BITE hosts pre-opening press conference with key updates

The Expo which, is being held under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Chairman of the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB), will take place at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre (BIEC), from 14 - 17 May, 2008.

Mr. Jamil Wafa, Group Chairman of Magnum Holdings, the parent company of Magnum Events and Exhibitions Management MEEM, the organizers of BITE 2008, revealed that Bahrain's Labor Fund are participating for the first time in BITE 2008.

They will be organizing a seminar to highlight the role of the Labor Fund in supporting the private sector and the Tourism industry in particular, by providing the skilled human capital for added value jobs and career opportunities.

The seminar will be held on the last day of the Expo, 17 May, 12.30- 2.30pm. The Labor Fund will also have a booth dedicated to explain the current developments of Bahrain's national workforce and to display the programs that they could benefit from both the human capital development and the private sector support initiatives.

'BITE is the first Business-to-Consumer travel and tourism event in the Region,' said Mr. Wafa.
'It is as much for businesses as it is for the consumers offering a huge variety of services, choices and special deals. Every year we make new additions with new participants, which makes the Expo very dynamic and exciting!'

'When we first launched BITE four years ago, we started with 1,000 sqm of space and 12,500 visitors-this year it has grown to 8,000 sqm and we are expecting approximately 20,000 visitors!'

Mr Wafa also announced the countries participating for the first time in BITE 2008 namely: United Arab Emirates (Abu Dhabi), the Czech Republic, Denmark, Ethiopia, Hungary, Indonesia, Japan, Morocco, Oman , Spain , Sweden and Tunisia .

Bahrain Training Institute (BTI)-which has recently received a license from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), allowing it to operate as an Authorised Training Centre (ATC) is also participating in BITE for the first time. The BTI will be launching there newly established Travel Academy at the Exhibition.

Previous participants returning to BITE are: Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belgium, Brunei, China, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Kuwait, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Syria, Thailand, The Netherlands, Turkey, United Kingdom, and the United States.

The exhibition will be inaugurated on 14 May, 2008 by His Highness the Crown Prince, and this year's exhibition has been scheduled from Thursday to Saturday to provide the convenience of the weekend and be more consumer-friendly.

It will open to the consumers & visitors from the 15th to 17th May 2008 (Thursday - Saturday).
A 'Hosted Buyers Program' will run alongside the exhibition, which facilitates structured networking sessions between the local tourism professionals and the international MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences & Exhibitions) specialists.

Our Motto at BITE is still 'Bringing the World to Bahrain' reiterated Mr Wafa. A total of 120 exhibitors, 110 Hosted Buyers and International Media from 44 countries will be participating at BITE 2008.

The exhibition encompasses a wide variety of sectors ranging from Airlines to Car Rental Companies, Conventions & Exhibitions, Cruise Lines, Health Resorts & Spas, Hotel Accommodation Providers, MICE Organizers, Tourist Attractions, Tourism Boards, Tourism TV Channels, Tour Operators, Travel Insurance as well as Travel and Tourism Publications.

The platinum Sponsors for BITE 2008 are the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) along with the Ministry of Information - Tourism Affairs, Gulf Air has once again come onboard as the official carrier and Qatar Airways are the Gold Sponsor.

The Expo is actively supported by the Bahrain Five Star Hotels Owners Executive Committee , Bahrain Exhibition and Convention Authority & the Central Governorate; Elite Hospitality is the official Hotel, Atlas Travel & Culture Channel (ATC) are the Official TV Channel; Al Hilal Group and Akhbar Al Khaleej are the media Partners; ZAIN the Communications Partner and the Transportations Partner are Bahrain Limo.