"Shaikha Lubna is set to share key insights into the region's burgeoning tourism and hospitality sector and its continuing ability to contribute to economic growth, often as the catalyst," said Worsley. The session will be moderated CNN news anchor, John Defterios.
Worsley said that recent figures show that the contribution of the hospitality sector, both directly and indirectly, to the UAE's total GDP is in excess of 20% and 30% (respectively).
Meanwhile, Shaikha Lubna said that the region's hospitality and leisure sectors continue to show potential to attract new spending into regional economies.
"In the UAE particularly, we have witnessed excellent economic growth in tourism, aviation, hospitality real estate and complementary sectors. The UAE's non-oil sector represents over 60% of our GDP.
"In addition, there are many by-products of these sectors that are of interest to business investors, and so further drive growth," Shaikha Lubna said.
Recently, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) too pegged Dubai as 'the world's leading example of a state to have successfully embraced travel and tourism as a catalyst for economic growth and prosperity'.
Worsley added that the industry is expected to grow by 4.4% per annum in real terms between now and 2016, with Middle East travel and tourism investment estimated to reach $39.4bn during the same period.
He also confirmed that alongside Shaikha Lubna and other dignitaries, the three-day hospitality investment forum (from May 3-5 2008) will again see the 'who's who' of the global hotel investment industry thrash out the hot topics that are driving the region's bullish sector.
"We believe that the surge in attendance over the past years stands as a sign of AHIC's acceptance as the premier event for region's hospitality investment sector," mentioned Worsley.
"We expect to pass 1,000 delegates in 2008, up from just over 500 in AHIC's inaugural year in 2005."
He also shared that His Highness Shaikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum has confirmed his patronage for the fourth year running.
The Arabian Hotel Investment Conference will run from May 3-5, 2008 at Dubai's Madinat Jumeirah Convention Centre and is jointly organised by The Bench and MEED.
AHIC 2008 sees the introduction of a first-day Summit session. India has been selected as the Summit's flagship topic.
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HE Shaikha Lubna scheduled for live interview with CNN's John Defterios at AHIC 2008
- United Arab Emirates: Thursday, February 14 - 2008 at 13:11
- PRESS RELEASE
Her Excellency, Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Economy, has confirmed her attendance in the Industry Leaders' session at the upcoming Arabian Hotel Investment Conference, according to conference co-organiser, Jonathan Worsley.
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Notes and media contacts
Platinum sponsors of the 2008 event include: Bawadi, IFA Hotels & Resorts, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, Ministry of Brazil, Nakheel Hotels and The Rezidor Hotel Group.Gold Sponsors include Accor SA ME, Aldar Hotels & Hospitality, Almulla Holding LLC, Christie + Co, Cushman & Wakefield Hotels, Davis Langdon LLP, DLF Hotels, Dubai Heritage Vision, Emaar Hospitality Group, Emirates Airline, Fairmont Raffles Hotels International, Godwin Austen Johnson, Golden Tulip MENA Region, Group RCI, GuestInvest, Hamilton Hotel Partners, Hilton Hotels, Horwath HTL, HVS International, iBAHN, IHG, Interval International, Jumeirah, Kempinski Hotels, Layia Hospitality, Langham Hotels International Limited, Marriott International, Molinaro Koger, Morgan Stanley, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, Northcourse, OBM International, Rakeen, Rotana, Shaza Hotels, Sidley Austin, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Strategic Solutions, Taj Hotel Resorts & Palaces, Tiara Hotels & Resorts, TDO - Tourism Development Organisation (MENA), TRI Hospitality Consulting, Turks & Caicos Islands Government, Vision Asset Management Co, WATG, West LB and Wyndham Hotel Group International.
Media sponsors include AME Info, ATM, CNBC Arabia, CNN, Destinations of the World, HOTELS, Hospitality News Magazine, Luxury Hotelier, Sleeper and TTN.
Supporters: Dubai Convention Bureau, The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, IBLF, IH&RA, Native Energy, Villeroy & Boch, WTTC.
Media Enquiries to Strategic Solutions:
tel +97150 6556126
tel +97150 9803810
About the organisers:
The Bench
The Bench, a global partner with Smith Travel Research (STR), is a market leader in providing daily, weekly and monthly benchmarking data to more than 34,000 hotels worldwide. As the leading provider of online real-time benchmarking data, The Bench brings accurate hotel performance statistics to the market at an unparalleled speed.
Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of The Bench is one of the organisers and founders of the International Hotel Investment Forum (www.berlinconference.com) and is responsible for launching and co-organising the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference and the Russia & CIS Hotel Investment Conference (www.russia_cisconference.com). Worsley sits as an advisor to the World Travel & Tourism Council which represents many of the leading companies operating worldwide in the travel and tourism industry www.thebench.com
For further information please contact:
Gillian Powell
Tel: +44 208 297 2053
Sally Marwaha
Tel: +44 (0)1244 341956
About MEED
MEED is internationally recognised as providing essential business intelligence for anyone doing business in, or with, the Middle East and North Africa. With journalists and contacts across the entire Middle East and North Africa region, MEED provides reliable, up-to-date business news, analysis and data in both print and online. MEED attracts customers from across 78 countries worldwide.
www.meed.com
www.meedprojects.com
For further information please contact:
Diana Gregory
Tel: +971 (0) 4 375-7987
Posted by Anne-Birte Stensgaard, Senior News EditorThursday, February 14 - 2008 at 13:11 UAE local time (GMT+4)
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