In addition, Saudi Arabia was identified as a new destination with potential to develop a successful tourism product in the longer term.
Conference organiser, Jonathan Worsley said that the online survey of the 45-member AHIC advisory panel revealed both chief executives of regional tourism icons as well as international hospitality companies were in agreement on the prime locations for future hotel and tourism investment. As a result, these markets will all be the subject of dedicated country focus panels at the conference.
The advisory panel includes among others: Salem bin Dasmal, CEO of Dubailand; Gerald Lawless, managing director of Jumeirah International; James Wilson, president of IFA Hotels and Resorts; Wahid Attala, executive director of Nakheel; Jurgen Baumhoff, CEO of Qatar National Hotels; Jean-Claude Baumgarten, president of World Travel & Tourism Council; and regional directors from international hotel groups InterContinental, Marriott, Movenpick, Rezidor SAS and Rotana.
Worsley said: "While the consensus is that Dubai is the leader in the regional hospitality industry, this success is set to be replicated in neighbouring states - many of which have already set in motion development plans to exploit their tourism potential.
"However, countries such as Qatar - which has been tipped as a destination to watch by the travel giant Thomsons - have demonstrated the virtues of complementary tourism and diversity, rather than copycat developments."
The conference is set to attract more than 300 delegates to discuss topics as broad-ranging as environmental and sustainable tourism to real estate issues, investment and industry trends, supply / demand dynamics and security issues.
The event will run from April 30 to May 2, 2005 at the Madinat Jumeirah resort in Dubai, setting the scene for the region's largest dedicated travel exhibition, Arabian Travel Market, which opens on May 3. The conference is organised by CB Richard Ellis Hotels, the largest commercial real estate firm in the world, and MEED Conferences. Details of AHIC can be found on www.arabianconference.com.
Already signed up as platinum sponsors are: IFA Hotels and Resorts; Nakheel Company LLC; Kingdom Hotel Investments and Rezidor SAS Hospitality.
Gold sponsors are: Arabian Travel Market; Deloitte; Gullivers Travel Associates; HVS International; Jones Lang LaSalle; Jumeirah International; InterContinental Hotels Group; Marriott International; Movenpick Hotels & Resorts; RCI Middle East; Octopus Travel; RSP Group and Strategic Solutions.
Media sponsors are: AME Info, CNBC Arabia, CNBC Europe, Global Hospitality Resources, HOTELS and TTN.
Supporters are: Dubai Convention Bureau, Emirates Academy of Hospitality; International Hotel & Restaurant Association; Villeroy & Boch; the World Travel & Tourism Council and WOW Travels.
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Qatar, Oman and UAE nominated as key tourism markets
- United Arab Emirates: Wednesday, December 08 - 2004 at 11:35
- PRESS RELEASE
Oman, Qatar and the UAE outside Dubai have been nominated as the top three emerging markets in the GCC in a recent survey of tourism leaders conducted by organisers of the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC), to be held in Dubai April 30 - May 2, 2005.
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Notes and media contacts
Media information:Kirstie Hepburn / Fiona Swaffield
Strategic Solutions for Arabian Hotel Investment Conference
Tel: +971 4 391 5390, fax: +971 4 3672527
About the Organisers:
CB Richard Ellis Hotels
CB Richard Ellis is the largest commercial real estate firm in the world, with 250 offices in 48 countries. CB Richard Ellis Hotels focuses exclusively on the hospitality industry providing consultancy services for the sale, valuation, financing, development and asset management of hotels. CB Richard Ellis Hotels has been involved in several of the largest transactions in Europe, specialising in investment opportunities and sale and leasebacks that have typified the changing times. Jonathan Worsley of CB Richard Ellis Hotels has taken a lead in developing networking events for the industry by organising the International Hotel Investment Forum in Berlin, the European Hotel Design Awards in London and now the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference in Dubai. Jonathan also sits as an advisor to the World Travel & Tourism Council.
Contact: Jonathan.Worsley, +44 14 8383 5794
MEED
MEED (Middle East Economic Digest) is internationally recognised as providing essential information for anyone doing business in, or with, the Middle East and North Africa. MEED now attracts over 70,000 individual readers each week, across 70 countries worldwide.
MEED Conferences is part of the leading information brand in the Middle East working to provide delegates with the very latest business sensitive information. Over the past 10 years, MEED Conferences has organised events attended by senior government officials and thousands of international business people. The conference series is aimed at companies active or seeking business in the markets of the Middle East. MEED is well established as the source of strategic and accurate regional information placing it in a unique position to bring together high-calibre speakers.
Contact: Francesca Ambrosini, +44 20 7505 6008
About the Arabian Travel Market
The Arabian Travel Market, which follows on from the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference, is now in its 12th year and organised by Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) the largest travel trade exhibitions organiser. RTE also organises World Travel Market, EIBTM, Mediterranean Travel Fair, CIS Travel Market, British Travel Trade Fair, International Golf Travel Market, AIME (Asia Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo), LACIME, La Cumbre, ILTM (International Luxury Travel Market), Top Resa, and the ICCA Exhibition in Association with the ICCA Congress. The show is held under the patronage of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, the Government of Dubai.
Contact: Vicky Crane, +44 20 8910 7944
Posted by Anne-Birte Stensgaard, Senior News EditorWednesday, December 08 - 2004 at 11:35 UAE local time (GMT+4)
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