Dubai suppliers gear up for the Hotel Show to cash in on Middle East tourism growth

Organised by event management and marketing specialists Streamline Marketing, The Hotel Show takes place at Airport Expo Dubai and creates a 'one-stop-shop' hotel supplies opportunity for hotel owners, operators and developers, with exhibitors showcasing a huge range of products and services vital to a hotel's day-to-day running.

A simpler and completely customisable buffet system saving restaurateurs time and money will be launched at the exhibition by Dubai-based Sara Hotel Supplies.

Designed by German restaurant supplies leader Buffetissimo, the system, known as 'Flix', allows one person to lay out a buffet for 100 people within ten minutes. The buffet displays can be accessed from up to six sides simultaneously, thus reducing queues. The system's unique design can save at least 35 per cent of banqueting space, while removing the need for tablecloths, skirtings and decoration.

Also using The Hotel Show as a launch pad for its latest products is Dubai-based artworks, mirrors and accessories supplier, The Art Source. Established seven years ago, the company achieved 12 per cent growth last year compared to 2002, its main market being the Gulf Region.

'Our hotel clients include the SAS Radisson Hotel in Riyadh, the Grand Hyatt Dubai and the Madinat Jumeirah, Phase 1 and we hope our debut at the exhibition will allow us to meet more hotel owners, developers and designers,' said Art Source general manager, Harsha Bharwada.

Golden Brick Trading, which has been producing decorative stone items and mosaics from its Dubai factory since starting operations in 2002, will use its Hotel Show debut to expand into the hotel supplies market.

'The amazing number and scale of hotel projects in Dubai and around the region opens up vast opportunities for us and our presence at The Hotel Show is the first step in a strategy to penetrate this market,' said Siamak Khaligh, the company's commercial manager.

Dubai's hospitality industry is constantly expanding, with plans to build at least 200 luxury hotels and resorts within the next five years. The reconstruction of Iraq is also expected to present major new opportunities for hotel developers and suppliers, while other developments underlining the scope of Middle East hotel expansion include Bahrain's $1 billion Amwaj Islands Project and Oman's $300 million Al Sawadi Resort.

'The massive amount of hotel development under way in the Middle East means this is a tremendously lucrative market for hotel suppliers, 'said Laith Kubba, director of Streamline Marketing. 'We expect the final number of exhibitors to be the largest yet.'

The Hotel show is held 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 Government of Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, which uses its international network of offices to promote the event. The exhibition is owned by the UK's Daily Mail Group and also supported by the UK, German, Spanish, Portugese and South African governments and various Italian regional governments.

Visitors this year can expect to meet the full spectrum of suppliers to the hospitality industry, including producers of computer hardware and software, fitness, spa and pool equipment, furniture, interior design, tableware, kitchen equipment, management and reservation systems, telecommunications systems and uniforms.