The Business Travel Show Dubai opens today at the Madinat Jumeirah Arena

Mr. Calum Taylor, Managing Director and Mr. Iain Andrew, Dnata Divisional Senior Vice President will preside over a grand opening ceremony at the Madinat Jumeirah Arena running from October 29 - 30.

The two day exhibition showcases the finest business travel products and services from the world's leading travel suppliers. In addition, there is a two-day educational programme running alongside the exhibition, in partnership with The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE), tailored for visitors who are keen to learn more about the benefits of establishing travel management policies for their organizations or to improve existing polices.

Being held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum Chairman & Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group and the President, Dubai Department of Civil Aviation, the Business Travel Show Dubai is the foremost event for everyone who buys or manages company travel or books business trips, or sources meeting venues. Visitors attending the Show will find out how the changing face of the travel industry will impact on the way they currently book or buy business travel.

At the opening ceremony, Sally Pugmire, Event Director, Centaur Exhibitions expressed that the Business Travel Show is an extremely significant event for the Middle East, she said:

"The demands and preferences of international business travellers across several different geographical markets have undergone several changes. Pertinent issues that impact travel decisions include higher business and first class fares, an increasing use of the services of low-cost airlines, growth in the use of air taxis and business jets and the use of the internet for booking business travel."

The Business Travel Show Dubai is the region's only dedicated event for business travel; it offers a unique promotional & lead generating opportunity for companies involved in the Middle East's highly lucrative business travel sector.

As a Gold Sponsor of the show, Qatar Airways believe that the Business Travel Show provides the airline a forum to create further awareness of its Five Star product, "with visitors coming from across the globe for the Dubai launch, what better way to promote ourselves as the only Five Star carrier in the Middle East?" said Mr. Ali Al Rais, General Manager Commercial Qatar Airways at the show.

On the first day of the show, Mr. Marco Nijhof, Senior Vice President, Gulf Region Jumeirah also expressed his enthusiasms of the show, "as the only luxury hospitality group among the founding partners of the Business Travel Show, Jumeirah has exhibited at the show in London for several years. Now, with the exhibition coming to the Gulf region for the first time and being hosted by Jumeirah, we have the opportunity to further increase our corporate awareness locally and regionally, as well as strengthen our reputation as a rapidly expanding global hotel management company," he concluded.

Visitors at the show will have the opportunity to find out what's new, discover new cost and time saving approaches to booking and buying business travel and obtain independent professional advice from leading travel suppliers including; Alshamel, Dnata, Jumeirah, Emirates, British Airways, Etihad Airlines, Austrian Airlines, National Air Service, Virgin Atlantic, International Air Charter, Jebel Ali International, Cabot, Air France/ KLM, Hilton, Premier Travel Inn, FCM, Lufthansa, Accor, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Hertz, Chelsea Group, BCD Travel, Nuran LLC, Cathay Pacific, Rizon Jet FZC, Tourism Malaysia and many more.

Visitors can also get a chance to win a 2 night stay at the luxury Dar Al Masyaf, Madinat Jumeirah or a flight to London Heathrow from Dubai on Virgin Atlantic's Upper Class.