ADIPEC welcomes hotel rates legislation

ADIPEC is one of the largest oil and gas exhibitions in the world and the ADTA's announcement will undoubtedly contribute to the success of this year's event to the satisfaction of all stakeholders.

Availability of hotel rooms, minimum stay requirements and high costs have been a concern for attendees wishing to travel to Abu Dhabi. ADIPEC's organisers, dmg world media, have been campaigning for some time to drive down the cost of hotel rooms during the event, and are working towards a long-term strategy, which will aid the process for hotels working with exhibition organisers in the future.

David Drake, business development director of dmg world media said: "This is a really positive step forward for Abu Dhabi, and the exhibition industry in general. The city will benefit hugely from this visionary long-term approach to developing and attracting international business in the region. For two years exhibition organisers within ADNEC have been campaigning for help from the city in relation to escalating hotel rates especially during exhibition and conferences, and we are delighted with ADTA's announcement."

Inflated accommodation costs in Abu Dhabi have meant that attending exhibitions and conferences is difficult for international and regional visitors. With the new facilities provided by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, exhibitions will be a fast growing industry in the region, and it will need the continued support of the tourism authority and government to attract more business and visitors to this still developing city.

With only three weeks until ADIPEC 2008, this legislation will have a positive effect on visitors, enabling companies to send a larger number of delegates rather than a minimal amount. Visitors attending ADIPEC 2008 with pre-booked accommodation will be refunded the difference in line with the new rates. There will be no minimum stay condition and a 72 hour cancellation period with full refund will be applied to all rooms. The ADTA will monitor prices during ADIPEC and operators who are found to be in breach of conditions will be subject to punitive action.

In recent times the ADTA has been subject to concerted lobbying from sectors of the industry, in particular the MICE sector, on how some elements of the accommodation sector are responding to capacity issues resulting in this announcement. The powers were granted by the Executive Council in (Committee 8, Session 31/2008) on 9/9/2008, concerning regulating and determining hotel rooms' rates.