Hotel Show gives suppliers preview of spectacular Palm development

The $3-billion project to construct the two islands - which will be visible from space along with such feats as the Great Wall of China and Jebel Ali Port in Dubai as well - is one of the most ambitious tourism projects ever undertaken.

At The Hotel Show 2002, taking place at Airport Export Dubai, the cream of the international hotel industry's service providers will, for the first time, be exposed to the enormous possibilities of its provision for up to 89 hotels and other diverse tourism aspects.

"The Palm will form a major feature at this year's exhibition," said Joanne Evans, director of the exhibition organisers, Streamline Marketing. "Exhibitors and visitors from around the world will be introduced to one of the biggest tourism undertakings globally during the next decade.'

The Palm development, on reclaimed land off Dubai's Arabian Gulf coastline, is creating two distinct palm-shaped islands, The Palm, Jumeirah and The Palm, Jebel Ali, both linked to the mainland. With an obvious emphasis on quality lifestyle for its residents, it will also incorporate a major tourism element in its concept and design.

This element will be characterised by a mix of marinas, hotels, shopping malls, a golf course, cinemas, themed attractions, including a marine park featuring dolphins and killer whales, and a futuristic monorail. The project is in keeping with Dubai's three decades of development into one of the world's finest tourism destinations.

More than 50% of available exhibition space is already booked for The Hotel Show. Running alongside it will be a two-day conference tackling challenges facing the Middle East hotel industry. The Hotel Show Conference, on May 20-21, will see an international line-up of hotel industry experts addressing important issues for hotel owners, managers and suppliers.

Taking place under the patronage of H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, UAE Minister of Defence, and chairman of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, The Hotel Show was last year acquired by dmg World Media, a subsidiary of FTSE100 company, The Daily Mail & General Trust.

The exhibition recently received official sanction from both the American Consulate and the Northern Ireland Trade Development Centre in Dubai. The British Department of Trade and Industry is financially supporting the Show for 2002 and 2003 as well. Already, 12 national pavilions, bringing exhibitors from Europe, the Far East, the US, South Africa, Australia, and the Middle East, have been confirmed.

The international exhibitor line-up will include manufacturers and suppliers of dozens of products and services vital to a hotel's day-to-day running. Last year, the Hotel Show attracted 115 exhibitors representing more than 200 companies from 13 countries in Asia, Australia, Europe, the GCC, North America and South Africa, as well as more than 3,500 visitors from the Middle East hotel industry.

A further feature of The Hotel Show 2002 will be the introduction of The Office Show next door, which is staged in response to the increasing proliferation of large-scale office developments.