Abu Dhabi to host sales meeting for French mega travel network

The seminar will see 200 French travel professionals arrive in the emirate for a four-day stay at the five-star Sofitel Abu Dhabi when the delegates will receive sales guidelines for the year ahead and get to know about Abu Dhabi through a range of tour and activities.

The meeting comes to the UAE capital after winning support from Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau's Advantage Abu Dhabi initiative which provides incentives for conferences and exhibitions held in the emirate.

"We look forward to experiencing the latest developments within Abu Dhabi which will leave our delegates better prepared to sell the destination going forward," said Jean-Jacques Bessiere, Administrator and co-President of the Business and Transport Commission, SELECTOUR AFAT.

During their stay in the UAE capital the SELECTOUR AFAT Sales Force will visit Yas Island, including Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and Yas Waterworld, take a city tour, visit Emirates Palace, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Manarat Al Saadiyat and take part in functions staged at Yas Marina Circuit and the five-star Yas Viceroy, the only hotel in the world to straddle an F1 race track.

"The staging of this seminar in Abu Dhabi can only assist in further growing the number of French guests now staying in the emirate's hotels and hotel apartments," said Mubarak Al Nuaimi, Director Promotions & Overseas Offices, TCA Abu Dhabi.

"In the first three months of this year, France became our eighth largest overseas source market with some 5,334 French nationals checking into our accommodation - which was a 10% lift on Q1 last year. These guests delivered 19,621 guest nights - which was a rise of 24% on last year and an average stay of 3.68, which is up 13% on last year. We are looking to convince delegates to sell to a wider audience while convincing their clients to stay longer as there is now so much more to see and do in Abu Dhabi."