Category Archives: Exhibitions

Over 300 delegates attend the inaugural CONNECT Middle East, India and Africa exhibition

This year’s Arabian Travel Market witnessed over 40 airlines and 300 delegates attend the inaugural CONNECT Middle East, India and Africa exhibition. The two-day meet, co-located with Arabian Travel Market 2019, united airline and airport executives with manufacturers and suppliers, and provided a global forum for business and networking opportunities. Alongside the conference programme, delegates had the opportunity to book one-to-one appointments in airline and airport meeting lounges and enjoy evening networking events. Karin Butot, CEO, The Airport Agency, said, “CONNECT is a new addition to the route development calendar and co-located with ATM is a natural choice given the unprecedented growth in aviation across the region. We look forward to welcoming delegates to what promises to be a series of lively debates and discussions.” The Middle East’s airline seat count has doubled in the last 10 years, and last year saw 264.31 million scheduled departing seats, according to anna.aero data. Growth has been fuelled by the major expansion of scheduled carriers and more recently, low-cost airlines, which now accounts for 16 per cent of all departing seats. Dubai International Airport, the world’s largest airport for international passenger numbers, recording 89.1 million passengers last year, accounted for 22 per cent of all departing seats in the Middle East. Nick Pilbeam, Divisional Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions, said, “Two-thirds of the world’s population are within an eight-hour flight of the GCC and the region’s airlines are continuously adding new routes, to connect to fresh destinations.” Kicking off the two-day event was a training workshop entitled ‘The Simpson Paradox in Donut Crunching’ – showing how best to achieve better data accuracy when estimating a route’s potential. John Strickland, Director, JLS Consulting, gave a keynote …

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Italy sees a 22 per cent increase in visitors from the Middle East

The cuisine, art, fashion and landscapes of Italy are attracting more visitors from the Middle East in recent years, with figures released today showing visitor numbers increased by 21.97 per cent in 2017 compared to 2016, a rise from 157,000 to nearly 200,000 travellers. The figures were announced during a press conference at the Arabian Travel Market, which was hosted by Filippo Del Corno, Deputy Major for Culture, Municipality of Milan; Lara Magoni, Councilor for Tourism, Territorial Marketing and Fashion of the Lombardy region and Alessandra Zita from the Italian Government Tourist Board (ENIT). Visitors from the UAE are the top Middle Eastern spenders in Italy parting with 180 million euros in 2017, followed by visitors from Saudi Arabia recording 120.3 million euros spend in the same year. ENIT has also revealed that the most popular regions for travellers from the Middle East include Lazio, Lombardy, Veneto, Tuscany, Piedmont and Emilia Romagna. According to ENIT, the Made In Italy brand that is synonoumus with high-quality design, craftsmanship and production, is a driving force behind the increasing tourist figures from the Middle East. The Lombardy region of Italy (an area which covers Milan, Lake Como and Lake Garda), had the privilege to host the eclectic artist, Leonardo da Vinci, for many years of his working life. This year is the 500th anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci’s death and his creative genius, along with the region’s cuisine, fashion and design, is being celebrated during ATM in a dedicated zone at the Italian Pavillion. In addition to the Lombardy region zone, there is a dedicated area demonstrating Italian-style wellness for visitors to enjoy; a virtual reality experience covering art, food and lifestyle all …

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His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum inaugurates ATM 2019

His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, has inaugurated the 26th edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM). He was joined by Helal Saeed Al Marri, CEO, Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and Director-General of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), plus other VIPs who embarked on a tour of the show floor as the four-day event got underway at DWTC. Taking place from April 28 to May 1, this year’s event has 400 main stand holders with representation from over 150 countries. With more than 40,000 visitors expected to attend the event, ATM 2019 will showcase over 2,500 exhibiting companies – of which 100 will be making their show debut. The 26th edition of ATM will form part of the inaugural Arabian Travel Week, as well as ILTM Arabia, CONNECT Middle East, India and Africa – a new route development forum launching this year and new consumer-led event ATM Holiday Shopper. Other highlights will include the debuts of Arabia China Tourism Forum and Hotel Industry Summit, as well as the return of Global Halal Tourism Summit. As this year’s main theme, cutting-edge technology and innovation will be integrated across all show verticals and planned activities.

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Reed Travel Exhibitions launch Arabian Travel Week in Dubai

Reed Travel Exhibitions will launch Arabian Travel Week – an umbrella brand comprising four co-located shows – during the 2019 edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) which opens its doors on April 28 for four days of business networking opportunities and insightful seminar sessions at Dubai World Trade Centre.  Arabian Travel Week comprises ATM 2019 and ILTM Arabia as well as CONNECT Middle East, India and Africa 2019 – a new route development forum launching this year and a new consumer-led event ATM Holiday Shopper which take place on April 27. Claude Blanc, WTM Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions said, “The success of both ATM and ILTM Arabia has provided us with the platform to not only introduce two new events for 2019 – but to create a travel week which encompasses the Middle East’s inbound and outbound markets for general leisure tourism and luxury travel as well as introducing an exclusive consumer event and providing a dedicated networking forum for the region’s top airline specialists, aviation authorities, tourism boards, airports and tour operators.” According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), the direct contribution of travel and tourism to the UAE’s economy is predicted to rise 4.1 percent per annum to AED 108.4bn by 2028. “Building on these figures, we are confident Arabian Travel Week will be a key driver attracting top international destinations to the attention of the Middle East’s travel trade and consumers and equally, marketing the Middle East to strategic overseas tour operators and travel professionals,” Blanc said Now in its 26th year, ATM 2019 will welcome over 2,500 exhibiting companies and an expected 40,000 industry professionals, with over 150 countries represented, 65 national pavilions, and …

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Aventri unveils one-stop shop for events

Event management software (EMS) leader Aventri unveiled the Aventri Marketplace, a one-stop shop for events. The new portal on the Aventri platform gives customers quick access to premium service and technology providers for event success. Marketplace partners cover everything from event promotion and budget management to staffing, ground transportation, payment processing and more. In conjunction with the Marketplace debut, Aventri announced a partnership with Uber for Business. Aventri is the first event management software provider to launch a partnership with Uber for Business, offering customers the opportunity to use Uber Vouchers. This web-based tool allows organizers to give attendees VIP treatment with stress-free, reliable transportation to and from events. Using Uber Vouchers, organizers spend less time arranging logistics for moving groups, and their guests can come and go at a time that’s convenient for them. “Aventri technology assists planners throughout the event lifecycle,” says Michael Burns, Global Head of Sales and Marketing, Aventri. “Marketplace builds on our promise to customers. The aim is to present top-notch providers that enhance every corner of event planning and management. Using Aventri Marketplace, planners will save time and money, while optimising their events.” Aventri has a robust pipeline of future providers. The company will evaluate companies and roll out new partners on an ongoing basis. “Planners today are expected to be event strategists, plugged into all the best resources,” explains Brad Langley, Vice President, Channel and Partner Management, Aventri. “At the same time, they’re stretched thin. Bombarded with requests for new and different services, they no longer have time to carefully evaluate every option. Aventri Marketplace answers the call, offering easy access to the top providers planners need as they build out their events.”

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Sharjah to promote ecotourism at Riyadh Travel Fair 2019

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) has confirmed its participation at the 11th edition of Riyadh Travel Fair from March 28-29, 2019, to highlight tourism, cultural and leisure attractions in the emirate and promote itself as one of the most significant local and international tourism destinations. Sharjah will focus on ecotourism and outdoor activities with a strong emphasis on new branded hotel projects, in line with SCTDA’s commitment to promoting Sharjah’s tourism market in the Arab markets, especially in Saudi Arabia – one of the largest Gulf markets for tourists to the emirate. Commenting on the participation, H E Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, SCTDA, said, “Our participation at the Riyadh Travel Fair is in line with our strategic plans to promote the emirate of Sharjah as a leading tourist destination in the world’s major tourism markets and to ensure our presence on the global tourism map. This exhibition is of great importance as it is an ideal platform for us to review the competitive advantages and capabilities that make Sharjah a cultural, tourism and leisure centre and a symbol of cultural excellence in the region. The Gulf region is a very competitive market because of the similarity of equivalent countries in climate, terrain and geographical location, and this requires us to provide exceptional tourim products for GCC tourists, who accounted for 45 per cent of the total number of Arab tourists to the emirate last year.” Al Midfa added, “We always seek to promote Sharjah in various Arab and international exhibitions and forums in cooperation with various bodies in the public and private sectors. We take this approach because of the emirate’s unique characteristics and diversity in tourism …

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China to become driving force within the global adventure travel sector

With a rapidly growing interest within both the advanced and the casual segment, China is expected to become a driving force within the adventure travel sector internationally, according to recent findings by ITB China Travel Trends Report. According to the market survey result from 300 Chinese outbound travel agents, over 52 per cent of the interviewees think Chinese travellers are willing to spend more than CNY 10,000 on each adventure trip. A survey has also been conducted among members of the ITB China’s Buyers’ Circle. 80 per cent of these surveyed businesses agree that adventure travel is a travel category that appeals most strongly to young Chinese born in the 1980s and 1990s. The trends report was created in collaboration with the international consulting and research company Kairos Future and will be presented at ITB China, set to take place from the May 15 to 17,  2019 in Shanghai. The most important three aspects that Chinese travellers care for in adventure travel are safety (30 per cent), local activities (26 per cent) and scenery (17 per cent). Safety concerns are more common in China than internationally, as travellers are far less experienced in adventure travel. Topics include safety risks of activities such as bungee jumping as well as the risk of getting lost in the wilderness, and the dangers stemming from not carrying the right equipment. Providers of adventure travel products targeting the outbound Chinese market need to tailor products to traveller segments with different expectations on difficulty, safety and comfort.

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Technology and innovation to take the spotlight at Arabian Travel Market 2019

The impact of disruptive technologies on the tourism industry is set to create multi-billion dollar savings through the use of IoT, robotics, artificial intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR) and wearable technology according to data published ahead of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2019, set to take place at Dubai World Trade Centre from April 28 to May 1, 2019. The latest research from Colliers International, in partnership with ATM 2019, reveals that in addition to vast cost savings, the customer experience is set to be more streamlined with travel set to become better, smoother and more personalised with travel bookings on VR platforms, AI chatbots guiding customers through the booking process and IoT providing internet based inter-connectivity between everyday devices. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said, “Technology, and the use of technology, is evolving every day. The tourism industry is at the very forefront of tech innovation with companies investing huge sums of money to improve the customer journey and experience.” ATM 2019 has adopted cutting-edge technology and innovation as its main theme and this will be integrated across all show verticals and activities, including focused seminar sessions. Discussing the defining evolutions of hospitality technology, the Travel Tech Show will return to ATM 2019 with 45 dedicated international exhibitors and an influential agenda of discussion and debate in the Travel Tech Theatre – sponsored by Sabre Corporation. Launching this year will be the inaugural Arabian Travel Week, an umbrella brand which comprises four co-located shows: ATM 2019; Connect Middle East, India and Africa – a new route development forum, ILTM Arabia and new consumer-led event – ATM Holiday Shopper.

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Sharjah Book Authority showcases Emirati culture at Paris Book Fair

HE Ahmed bin Rakkad Al Amiri, Chairman of Sharjah Book Authority (SBA), said the authority’s participation in the 39th edition of Paris International Book Fair, is part of its mission to build bridges between civilizations, and introduce the French and European cultural institutions to Sharjah’s cultural landscape. He went on to add,  “The emirate’s cultural journey stems from the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who spares no effort to connect with various cultures, and introduce the rich Arabic and Islamic culture all around the world.” On the sidelines of the Paris Book Fair, SBA held several meetings at the Sharjah Pavilion and highlighted to French and European publishers and intellectuals, the strides that Sharjah has made  in its cultural journey. At the Sharjah pavilion, SBA showcased its first flagship initiative, Sharjah Publishing City (SPC), the world’s first publishing and printing free zone, highlighting the premium services and commercial advantages it offers to publishers, authors and other literary professionals from around the world. Established in December 2014, SBA is dedicated to encouraging investment in creative industries and offering a platform for knowledge and intellectual exchange between people from different civilisations and cultures. SBA aims to highlight the significant role of writers and their influence in promoting community awareness, especially after the advent of different technologies and multiple knowledge sources.

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Messe Berlin to become member of World Tourism Alliance

Messe Berlin, a leading trade fair and event organiser , has been awarded membership of World Tourism Alliance (WTA). With ITB China set to take place from May 15 to 17  in Shanghai, the partnership will help strengthen communication between the global and the Chinese travel industry. Sustainable tourism growth from China can be fostered through deep cooperation and support of WTA. “In this multi-layered world, WTA truly plays a unifying role in the drive for global cooperation and development in tourism. Its message of integration and cooperative dialogue has convinced us in the same way as leading tourism representatives, destinations and institutions around the world, said Dr Martin Buck, Senior Vice President, Travel & Logistics, Messe Berlin.” Liu Shijun, Secretary General, WTA, attended multiple events at ITB Berlin and met with David Axiotis, General Manager of ITB China and Dr Martin Buck to talk about possible initiatives and projects. “We are extremely honoured that Messe Berlin has joined WTA and confident that with its expertise and experience, we can build a more competitive and responsible tourism industry for the benefit of all,” said Liu Shijun.  

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