement between Dubai’s travel and tour operator, dnata, and the Youth Hostels Association (YHA), concludes in May 1999, making it the first UAE travel agency to sell international membership in YHA.

• The Kuwait International Airport begins a 32,000m2 expansion to its passenger terminal building at a cost of KD18m ($60m).


1998

• Oman Air becomes a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) in October.

• The Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) first launches and becomes one of the major shopping and entertainment events in the region.

• The Jordan Tourism Board (JTB) officially launches in March 1998 as an independent, public – private sector partnership. They make the official announcement at the Arabian Travel Market that year.


1997

• The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) is established in January, replacing its predecessor the Dubai Commerce and Tourism Promotion Board (DCTPB), which was set up in 1989.

• Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts is founded and in the same year launches its first development, the Jumeirah Beach Hotel.


1996

• Fujairah Tourism Bureau is established to market the emirate’s considerable tourist attractions, which included diverse activities like watching bloodless bull-wrestling, visiting mangrove forests and bird-breeding sites, or navigating the steep mountain roads and narrow gorges of the Musandam peninsula.

• Global Village is launched this year. Initially a small site along the Dubai Creek with kiosks representing different countries, in its first year, Global Village attracts more than 500,000 visitors.

• The first Dubai World Cup is held thrusting both Nad Al Sheba and the UAE onto the global stage as American ‘wonder horse' Cigar, claims the inaugural running.

• Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) starts on 15 February as a retail event intended to revitalise retail trade in Dubai.

1995

• The famous Sealine Beach Resort, Qatar’s first ever leisure destination, opens its doors.



1994

• Bahrain Airport Company's major expansion and refurbishment program is completed in March. The new US$ 100 million terminal increases the handling capacity of the airport to 10 million passengers a year.

• The first ever Arabian Travel Market show opens in Dubai

• The Middle East Council of Shopping Centres, the regional trade body representing the shopping centre industry in the Middle East and North Africa, is established.

• Emirates is the first airline to equip an Airbus fleet with an on-flight fax facility.


• Qatar Airways, the national carrier of the State of Qatar, is launched in January.