e-Travelers Club travel update A Trend Setting e-Travel Update to Benefit your Business and Ensemble Travel Agenda

------Volume 62 - 2014

ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET, DUBAI – 5-8 May, 2014 © Saifuddin Ismailji

Left to Right: H.H. Prince Sultan bin Salam; Issam Kazim (CEO Dubai Corp Tourism Com. Marketing); Mark Walsh (Portfolio Dir. ReedTravel Exhibitions Organisers); Photo © Saifuddin Ismailji

Focused on high standard travel and hospitality with the launch of "Spotlight on luxury", the sold out 21st Edition of the annual Arabian Travel Market (ATM): Business Beyond Imagination opened on 5th May, 2014 at the Dubai World Trade Center, the largest-ever travel trade gathering in the Middle East, with exhibition space 24,641m2; and one additional hall (8% increase on 2013). The travel show attracted more than 21,000 trade visitors from around the world. Of the 420 main stand holders (9% increase over last year), there were over 2,700 exhibiting companies with 120 new exhibitors, 68 country booths and 115 buyers.

Opening Press Conference 4 May, 2014 – Oberoi Hotel, Dubai © Saifuddin Ismailji

On the theme: “Technology, a boom in home-grown hospitality brands and the need for more mid-market tourism products”, the show was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, organized by Reed Travel Exhibitions. The travel show attended by exhibitors, Industry professionals and government decision-makers at the very highest level included national tourism organizations (NTO), accommodation and venue providers, transport companies (including airlines, cruises), travel-related investment companies, medical tourism representatives, travel agents/ tour operators and travel technology companies.

Exhibitors expressed overwhelming satisfaction at the show. According to Sandra Hubert from Jungfrau, Switzerland, “Great Success. Good opportunity to get in touch with the GCC market. Best occasion to meet existing friends and make new friends. We will be back next year” "It’s been an excellent Show" confirmed Mr. Till Weigl, Destination Manager (Asia and Australia), German National Tourist Board.

Switzerland Stall © Saifuddin Ismailji

Left – Right: Sheikh Majid Al Mualla DSVP Com. Op Centre Emirates Airline; Tourism Malaysia; Turkey Stall; Ali Abu Monassar - The Vision booth © Saifuddin Ismailji

“This year’s participation of visitors in large numbers and many buyers visiting the booth (Malaysia) made a positive impact in marketing Visit Malaysia Year. We are expecting a huge number of tourists from the UAE, while 350,000 visitors arriving from West Asia to Malaysia (this year)”, said Dato Azizan Noordin, Deputy Director General (promotion), Tourism Malaysia.

The ATM 2014 calendar also encompasses more than 30 wide-ranging seminar and tech theatre sessions covering aviation, cruise tourism, mobile trends and the rising demand for wellness tourism. Some of the region’s most influential business leaders and industry experts addressed the audience at the seminars.

Seminar on Tourism Vision for 2020 (Dubai) is focused on growth and development in all sectors of tourism with the launching of new tourism website. The Tourism Vision 2020 aims at Dubai to become the world’s most visited city. By 2020, Dubai tourism targets 20 million visitors arrival with 75% foreign travelers. This influx of travelers will have a great impact on the economy of the UAE as well as the region. A new marketing blueprint is created to ensure the rate of growth in tourist arrival continues its strong trajectory. Expansion of infrastructure and planning underway, forward by experts in the hotel industry, airline and travel companies. The seminar was headed by industry experts: H.E. Hilal Almarri DG DTCM; Ghaith al Ghaith of Flydubai; Thierry Antinori EVP/ CEO Emirates Airline. Other seminars held during the Event had experts on the panel, like Adel Ali; CEO of Air Arabia; Simon Lynch, Director of Business Development, Abercrombie & Kent; Mohammed Al Dhaheri, Strategy & Policy Director, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority – to name a few.

Right: Dubai Tourism Booth under UAE stand included The Vision, Emirates Air, hotels and travel co’s Left:. The Big Bus stall © Saifuddin Ismailji

Social networking gala evenings at the Oberoi Dubai (left) and Medan Hotel (right) © Saifuddin Ismailji

The show with a full schedule of educational seminar sessions, business networking opportunities, high level discussions and recognition of 12 months of industry achievement not only offered priceless business opportunities for the industry, both inbound and outbound, but also there was a highly spirited festive scenario, bridging cultures between different parts of the world with 83 exhibiting countries.

ATM Dubai Exhibitor’s stall © Saifuddin Ismailji

The Regional & World Travel at a glance:

Dubai attracted 11 million visitors last year, a 10.6% year-on-year increase. Home grown hotel brands enjoyed a lucrative average 85% occupancy rate and favorable tourist arrivals. There is an increase in real-estate prices in Dubai but manageable towards a sustainable economy. After a spell of decline in the Middle East Cruise sector, the recent bounce back will attract 450,000 cruise passengers by 2016. “Regional governments have invested into the infrastructure required to develop cruise tourism, which is bringing growing confidence in the market,” said Mark Walsh, Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions. In a recent report by tourism experts, tourism is a significant component of growth in a nation’s economy. With the world tourism average growth of 5-6 percent, the Middle-East and Arab countries at half the Global Tourism Growth averaging 3% is holding back economy growth thus unfavorable job opportunity. More than 5-6% annual tourism growth is essential to make job available to youth. Ranked 4th in MENA countries, Morocco, with main markets from Saudi Arabia and UAE with Russia and Poland as potential markets has set a target 16 m tourist arrival by 2020.Tourism receipts in Lebanon-Jordan makes up about 1% of the country’s GDP According to the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, emerging economies continue to drive international tourism spending (2013). All BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) except India, reported double-digit growth. China posted an extraordinary 31% increase in spending, while the Russian Federation (+28%) and Brazil (+15%) likewise saw a sound increase during the period. Tourism spending was slower in the advanced economy source markets of Canada (+4%), the United Kingdom (+2%), France (+2%), the United States (+1%) and Germany (0%), while Japan, Australia and Italy saw declines in expenditure.

Hospitality

Dubai offers a variety of hotels ranging from some of the most expensive hotels in the world to budget hotels. Most of the international brand and established home grown brands announce highest profit levels and thus, the opportunity to develop new hotel properties.

Ali Hamad-World Travel Award 2014 Millennium Airport Hotel

- Millennium Airport Hotel, Dubai The Millennium Airport Hotel is a preferred 5 star bed down with an ideal location near to the airport and a few minutes’ walk from the Ggico Metro station and a short drive to the main shopping and financial area in the city. A part of Millennium Hotels and Resorts, the group of hotels is one of the fastest growing luxury brand in the region, already popular among travelers and the recent accolade at the World Travel Award, presented to Ali Hamad Lakhraim Alzaabi (President and CEO of Millennium & Copthorne Middle East and Africa), to honor his contribution to the industry and his strategic role in propagating tourism growth in the region through his role at the helm of one of the region’s fastest growing hotel chain. Millennium & Copthorne Hotels plc. is a dynamic, global hotel company, which owns, asset manages and/or operates over 120 hotels worldwide. With almost 40,000 rooms worldwide, the company is present on all continents with a portfolio of brands which serve different market segments, representing quality and value in every class. www. millenniumhotels .ae/ millenniumdubai

Avari Dubai Hotel Deira Duabi © Saifuddin Ismailji

- Avari Dubai Hotel Conveniently located in Deira Dubai near the airport, Avari Dubai is a preferred abode for business travelers. Its 178 newly renovated rooms and suites offers world class comfort that comes in a 4 star package. Avari Group of Hotels also owns Avari Towers Hotel, Karachi (Pakistan) – a recipient of Consumer Choice award and Avari Hotel Lahore, in the center of The Mall road, Lahore. Avari Lahore received World Travel Award for 6 consecutive years as the leading hotel of Pakistan. www.avari.com, www.avari.com/about-avari-group.php

Inspiring Dubai

Dubai is an example to phenomenal growth of a city with a high standard of living. In a short pace of time, in 50 years, this commercial hub of the UAE with a population of 2.2 million, has reached the heights of glory as a world class city. My Dubai Tip campaign: DTCM has launched a campaign’ #MyDubai social media initiative’ at the ATM 2014. While local residents are requested to suggest activities that would further enhance tourism by tweet: ‘#MyDubai tip is. . . “and adding the hashing #ATM2014. For example, a tweet could read: “#MyDubai tip is to skydive over Palm Jumeirah #ATM2014”. Similarly, visitors to Duabi attending the ATM are requested to begin their tweet #MyDubai highlight is. . . “ www.dubai.ae