Hoteliers given frank warning to work together to help assist Gulf tourism economies

They are not to just rely on government assisted marketing help - such has been given by the likes of Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and Emirates Airline over the years.

Speaking on Innovative Management in Challenging Times, Mike Scully, Seven Tides Hospitality said, "Hotel operators need to use their marketing budgets to promote not only their own brand, but also the destination. In times like this, the industry must pull together to help maintain good tourism numbers, despite the obvious global downturn."

The Seven Star Conference, which continues until May 26th at Dubai World Trade Centre, is a focal point of the annual Hotel Show.

According to Maggie Moore, Exhibition Director of The Hotel Show, "Regional and international professionals use the conference as an arena to discuss the challenging markets and to attempt to answer some of the industry's most pressing concerns."

Mike Scully, a well respected face in the hospitality industry in the Middle East, added, "Dubai has traditionally been seen as a bread basket for many of the leading hotel brands in the region. Due to the high demand and limited supply it has not been necessary to market Dubai to the extent that they possibly should have and, shareholder values were more important than securing the market when times got bad."

"It is important that some of the monies earned over previous years are now channelled into the marketing of their properties in this region," he added.