Dubai hotels to unveil new services at ATM 2004

The Ramee Group of Hotels, the Al Bustan Residence - Hotel Apartments and Novotel and Ibis Hotels at the World Trade Centre will all use the show, which runs from May 4-7 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, to announce their latest plans.

Ramee Group will launch two new properties it has acquired in the UAE, said General Manager of Sales and Marketing, Animesh Ghatak.

He said: "Business and leisure tourism are poised for huge growth with the Middle East probably the fastest expanding tourist market in the world.

"We are looking forward to acquiring more hotels and apartment hotels in the region to take advantage of this."

Moussa El Hayek, General Manager of Al Bustan Residence - Apartment Hotels, said: "We increased sales in the GCC market in the summer and winter season and we are expecting continued growth, especially from intra regional travel. We also expect new markets to continue to discover the region."

Ignace Bauwens, General Manager Novotel and Ibis said it would be launching an Ibis business economy hotel during ATM.

Matt Thompson, Group Exhibitions Director at Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), organisers of ATM said: "We already have 54 hotels groups signed up for ATM 2004 and the feedback we are getting from the industry in the region is that this year will be another very strong one for business and that we will see considerable further expansion over the next few years."

To date, exhibitors from 55 countries have signed on for ATM 2004 which is already bigger in floor space by 25 per cent on last year's event.

ATM 2004 is expected to benefit from the staging just prior to the event of the 4th Global Travel & Tourism Summit in Doha from May 1 to 3 organized by the World Travel & Tourism Council.