More than 100 delegates from 60 member hotels around the world are currently attending the Preferred Hotels & Resorts 2016 Global Conference taking place for the first time in the Middle East, at Palazzo Versace Dubai, from October 12-16, 2016. Lindsey Ueberroth, President & CEO, Preferred Hotels & Resorts, stated that the decision to host their 2016 Global Conference in Dubai gives them an ideal opportunity to underscore their strategic plans for growth and to provide further support to their partners in the region. The announcement was made stating that 22 new properties are in the offing in the region. Also the appropriate time to recognise the exceptional growth of the tourism sector throughout the Middle East, especially in the GCC countries, as their respective governments try to diversify their economies away from hydrocarbon receipts, affording great opportunities for all of their members. Dubai has emerged as the undisputed tourism hub, with overnight visitors expected to touch 15 million in 2016, and targets to attract 20 million visitors per year by 2020 plus an additional 5 million visitors expected for Expo 2020 itself.