New owners and new exhibitors set to take The Hotel Show to new level

Held under the patronage of H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, UAE Minister of Defence, and chairman of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, The Hotel Show takes place at Airport Expo Dubai from May 20-22, 2002.

Initial interest in The Hotel Show for 2002 indicates that the prevailing negative perception of the Middle East hospitality sector is not founded, according to the event organisers, Streamline Marketing. The show was purchased by dmg World Media, a subsidiary of FTSE100 company The Daily Mail & General Trust plc last year, and is already benefiting from ambitious international marketing initiatives in the wake of the buyout.

Already a third of exhibiting space has been booked, 50% of this by new exhibitors. Four new national pavilions, representing Thailand, Lebanon, Taiwan and the Philippines, have been confirmed, representing a substantial number of exhibitors from those countries.

The US, Germany, South Africa, United Kingdom, Italy, France, Australia and Hong Kong have once again taken pavilions, with one of the largest groups expected to be arriving from Northern Ireland under the group banner of Madini Hotel Works.

"With the Hotel Show now under the umbrella of one of the largest exhibition organisers in the Middle East, it enjoys highly specialised global support, " said Joanne Evans, director of Streamline Marketing. "At the same time, our continued role as event organisers means consistency for all participants, and the combined effect for 2002 will be a bigger and better event, both for exhibitors, and hotel industry visitors."

A further feature of The Hotel Show 2002 will be the introduction of The Office Show next door, which expands its role into a new business area. The Office Show is responding to the increasing proliferation of large scale office developments throughout the Middle East, according to the project manager of the show, Kim Willis.

The Hotel Show will once again appeal to a broad international line-up of exhibitors, from interior designers to IT providers and manufacturers of security systems, as well as an increased number of buyers from the fast-growing Middle East hotel industry.

This year's exhibition attracted 115 exhibitors representing more than 200 companies from 13 countries in Asia, Australia, Europe, the GCC, North America and South Africa, participated at this year's exhibition. The event also attracted over 3,500 quality visitors from the Middle East hotel industry.

Fully supported by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing and the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, it also has the support of Dnata, official travel agent, Freightworks Expo, official freight forwarder, Budget, official rent-a-car, Airport Expo Dubai and TRI Hospitality Consultants.

The Hotel Show has always received official encouragement as its focus encourages the development of one of the Middle East's main economic sectors being officially promoted to play a major role in future economic growth and employment - tourism. The region remains second only to Europe in terms of share of the international tourism market annually. Billions of dollars are being invested into hotel and leisure resort construction and expansions as local governments invest heavily in tourism.

A marked increase in conventions and exhibitions has boosted the region's stature as a business hub, while the promotional efforts of tourism authorities, and the staging of top international sporting events, has added to the Middle East's appeal as a travel destination. Annual international tourism is expected to increase dramatically to 69 million in 2020.

For the region's hotel owners and operators, general managers, purchasing managers, and other decision makers, it conveniently brings together a comprehensive gathering of suppliers under one roof at Airport Expo Dubai, Dubai International Airport's impressive new exhibition centre.

The Hotel Show's international exhibitor line-up will include manufacturers in air conditioning, audio visual, video conferencing and sound systems, bathroom supplies and bed linen, building materials, cutlery and crockery, carpeting and curtains. Also on show will be producers of computer hardware and software, fitness, spa and pool equipment, buses, vans and limousines, landscaping services, management and reservations systems, telecommunications systems, uniforms, and dozens of other products and services vital to a hotel's day-to-day running.

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