Category Archives: Exhibitions

The Travel Agents’ Academy will return to Arabian Travel Market in 2017 with two half-day sessions on Thursday 27 April, at Dubai World Trade Centre. Beginning at 10am in Hall 1, scheduled topics for the free-to-attend 2017 programme include itinerary planning, sales training and destination briefings, with a networking break, refreshments and a course completion certificate for all delegates. Tackling one of the most pressing issues for travel agents, the first session will see Rohit Bassi, Managing Director of In Learning, return to ATM following an incredibly popular address at ATM 2016. This year, Bassi will discuss “Soul of Sales – The Nine Universal Principles” which includes how to teach travel agents how to build credibility and connection with clients; how to identify and offer solutions to clients; negotiation and management techniques; and to manage the transformation from sale to client relationship. Bassi, who established In Learning in 2011, is renowned for teaching a range of key business skills and is the only licensed trainer for Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway® in the UAE, which builds on the teachings of the self-development book written by Susan Jeffers.  He has previously consulted for Nielsen, Al Ghurair Iron & Steel, Emirates NBD, Bayt.com, DFS Logistics, Alshaya, Oracle, EMC, Emaar Hospitality, Harley-Davidson, HSBC and ADBC. Following on will be Sundar Vasudayen, Principle Consultant at TRS Consulting will share itinerary planning tips for well-travelled clients looking for something unique.   Simon Press, Senior Exhibition Director, ATM, said: “The Travel Agents’ Academy at this year’s Arabian Travel Market is being held at a timely juncture in the role of travel agents. Travel trends analyst Skift noted how, a few years back, the digital …

Riyadh Travel Fair’s (RTF) 2017 edition drew to a close for the ninth consecutive year, at Prince Sultan Grand Hall, Al Faisaliah Hotel, Riyadh. The 2017 edition is the largest on record with an increase in both the number of exhibitors and visitor arrivals. 270 exhibitors were present representing 55 countries. Over 50 national and regional pavilions had a prominent presence with the show floor space as it increased by 10 per cent compared to the 2016 event. The fair was inaugurated by His Excellency Majid A. Al-Hokair, Chairman of the Committee for Tourism and Entertainment Riyadh Chamber and Chairman of Board Directors for Riyadh International Conference and Exhibition Center. The four day event became the focus of business networking opportunities, insightful seminar sessions, ministerial discussions and the recognition of 12 months of the tourism industry’s achievements. Bander’ Algryni, General Manager, ASAS Exhibitions, said: “The 2017 edition is the largest Riyadh Travel Fair to date thereby extending our prominence as the leading travel and tourism exhibition in the kingdom. More than 250 exhibitors from Tourism Boards, airlines, tour operators and hotels from more than 50 countries are present in the exhibition. “It’s been a year of growth not only for the tourism and hospitality industry in the Kingdom, but for RTF; and with Saudi nationals increasingly travelling overseas at a greater number year on year, the opportunities that the RTF provides for domestic and overseas destinations, hospitality service providers and other tourism related businesses, to directly meet with the kingdom’s leading travel professionals and travellers has never been more significant.” The Riyadh Travel Fair was open to both travel professionals and the general public looking for in-depth destination information and …

International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) Arabia is set to take place on the first two days of the four-day ATM (April 24-25) located in Hall 1 of the Dubai World Trade Centre. ILTM Arabia will target high net-worth travellers from throughout the GCC and wider Middle East region, with buyers from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar expected to have a particularly strong presence. Expenditure on outbound travel from the Middle East is expected to reach $165.3 billion by 2025, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. Highlighting the buoyant outbound travel market, another report, issued by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (2015 Tourism Highlights), which includes research teams from Frost & Sullivan and Insights Middle East, revealed a 9 per cent growth in the number of outbound travellers from the region in 2015, while the total estimated value of outbound travellers from the GCC in 2014 was $64 billion. Alison Gilmore, Portfolio Director for ILTM, said: “The Arabian outbound market is established and affluent, with a growing generation of individuals looking to spend their leisure time in the world’s finest places. This year we are inviting some of our closest partners to experience the new ILTM Arabia and explore the increasing business opportunities from the region’s highest net worth travellers.” Simon Press, Senior Exhibition Director, Arabian Travel Market, commented: “Although low oil prices and sluggish economic growth at home might be stifling business confidence, the strength of the US dollar of which many of the GCC currencies are pegged to, means travelling overseas is invariably better value than it was in the past. The UAE for example witnessed a 19% increase in outbound trips to Europe in …

China Eastern and ITB China have signed a corresponding partnership agreement. ITB China will take place from May 10 to 12, 2017 at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Conference Center. The event, an international offshoot of one of Messe Berlin’s most successful trade fairs will take place annually and focus on the Chinese travel industry. David Axiotis, General Manager ITB China: “China Eastern has once again underlined its constantly growing role in China’s aviation by serving round about 100 million passengers last year. With China Eastern Airlines ITB China has gained a very strong and valuable partner airline for its inaugural show and we are looking forward to a mutually beneficial partnership”. The three day B2B tradeshow and convention is designed to be the primary event for the Chinese travel industry and the event’s airline partner, China Eastern, is offering special fares for those flying to the exhibition.

Disney Destinations recently hosted a keynote event in Dubai to celebrate new announcements for Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line and Disneyland Paris aimed at summer. Speaking to Tourism Breaking News, Damien Vayne, Head of International Press Relations Disney International stated that the Middle East clientele, especially those from UAE and Dubai could contact them through agents to discover the new features for summer so that they could book their packages in advance for the outbound experience with their families. Therefore annually Disney International hosts this event so that all partners are aware of the new features incorporated. He further reiterated that Disneyland Paris celebrates 25 years hence there would be a lot more to look forward to in terms of entertainment for the whole family. “There is no better place than our Disney Destinations to build lifetime memories. This year, we are bringing unique experiences, making our Disney Destinations the ultimate family vacation destinations for the GCC region. With direct flights from Dubai to Florida, USA and to Paris, France, the magic of our Disney Destinations is easy to reach from the GCC region”, said Brigitte Elmkies-Sitbon, Director of International Sales & Marketing, Disney Destinations International. Walt Disney World Resort announced that Pandora – The World of Avatar will open at Disney’s Animal Kingdom on Saturday, May 27. Inspired by Academy-award winning filmmaker James Cameron’s box-office hit, “AVATAR,” the new 12-acre land will immerse guests in the lush world of Pandora about a generation after the film’s human-Na’vi conflict. Disney Cruise Line announced the 2017 summer itineraries. Disney Cruise Line will sail on new itineraries and to new ports, including first-time visits to new destinations in Alaska and Europe. …

‘Building the bridge between East and West,’ an exclusive ITB China preview event with more than 60 journalists from China and 15 other countries concluded at the Jin Jiang Tower in Shanghai. Three months before the official opening of ITB China, the new marketplace for the Chinese travel industry, experienced industry professionals shared and discussed their point of view and insights on the Chinese travel industry. Among the distinguished speakers were Dr. Martin Buck, Senior VP Travel & Logistics/Messe Berlin, David Axiotis, General Manager/ITB China, Eduardo Santander, Executive Director/European Travel Commission, John Li, Vice President /Jin Jiang International Hotel Management Co.,Ltd, Mason Ma, General Manager All Region-based Tourism Strategic Marketing & Advertising Department/Ctrip, Frank Wu, General Manager of Overseas Sourcing Center / Tuniu, Tom Jenkins, CEO / ETOA – European Tour Operators Association and Charlie Li, CEO / TravelDaily China. 

AVIAREPS is set to launch a series of international roadshows throughout 2017 to major and emerging outbound markets and cities around the globe. AVIAREPS Roadshows confirmed for 2017 include the United Kingdom (London, Cardiff, Birmingham and Manchester) from March 13-16; Italy (Monza, Piacenza and Pavia) from March 28-30; the Middle East (Dammam and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait) from October 15-18; and then a second Middle East roadshow to Dubai (UAE), Qatar and Oman from November 19–22. Additional roadshows planned include: Taiwan (Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung) in Q2; Brazil in Q2; and Germany and South Africa with dates yet to be formally announced. Further roadshows in other markets are also expected to be confirmed in the interim. Thomas Drechsler, COO Tourism, AVIAREPS: “We understand that for both large and small entities new market development is essential for long term commercial survival and success. We also understand that investing in a new market is expensive and can take some time to create a return on investment. The launch of the AVIAREPS roadshows allows such entities of all sizes to economically test and engage in a new market, knowing that they are meeting the right people, maximising their time, and as most cases to date have proven, coming away with new business and an immediate return.” The AVIAREPS Roadshows are unique in that they are not brand or destination specific, are open to all entities (both established AVIAREPS clients and otherwise), and provide quality individual meeting opportunities with each market’s leading outbound contractors, product developers, general managers, sales managers, and MICE specialists. The roadshows are open to all national, regional and city tourism promotion boards, hospitality brands, inbound tour operators, aviation …

The UAE is participating in this year’s Outbound Travel Market (OTM) that will take place from February 21 to 23, 2017 in Mumbai. The Ministry of Economy will organise a national pavilion under the theme ‘Visit UAE’ which will feature exhibitors from more than 18 government entities and private sector representatives from the hospitality, tourism and aviation sectors. Abdullah Saleh Al Hammadi, Director of the Ministry’s Tourism Department will be part of the delegation that will comprise senior representatives from local departments and authorities, most notably the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority; Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM); Sharjah Tourism and Commerce Development Authority; Ajman Tourism Development Department; Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority; and Fujairah Tourism and Antiquities Authority. Emirates airline, an elite group of hotels and hospitality and tourism companies, in addition to Miral Asset Management’s Yas Island, Dubai Parks, and Cleveland Clinics, which will promote medical tourism in the UAE, will be represented as well. H.E Eng. Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansoori, UAE Minister of Economy, said that the UAE’s participation in OTM 2017 is of great significance given the improvement of Indian tourism at the global level. He referred to India as one of the UAE’s most important tourist markets due to their countries’ deep historical ties at all levels – politically, economically and culturally. The Minister added that the exhibition is a unique international platform for promoting joint cooperation in tourism. He pointed out that Indian tourists accounted for about 8.5 per cent of the total number of inbound tourism to the UAE in 2016 which saw the number of tourists grow by around 9 per cent from the previous year to …

This year’s Arab Health held from January 30-Feb 2, at Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, was attended by 4400 exhibitors, over 120,000 visitors and over 8000 delegates from around the world. Healthcare leaders from across the globe gathered on the final day at the “Leaders in Healthcare” conference held under the patronage of H.R.H. Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, wife of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum; Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Many countries are currently offering a lot of support in order to make the health tourism sector stronger in keeping with the vision to have over 1.3 million medical tourists in Dubai. Speaking to Travel TV.News, Linda Abdulla Ali Ruhi, Consultant – Medical Tourism Council of Dubai Health Authority stated that they have seen an increased number of medical tourists especially from the African region since last year hence they will be having the first roadshow in order to promote Dubai as a medical tourism destination. Furthermore, the introduction of electronic gateways such as the Dubai health experience website, apps and you tube channel has received a positive response in terms of partnerships from 26 health care facilities to over 42 healthcare and even hotels.

By reorganising the hall sections and reallocating hall space at the World’s Largest Travel Trade Show ITB Berlin (March 8-12, 2017) has taken travel industry changes into account. “In recent years there has been an increase in demand for more floor space and two-tier stands for certain markets which up to now we have been unable to satisfy. Several display halls already have waiting lists. By reorganising the halls to suit the market we are now able to meet this demand,” commented David Ruetz, head of ITB Berlin. The new hall concept makes it possible for the fast-growing markets of the Arab states to enlarge their displays. There is now a better concentration of markets, which makes it easier for trade visitors to plan their visit. The major tourism destinations in the Mediterranean, including France, Gibraltar, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus and Spain, as well as Serbia and Hungary, have relocated to the entrance areas in Halls 1.1 and 2.1, directly next the South Entrance. The United Arab Emirates have moved to a new central location in Hall 2.2. Egypt, Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and newcomer Saudi Arabia are in Hall 4.2 as of 2017. Central America and the Caribbean are now directly next door in Hall 22, with South America in Hall 23. Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia and Poland had already moved to Hall 15.1 at ITB Berlin 2016, where they can be found again next year.