BITE to open tomorrow

BITE is the first Business-to-Consumer travel and tourism event in the region, and visitors for this year's event are expected to reach around 20,000.

The event aims to showcase current travel trends, projects, and new emerging destinations around the world, and this year's exhibition is scheduled from Thursday to Saturday to provide the convenience of the weekend, thus making it more consumer-friendly.

It will open to the consumers & visitors from the 15th to 17th May 2008 (Thursday - Saturday).

The exhibition will run alongside a 'Hosted Buyers Program', which facilitates structured networking sessions between the local tourism market and a group of around 100 hosted buyers.

First time participating countries in BITE 2008 include: United Arabic Emirates (Abu Dhabi), Czech Republic, Denmark, Ethiopia, Hungary, Indonesia, Japan, Morocco, Oman, Spain, Tunisia and Sweden.

Previous participants returning to BITE 2008 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.

Bahrain Training Institute (BTI)-which recently received a license from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), allowing it to operate as an Authorised Training Centre; is participating in BITE for the first time; as is the Bahrain Labour Fund's which will host a seminar geared towards employment in the Travel & Tourism sector-specifically targeting employers, HR managers, and other key corporate personnel.

BITE is an annual event, currently in its fourth consecutive year, taking place at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre), and is the brainchild of Magnum Events and Exhibitions Management (MEEM).

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 Organizers, Cruise Lines, Health Resorts & Spas, Hotel Accommodation Providers, 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 AlKhaleej are the media Partners; ZAIN the Communications Partner and the Transportations Partner are Bahrain Limo.