Arabian Travel Market 2014 opens ,157 countries join ATM
Dubai : Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2014, the region’s leading travel industry showcase, kicked off ( 5 May ) with a full schedule of educational seminar sessions, business networking opportunities, high level discussions and recognition of industry achievement.
Now in its 21st year, the 2014 edition is a complete sell out, with 25,000 square metres making it the largest travel trade exhibitor event ever to be held in the Middle East according to the organizers.
The ATM , taking place at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre until 8 May 2014, has grown by 8 percent since 2013 and will welcome over 2,700 exhibitors, with 420 main stand holders and exhibitors from 83 countries as well as 68 national pavilions.
Record-breaking visitor numbers are also forecasted with over 21,000 local, regional and international industry professionals expected to attend. Tourism professionals including exhibitors and visitors from 157 countries will join ATM .
“It’s been a year of growth not only for the tourism and hospitality industry in the region, but for ATM; and this year’s showcase will see more than 120 new exhibitors make their ATM debut plus the launch of several exciting new initiatives created especially to expand on key industry trends impacting business in the region today,” said Mark Walsh, Portfolio Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.
ATM’s perennially popular 2014 seminar and tech theatre series, which will offer wide-ranging topics covering aviation, mobile trends and the rising demand for wellness tourism, will kick off with a high profile panel session on an equally high profile topic – Delivering the Tourism Vision for 2020 and How Dubai is Marketed to the World.
The expert line-up includes HE Helal Almarri, Director General, Dubai’s Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM); Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO, flydubai; Thierry Antinori, EVP & Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates Airline; and Neal Jones, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International.
Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said: “ATM 2014 provides the opportunity to communicate with the industry to share the successes and outline future plans which will ensure both the continual development of the destination offering and Dubai’s position around the world as a must-visit destination”.
Majid Al Mualla, DSVP Commercial Operations Centre, Emirates Airline, said: “This year’s ATM is special because it is the first since it was announced that Dubai would host Expo in 2020. It is an opportunity to celebrate the travel and tourism industry, which is so fundamentally important to Dubai.”
‘ The latest figures from the World Travel and Tourism Council show more than 1 billion arrivals globally for 2013, pumping in 9% of the world’s GDP. Dubai is very much part of that picture. Even in the past year, we have seen an abundance of new hotel properties, fresh infrastructure and additional attractions in the city as we prepare to reach 20 million visitors by 2020 – and 25 million unique visitors during the period of Expo itself.’
Ali Abu Monassar, Chairman, The Vision Destination Management, added: “From both a destination and company (The Vision) perspective, together we have achieved a lot this year. Once again, ATM brings an important business season to an end and opens up opportunities for a new one. With its continual growth it remains the most important hospitality meeting place for the region and beyond.”
New features and services for ATM 2014 include the launch of the first ever specialised annual theme, with a ‘Spotlight on Luxury’ focus encompassing several luxury-specific seminars, hosted buyers representing this valuable market segment and high-end exhibitors including well-known hospitality brands and premium destinations.
The ATM Hosted Buyers Programme is another key feature for exhibitors looking to connect with global buyers with 115 confirmed buyers representing the luxury, cruise, medical and wider leisure markets. Reed Travel Exhibitions will also unveil the new ATM Exhibitor Showcase Theatre, which is located in the middle of the show floor; the ATM Live Wall, which will broadcast live streaming of interviews, panel debates and other show highlights; plus the results of the highly anticipated Visa Affluence Report.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, the show has grown to become the largest showcase of its kind in the region and one of the biggest in the world.
Arabian Travel Market 2014 will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from 5-8 May.
May 5 , 2014
