Hotel Show gears up for best year yet

The Hotel Show takes place at Airport Expo Dubai on 17-19 May and is a one-stop shop for hotel owners, operators and developers, giving them the chance to see the latest products and services vital to a hotel's day-to-day running.

"Last year we sold a total of 4,100 square metres of exhibition space," said Laith Kubba, director of Streamline Marketing. "But with nine weeks to go until this year's event, we are already more than 20 per cent up on last year and we expect sales to reach more than 6,000 square metres by the time the exhibition takes place."

"With hotel projects worth millions of dollars underway in Dubai and throughout the region, it's little wonder many hotel suppliers are on our waiting list in the hope that they can participate in the event."

One such company is UAE-based wooden joinery and furniture manufacturer, Touchwood Décor & Furniture Ltd. Founded 26 years ago, the company is making a debut at The Hotel Show in a move to differentiate itself from its constantly multiplying competitors.

"There are now around 80 furniture manufacturing companies in Dubai and another 100 based in Sharjah, Abu Dhabi and Ajman and this has pushed prices down," said Pradip Sahadevan, the company's Sales & Marketing manager.

"While the market has become increasingly price-conscious, a company's technical expertise and capacity to handle large projects is what matters to decision makers and we hope our participation at this prestigious event will help maintain our image as one of the leading interior design companies in the UAE."

With a labour force of about 250 people, Touchwood Décor & Furniture expects its turnover to reach Dhs25 million in 2004. The company's portfolio includes names like Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa Dubai, Al Maha Desert Resort and the Madinat Jumeirah.

Among the line-up of major international hotel suppliers will be first-time exhibitor, Vescom BV, which is coming to Dubai with over 800 different styles of vinyl and textile wallcoverings for hotel designers and contractors to choose from.

Based in the Netherlands, the company has already made inroads into the region's profitable hotel supplies market and boasts clients such as the Burj Al Arab and the Shangri La hotels in Dubai. It expects its Middle East turnover to increase by at least 20 per cent in 2004.

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 Defense 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 is also supported by the UK, German, Spanish 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.