Over
26,000 visitors expected to attend Middle East’s largest travel trade event
with 2,800 confirmed exhibitors, 64 national pavilions, over 50 seminar and technology theatre sessions, and several new
show features including the launch of the first ever Wellness & Spa Lounge
and ATM Global Stage
Arabian
Travel Market (ATM) 2016, the region’s leading travel industry showcase, opens its
doors tomorrow (Monday 25th April) for four days of business
networking opportunities, insightful seminar sessions, leadership forums, and recognition
of 12 months of industry achievement.
Now
in its 23rd year, the 2016 edition, which takes place at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre from 25-28
April 2016, will welcome 423 main stand holders representing 86 countries, with
more than 26,000 visitors expected to attend the Middle East’s longest running
and largest trade event.
The
show has added an extra hall for 2016, with over 2,800 exhibiting countries, 64
national pavilions, and over 100 new exhibitors set to make their ATM debut.
“The
region faces a triple challenge in attracting leisure and business travellers
with the triumvirate of service, experience and value all key to developing
sustainable tourism economies in an increasingly diversified sector. This has
been the catalyst in focusing our attention on mid-market tourism this year, as
Middle East destinations look to diversify their source markets and attract a
larger volume of visitors as well as look to increase the loyalty quotient in
an extremely competitive market environment,” said Nadege Noblet-Segers,
Exhibition Manager, Arabian Travel Market.
“This
has been identified as both an underdeveloped and potential growth area for the
region, driven by demand from the growing middle class markets such as China,
India and Africa combined with budget Generation Y travellers and young
families,” she added.
Mid-market
topic-led seminars include the opening session, ‘The
Future of the UAE as a Global Tourism Hub’, taking place on 25 April
from 13:00 - 14:30 on the ATM Global Stage located in Hall 8 with an impressive
line-up of speakers. Panelists Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai
Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM); Haitham Mattar, CEO,
Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority; Marwan bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO
Shurooq; Sultan Al Mutawa Al Dhaheri, Acting Executive Director, Tourism, Abu
Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi); Gerald Lawless, Head of Tourism,
Dubai Holding and Honorary President, Jumeirah Group;
Thierry Antinori, Emirates Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial
Officer, Emirates Airline; and Aligi
Gardenghi - VP Marketing EMEA and Commercial Director MEA, Hilton
Worldwide will discuss the grand vision for the UAE as one of the world’s
leading tourism hubs and how will it evolve over the next decade and beyond.
The Mid-market Strategies session, which will
run from 13:15-14:15 hrs on 26th April, also on the ATM Global
Stage, is designed specifically to identify who the midmarket traveller is,
where they come from and what they want. Panelists include Mark Nogal, Regional
Head, Focused Service Brand Management, EMEA, Hilton Worldwide; Dr Amine
Moukarzel, President, Louvre Hotels Group MENA; Karim ElGuanaini, Senior VP of
Product Marketing, Miral Asset Management and Ali Abu Monassar, President, The
Vision Destination Management.
“As
ever, this year’s showcase leads the way in terms of market insight and
information exchange with targeted features designed to directly address
current market-changing issues. These include the prestigious ATM Leaders Breakfast, on 27th April,
which will bring together 100
heads of private sector travel organisations
to discuss regional challenges, opportunities and future landscape. Plus,
looking at the digital media landscape and opportunities there, we are excited
to debut our ATM
Bloggers' Speed Networking session at which up to 25 travel bloggers will take
part in mini-meetings with exhibitors to explore ways to work together in the
future,” said Noblet-Segers.
Other new
features at this year’s event include the Wellness & Spa Lounge, a dedicated space for 25
exhibitors designed to connect Middle East wellness and spa buyers with
international suppliers; and the launch of the Travel Agent Academy, which will
take place on the final day of the exhibition.
Annual show favourites make a return
with the Travel Tech Show and Travel Tech Theatre seminar sessions promising an
educational and insightful four days of knowledge sharing; and the New
Frontiers Recovery Awards, recognising the efforts of those nations that have
suffered devastating economic and human losses in the last 12 months, as a result
of natural disasters.
"As Dubai’s dynamic tourism proposition continues to be
expanded and enhanced, not least with the opening of 16 new tourist attractions
in 2016, including theme parks, Dubai Opera House, green spaces and retail
destinations, we continue to actively leverage the city’s growing global appeal
among a diverse range of traveller segments. Essential to our success is the
ongoing collaboration between and collective contribution of government and
private stakeholders, and ATM is an ideal opportunity to cement these
partnerships, build new ones and effectively engage with the global travel
industry,” Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing
“The travel landscape is fast changing and people have more
access to travel. The traveller of today is looking for the best value
propositions they can get. At Emirates we are well positioned to meet the needs
of the evolving mid-market segment, because meeting and exceeding customer
expectations is at the heart of Emirates’ DNA and our brand. We have been
catering to the diverse needs of an international cross-section of passengers
through superb on board and on ground offerings since day one. Today we connect
Dubai and the UAE to over 150 destinations with non-stop flights, including to
exciting cities outside of the traditional international airport hubs; and we
will continue to help introduce new markets and segments into Dubai and the UAE
utilising a younger fleet, equipped with the latest generation of products and
technology,” said Thierry
Antinori, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Emirates
Airline.
“Arabian Travel Market is
a milestone for the Hospitality Industry in our region. It allows to evaluate
an ending season and plan the new one. This is done by meeting and connecting
minds. It is a lounge to feel and share. The Vision Destination Management is
glad to participate and, once again, to contribute as official ground handlers
to welcome regional and international professionals into our destination” said Ali Abu Monassar, Chairman,
The Vision Destination Management.
“The
Arabian Travel Market is a strong industry platform that underlines the
evolution of Dubai as a global tourism hub. With every edition, ATM presents
the compelling strengths of the city in welcoming business and leisure
visitors. This year’s theme, ‘mid-market travel,’ is particularly close to
Emaar Hospitality Group ahead of the launch of our first hotel under the Rove
Hotels brand. We now have three distinct brands – premium luxury with The
Address Hotels + Resorts, upscale boutique with Vida Hotels and Resorts and
contemporary midscale with Rove Hotels. We are looking forward to accommodating
ATM guests and hosting the party as the event’s official Hotel Partner and of
course ATM offers us valuable industry connections to further promote our
brands globally and present our home-grown strengths as one of Dubai’s
fastest-growing hospitality providers,” said Chris Newman, Corporate Director
of Operations, Emaar Hospitality Group.
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.
For more information on Arabian Travel
Market 2016, please log on to: www.arabiantravelmarket.com
ATM 2016: facts, figures & highlights:
§ 23rd edition of
ATM
§ Dates: Monday 25
April – Thursday 28 April 2016
The show will be
open to visitors:
o Mon 25th April: 12:00 – 18:00 Grand opening is
scheduled at 11am
o Tue 26th April: 10:00 – 18:00
o Wed 27th April: 10:00 – 18:00
o Thu 28th April: 10:00 – 17:00
- Venue:
Dubai World Trade Centre.
§ Floor Space m2 - One additional hall this year
- Exhibitor information:
o Main stand holders: 423
- Exhibiting companies expected: over 2,800
- Number of countries represented (booked exhibitors
only): 86
- Visitors expected: over 26,000
- Number of countries represented (pre-registered
visitors only): 158
- New exhibitors: over 100
- Country pavilions: 64
·
New Frontiers Recovery Award shortlist:
o
Taiwan
o
Philippines
o
Nepal
§ Highlights include
o Over 55
wide-ranging seminar and tech theatre sessions - topics covering mid-market travel, luxury, aviation, technology
trends, spa & wellness tourism, business, adventure and halal tourism.
o Exhibition Trails –
helping visitors to navigate the show floor, trails include: mid-market travel, halal tourism,
business travel, health & wellbeing, shopping, transportation, cultural and
heritage and adventure travel.
o ATM app – The official app for the WTM
Portfolio. With the app you can arrange your visit to each WTM Portfolio event
with all relevant information at your fingertips. App features include: Access
to the complete exhibitor listings, Full events, conference and seminar
schedule, Manage your agenda and diary of meeting appointments, Lists of seminar
speakers, Interactive floor plan and
maps, Useful information about the venue and opening hours.
o
Data
Scanner - Exhibitors can rent an iPod loaded with an app which can scan exhibitor
and visitor badges to make contact details more accurate and follow-ups more
convenient.
o
ATM
Leaders Breakfast - The prestigious ATM Leaders Breakfast will
welcome 100 leading senior industry executives of commercial travel
organisations to this exclusive by invitation only
event.
o
Back
this year - As ATM’s
fastest growing sector, travel technology is a single event The Travel Tech Show at ATM, introduced in response to visitor
interest. The show will feature up to 50
exhibitors across the travel technology sector plus the Travel Technology
Theatre and Showcase Theatre will host almost seminar sessions.
o
Best
Stand Awards - The 2016 event will once again see a line-up of top
judges and visitors acknowledge the design creativity and positioning of
exhibiting companies’ physical presence at the show.
o Buyers Speed Networking -The two speed networking sessions will bring together exhibitors and a
pool of high calibre senior buyers under one roof, facilitating new connections
in order to broker business opportunities. The event will take place in Hall 8 on
Monday 25th April, 9:30 – 11:00 and Thursday 28 April, 10 – 11.
- New to the show:
o Extra
Hall
o ATM
Global Stage
o Spotlight
on Mid-Market Travel - annual theme for 2016
o Wellness
& Spa Lounge (Middles East Wellness & Spa buyers meet international
suppliers in exclusive pre-scheduled appointments 26-27 April).
o Bloggers’
Speed Networking (Hall 8, 10 – 11am)
o Travel
Agent Academy (28 April)
§ Research to be presented
at ATM:
o
PWC - Making the most of your relationship with the Online Travel
Agents, Travel Tech Theatre, 5:10pm- 5:55pm
o
Phocuswright - Phocuswright's Fast Track at ATM, ATM Global Stage,
10:10am - 1:00pm
o
YouGov - The role of big data, predictive and immersive technologies
in the future travel booking experience, ATM Global Stage, 2:30pm - 3:30pm
§ About World Travel Market
Portfolio
ATM is
part of the WTM Portfolio, the world’s leading portfolio of leisure travel
events, which facilitates US$7 bn in industry deals. WTM Portfolio events
include:
o WTM
South Africa
o WTM
Latin America
o WTM
London
o Arabian
Travel Market
o WTM
Connect China
o WTM
Connect Asia
§ Featured new exhibitors include:
o Crown Travel
o Crystal Cruises
o Destination Zanzibar (Grassroots
Traveller)
o Dominican Republic Tourism Board
o Dubai Sports City
o Hamiyan Co. Cooperation Company
of Iranian Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and
o Istanbul
o Japan
o Kenya Tourism Board
o Palazzo Versace Hotel L.L.C.
o PALWINGS HOTELS
o Panama Tourism Authority
o Tourism Administration Guangzhou
o Visit Orlando
o Western Black Sea
Development Agency
o WOW Istanbul Hotels
& Convention Center
§
National and regional
pavilions at ATM this year:
o
Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation
o
Mauritius Tourism Promotion Authority
o
Nepal Tourism Board
o
The Ministry of Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia
o
Philippines Department of Tourism
o
Seychelles Tourism Office Middle East
o
Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau
o
Taiwan Tourism Bureau
o
Tourism Administration Guangzhou Municipality
o
Tourism Authority of Thailand
o
Korea National Tourism Organization
o
Zanzibar
o
Iran
o
Dominican Republic
o
Mexico City
o
Panama
o
UK Pavilion
o
German NTO
o
Austria NTO
o
Visit Brussels
o
Portugal
o
Cyprus
o
Monaco
o
Munich
o
Azerbaijan, Ministry of Culture and Tourism
o
Croatian National Tourist Board
o
Czech Tourism
o
Georgian National Tourism Administration
o
Hungarian Tourism Ltd.
o
Ministry of Tourism of The Republic of Bulgaria
o
Saint Petersburg committee for tourism development
o
Development Foundation of Armenia
o National Tourism
Organisation of Serbia
o Slovak Tourist Board
o
Slovenian Tourist Board
o
Lubelskie Region
o
Morocco
o
Egypt
o
Kenya
o
South Africa
o
Turkey
o
Malaysia Tourism Promotion Board
o
India Tourism
o
Switzerland Tourism
o
Turespaña
o
Turkish Culture & Information Office
o
KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN Tourism Sector, Ministry of Culture
o
Qatar Tourism Authority
o
Oman Ministry of Tourism
o
Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority
o
Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
o
Fujairah Tourism & Antiquities Authority
o
Ajman Tourism Development Department
o
Lebanon Ministry of Tourism
o
Kuwait
o
Jordan
o
Saudi Arabia
o
Dubai
o
Sharjah Tourism
o
Greece
o Italy
o
Japan
o
Macau
o
Brand USA
