First Media and Marketing Show highlights key issues in USD 3 billion media industry

The Show, playing host to over 400 media, advertising and marketing brands from 15 plus countries, ran at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre (DIEC) from Nov 7-9, and established itself as an emergent platform to address the networking, business development and liaisoning needs for media and marketing professionals.

The Media and Marketing Show 2005 served as launch pad for a number of new offerings and products. Connector launched a new tourist magazine at the Show, while Dynacom, a digital signage company imported from Canada to the UAE last year, announced their new in-store content channel. 'M&M was a great forum to display our interactive Digital Signage software and many visitors stopped at our stand to find out more,' said Samer Choucair, Managing Director, Dynacom.

Aston Martin's new Vantage, touted as the 'affordable' Aston for the discerning executive, and Al Khaleejiah new Arabic magazine were also officially launched at the Show.
With thousands of visitors over a three-day period, the Show played host to a diverse spectrum of potential media buyers, marketing strategists and decision-makers, ensuring good exposure and business contact for exhibitors.

'We generated several very good business leads, and at the end of day, we have accomplished exactly what we wanted at the Show', said Maya Azem, Account Manager, Al Wataniya Group of Companies, while Nina Chohan, Director, Sales and Marketing, DOM International said, 'The response for the first edition of the Media and Marketing Show has been very positive. The show has been very lively, and we look forward to 2006, where we fully expect the Show to be even larger and varied, with more exhibitors stepping forward after seeing their potential competitors benefit this year.'

The Media and Marketing Show 2005 was also highly active in the exchange of ideas and best practices amongst field experts. The Show hosted expert sessions and presentations in a specially designated area, inviting leading experts to talk on pertinent marketing and media issues such as the application of new media in the Middle East, creative thought and action, and public relations best practices. The interchange of expert opinion was supplemented by the Gray Business Communication 'Media as a Marketing Tool' Forum that added a newer dimension to proceedings by holding forth on timely issues relating to regional media, such as the need for transparency, new measuring metrics, and media freedom. The forum's keynote address was given by Tim Sebastian, former presenter of the renowned BBC Hard Talk programme.

'The concept of the show serving as hub for media players was well executed. The Show was highly beneficial in promoting media players, and raising market awareness,' said Zeyna Alem, Sales Team, Dubai 92.

Jamil Beyhum, Director of Operations, B-marketing, said, 'The Show provided us the opportunity to generate many worthwhile business leads. There was particular interest in our event management offerings from the Saudi market.'

David Domoney, Managing Director, THE DOMUS GROUP, organizer of the show commented,

'The Media and Marketing Show was conceived to provide a representative platform for the media and marketing sectors in the region to come together and exchange the use of new techniques and marketing methods, and explore new business opportunities. Industry support for the show has been exceptionally strong, and we have accomplished what we had set out to do with the Show, and are keenly looking forward to next year's edition.'

'The Media and Marketing Show shows all the hallmarks of becoming a staple event in Dubai's exhibition calendar. The Show is certain to witness exponential growth in coming years and is set to become the definitive event for the media and marketing industry,' he concluded.