Dubai 2003 says over 50 hotels already booked to handle delegates and visitors to Annual Meetings

The news came as Dubai 2003 officials met with the General Managers of the 50 hotels in the city who are providing accommodation for the world's biggest annual financial gathering.

Dubai 2003 Assistant General Coordinator and Head of the Accommodation Committee, Mr. Ahmed Al Banna, met with the General Managers to update them on the status of bookings and arrangements for the Annual Meetings and to thank them for their cooperation in delivering world class accommodation for delegates and visitors.

Mr. Al Banna said that the Joint Secretariat of the World Bank and IMF had now confirmed over 3,600 rooms and suites for delegates participating in the Annual Meetings and a further 4,000 requests from the private sector.

"We are anticipating thousands of more bookings in the coming weeks, especially as the registration for the estimated 2,500-plus media who will attend are only just starting and they will all require accommodation," explained Mr. Al Banna.

"The partnership we have created between the hotel sector and Dubai 2003 has been excellent. Thanks to their commitment and understanding we have been able to agree on fair corporate prices for delegates and visitors that apply to all hotels involved and also to ensure they will be able to showcase the very best that the UAE has to offer when our distinguished visitors arrive in September."

During his presentation he thanked the hotel managers for their flexibility, understanding and cooperation in working as one team to ensure the success of the Annual Meetings.

In turn many hotel general managers expressed their appreciation of having Dubai 2003 as a highly efficient and centralised booking system for the event with agreed room rates set at fair prices that will encourage some delegates and visitors to visit the UAE in the future.

As the countdown continues to the September event, Dubai 2003 is anticipating a surge in demand for hotel accommodation throughout the city.

The Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary fund were first held in Washington DC in 1946. They are hosted by an international city one year in three. The UAE and Dubai were selected because of their highly developed transportation and logistics infrastructure, growing importance as a financial hub and its established position as an oasis of opportunity.