Inaugural Mena Travel Catering exhibition and ITCA Middle East Conference a grand success

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Both exhibitors and visitors were extremely upbeat about the results, reported organiser Dubai World Trade Centre.

With the focus of the international travel industry increasingly on Dubai and the Middle East, the exhibition and conference attracted considerable interest from key industry leaders and leading regional players.

Rapid development of the travel infrastructure in the region, coupled with the emergence of world-class airlines (Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways etc), have meant that travel-related industries, are experiencing an unprecedented surge in growth. The inaugural MENA Travel Catering exhibition and ITCA Middle East Conference were organised to tap into that potential and put leading industry players and suppliers in touch with their target markets in the Middle East and North Africa region, the Indian subcontinent and countries of the CIS.

Buyers from 50 countries from across the region and beyond, including China, Germany, India, Nigeria and the Russian Federation, attended the event. Among the visitors who were impressed with the exhibition was Yousif Al Ghawas, Contact Administration Manager, Procurement of Gulf Air, who termed the event as, 'a new world of opportunities.'

Ibrahim M. Taurani, Business Development Director of Al Hanoo Properties said, 'MENA Travel Catering 2006 beings the world of travel catering, packaging and logistics under one roof'.

The exhibition showcased 123 international suppliers from 25 countries including Emirates from UAE, Abela Hellas from Greece, Kitco from Kuwait, Salehia from Saudi Arabia, RAK Porcelain from the UAE and Portfolio Partners from the UK. Other key suppliers represented were Nestle Foodservices, LSG Sky Chefs, Godiva, Orvec International, Hero Group and Sabre Airline Solutions.

'I'm very satisfied with the quality of the MENA Travel Catering Exhibition. I could have gone home after lunch based on the business conducted in the first morning,' commented James Gray, Director of Canary Enterprises. 'I had already met four key airline caterers, seen 2 out of 5 distributors I was supposed to, as well as many senior officials from specific airlines in the region on the first morning itself,' he added.

'MENA Travel Catering 2006 exhibition was selected for the grand launch of our all-new light weight easy-to-use range of RAK Porcelain products specially designed for airlines, cruise ships and the luxury railway industries. The response was very exciting with major enquiries from Europe and the GCC. MENA Travel Catering is the right medium for elevating RAK Porcelain's brand Image and creating 'Top of the Mind Awareness' and forms the platform for targeting our innovative range to customers in the specific segment of the travel industry,'

said Dr. Khater Massaad, CEO, RAK Porcelain.

Other companies who chose MENA Travel Catering as the launch pad for introducing their products into the market were Godiva Chocalatier who presented their range of luxury fine chocolates, Clearwater Seafoods of Canada who unveiled 'raw, shell-off lobster meat; in-flight and catering products from Delta Worldwide; frozen desserts from Greencore Foodservice, MKN's combi-steamers and sushi preparing equipment from Suzumo.

While the ITCA conference, running alongside the exhibition focussed on the in-depth challenges and opportunities facing international companies operating and entering the Middle East Market. Special presentations from leading regional organisations, including Emirates, Kuwait Aviation Services Company, Department of Civil Aviation and Sharjah Airport Authority and Graham, Wilson & Rizkallah Consulting detailing some of their success stories.

'Both the inaugural ITCA Middle East Conference and MENA Travel Catering Exhibition were a resounding success,' said Mr William Seeman, Founder President of International Travel Catering Association, ITCA, founded 27 years ago.

'The ITCA conference drew a lot of professionals from across the region and provided the ideal platform for debate. We are looking forward to developing the conference and our partnership with DWTC next year,' he added.

MENA Travel Catering 2006 exhibition, held in conjunction with ITCA Middle East Conference is sponsored by Emirates (key sponsor), Al Accad Group (platinum sponsor) and Adel Abuljadayel Flight Catering (gold sponsor). Emirates are the Official ITCA Carrier for the ITCA Middle East 2006 Conference.