Conferences and Exhibitions

Audio: The demand for mid-level hotels is likely to be significant as Dubai aims for 20 million visitors per year by 2020. At the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference, organised by MEED and The Bench, Russel Sharpe, COO - Hotel Division, Landmark Hospitality talks to Phil Blizzard about their development pipeline, brand values and the future demand for hotels in the mid-level sector.

Audio: The 13th World Travel and Tourism Council Global Summit took place in Abu Dhabi with the theme "A Time for Leadership". President Bill Clinton was the keynote speaker at the event, which attracted travel and tourism leaders from across the globe. Phil Blizzard reports on the summit which focused on some of the key issues facing the travel and tourism industry. You may watch the video version of this report in our video section.

Audio: The Middle East Business Aviation 2012 show has attracted exhibitors from across the world and a fleet of world class business jets. Phil Blizzard reporting from Al Maktoum International Airport at Dubai World Central, which is hosting its first major aviation event, is joined by Ali Al Naqbi, Founder, Middle East Business Aviation Association.

Audio: Dubai World Central - Al Maktoum International Airport is the new venue for the bi-annnual Middle East Business Aviation (MEBA) show. In this preview to the event Phil Blizzard talks to Ali Ahmed Al Naqbi, Co-Founder, Middle East Business Aviation Association about the growth of the show, the range of aviation services at the exhibition, including several new sectors and the aircraft which will be on static display.

Audio: New York Police Department fire expert calls for the mapping of all high rise buildings in the UAE to create plans to facilitate rescue operations from burning tower blocks and skyscrapers. Phil Blizzard talks to Glenn A Daley, Lt, NYPD (Retired) about the use of helicopters in rescue operations from high rise buildings, the WTC 9/11 rescue operations and the Abu Dhabi tower block fire in 2008.

Audio: An audit of more than 11,000 SME websites in the UAE shows the overall state as being 'substandard'. Andrew Thomas, MD, Local Media who conducted the audit in association with vSplash talks to Phil Blizzard about the key findings of this debut audit which showed that 80% have no local address on the website, and more than 90% had no links to social media platforms, along with many more important failings.

Gitex 2012 has opened at the Dubai World Trade Centre with more than 3,500 companies participating in one of the world's largest technology events. Phil Blizzard reports from this year's show, talking to experts - looking at trends and concerns for the IT & Telecoms sectors, as well as previewing the ITU Telecom World 2012, the SME Zone and 'Africa in Focus'.

Audio: Dubai is hosting the first World Energy Forum to be held outside of the United Nations Headquarters, New York. The forum is to be attended by more than 20 heads of state, 40 ministers and over 2500 delegates. Phil Blizzard reports on the forum which will take place at the Dubai World Trade Centre from October 22nd to 24th, acting also as a platform for two other energy summits.

Audio: A northern gateway to the UAE is the positioning of Ras al Khaimah International Airport and for airlines to see it as a second hub to the exceedingly busy Dubai International Airport. At World Routes, Abu Dhabi Phil Blizzard talks to Andrew Gower, CEO, Ras al Khaimah International Airport about their development, which will see passenger growth of 250,000 in 2012 to almost 1 million by the end of 2013, and the interest by major flag carriers in using Ras al Khaimah as a second hub in the UAE.

Audio: The construction at Abu Dhabi International Airport of the Midfield Terminal Complex will increase the capacity at the airport, allowing it to handle more than 30 million passengers, annually. At the World Routes event Phil Blizzard talks to Ahmed al Haddabi, COO, Abu Dhabi Airports Company about the key features of the airports development programme and what hosting World Routes means to Abu Dhabi.