Taj Palace Dubai to cement success at WTM 2003

Setting an unprecedented standard of majestic service in the region's hospitality industry since opening its doors to the public in June 2001, Taj Palace Hotel Dubai has become a formidable landmark on the Middle Eastern hospitality industry. It debuted at WTM in 2001 under the Taj Hotels stand. This year, it will be participating under the umbrella of Dubai's Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing and under the Taj Group of Hotels.

"We implemented a unique sales and marketing strategy to further penetrate the non-resident Indians and the leisure segment of the UK market," prides General Manager Yannick Poupon. "We have had a very good share of business from the UK market in 2002 after our attendance at WTM. Our reservation log indicates a boost of leisure travelers especially bookers from UK. We have been particularly the choice for European visitors during the Dubai Shopping Festival and the summer periods where there was a good influx of UK visitors into Dubai, " adds Poupon.

Director of Sales & Marketing Kiran Wagle adds "We emphasized about our large Executive Rooms (51 square meters in area), Taj Club Rooms, Apartments, business facilities/services aimed at corporate clientele, wide choice of restaurants and more importantly our Spa in last year's WTM outing. This time, we shall add on other excellent facilities and services being offered, particularly the value-added service concepts like our intelligent communication systems enhanced for the guests, such as SMS messaging facilities, videoconferencing facilities, Dhow cruise services and a lot more which will definitely be of interest to both the corporate and leisure travelers. Our Taj Spa will also be actively promoted with its new line-up of extensive spa services fusing the spa disciplines from UK, US and Far East.

Sanjeet Joher, Director of Sales also commented that "Participating at WTM this year is imperative for the Taj Palace Dubai in order for us to strengthen our tie-ups with Tour Operators while at the same time consolidating new business leads for newcomers in the market. This will ensure an extension of the very good summer performance we had in terms of occupancy and revenue overall. As always, exposure at WTM helps the hotel meet and tie-up businesses with a cross-section of clients. It helps us explain our property/facilities much better to people especially those who haven't had the opportunity to visit Dubai. Likewise, It also helps us focus on the market we are aiming at."

With DTCM's active campaign to promote Dubai as a Conference/Event/ Investment and Leisure destination through the World Bank & IMF Meetings in September 2003, annual road shows and exhibitions, it only shows the active interest and seriousness that the Government is taking to promote the destination. This goes along with the expanded routes of major airlines opening new destinations to their loads, it looks set that the hospitality and tourism sectors in UAE will more than benefit much from all the aggressive stance taken by the Government of Dubai.