Abu Dhabi bidding for business following strong Arabian Travel Market promotion

Al Diar Hotels is pitching for a group booking for 30 rooms from a UAE operator for accommodation during the GasTech exhibition while Rotana, which reported an average of 10 buyer appointments a day during the show said it has received a spate of enquiries for new business coming out of the CIS.

"The launch of Etihad services from that region seems to be opening up the market and the enquiries we are now working on is for accommodation during 2010,"

said Julia Gololobova, the chain's Travel Trade-Sales Co-ordinator Abu Dhabi/Al Ain.

And a string of new properties coming onto the market reported strong interest as they looked to build awareness of their arrival on the destination's network.

The L'Arabia Hotel Apartments, due to open next week in Mohammed Bin Zayed City, was attracting high interest from UAE tour operators.

"As a means of getting our name out there, the show was a success and we have received initial enquiries from local operators," said sales executive Alina Gradinaru.

Richard Haddad, General Manager of Vision Hotels Management which currently operates a deluxe hotel apartment property in Abu Dhabi with another seven planned, reported handling up to 20 buyer appointments a day and intense interest in destination Abu Dhabi.

"Some appointments were scheduled in advance but we had new, walk-in business on the stand from Spain, the UK, Australia and Singapore. Awareness is growing of Abu Dhabi and everything that is happening in the emirate and people are becoming excited by the product," said Haddad.

And the interest was not confined only to the UAE capital. Award-winning Thai hospitality group Anantara, which operates the Desert Islands Resort & Spa on Sir Bani Yas Island and the soon-to-open Qasr Al Sarab (Mirage Palace) Arabian retreat in the Liwa desert, are processing quotations for group business from Europe and Scandinavia sourced at the show.

"There has been tremendous interest because of the uniqueness of both products," said Didier Tourneboeuf, Area General Manager - Middle East, Anantara.

"Tour operators have been impressed by the commitment to environment conservation demonstrated on Sir Bani Yas, by the touches of architectural heritage authenticity included in Qasr Al Sarab and by the fact that there are resorts of such outstanding difference that can be experienced in destinations of great safety."

"Following a series of meetings at the show both resorts are to be featured in a number of operator brochures next season in the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Scandinavia."

The Abu Dhabi pavilion at Arabian Travel Market 2009 was the largest at the show, featuring 40 destination suppliers, and the largest ever co-ordinated by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.