 |
| Nick Pilbeam, Divisional Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions |
·
Middle East’s travel and
tourism leaders come together to discuss untapped opportunities and key
challenges facing the industry today
Reed Travel
Exhibitions, organiser of the annual Arabian Travel Market (ATM) showcase, hosted their inaugural
Advisory Board Meeting at the Address Boulevard, Downtown Dubai, bringing
together travel and tourism leaders to discuss the untapped opportunities and
key challenges facing the industry.
ATM’s Advisory Board was set
up to provide counsel on industry themes, challenges, growth opportunities and
future strategies in the Middle East travel and tourism sector - as well as to
help facilitate current business and marketing plans.
Board attendees included Mohammad
Al Bulooki, Chief Operational Officer, Etihad Airways; Olivier
Harnisch, Chief Executive Officer, Emaar Hospitality; Haitham
Mattar, Chief Executive Officer, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development
Authority; Anita Mehra,
Senior Vice President Communication & Reputation, Dubai Airports; John
Davis, Chief Executive Officer, Colliers International; Mohamed
Awadalla, Chief Executive Officer, TIME Hotels; Bassel Al
Nahlaoui, Managing Director, Careem; Mark Willis,
Chief Executive Officer Middle East & Africa, Accor Hotels Group; Mohanad
Sharafuddin, Chairman, Arabian Falcon Holidays and Muhammad
Chbib, Chief Executive Officer, Tajawal.
Nick Pilbeam, Divisional Director, Reed
Travel Exhibitions (RTE), said: “The Advisory Board was initiated to allow ATM
to get closer to the industry and to listen and learn from some of the region’s
key hospitality leaders as they discuss the industry’s key trends, while
brainstorming topics and issues that should be debated at next year’s show.
“In addition to addressing
regional challenges and opportunities, the Advisory Board also stressed the
importance of looking at global shifts, trends and events that will impact and
shape the future of the travel and tourism industry here in the Middle East,
which we will make sure to incorporate into next year’s seminar agenda,”
Pilbeam said.
Throughout the board meeting
RTE shared findings from a market research report commissioned by ATM. The
report interviewed exhibitors from all relevant sectors of the industry,
including hotels, tourism organistions, car rental, airlines and cruises.
This research highlighted the
challenges exhibitors are facing in today’s market and the extent to which they
are impacting marketing and sales strategies, financial performance,
leadership, HR and training.
Based on these findings, ATM
has developed a list of areas which it will look at in the short-to-medium term
to address these challenges. These include providing new buyers, better
coverage of specific niches and improved market insights and education amongst
others.
The planning for ATM 2019,
which will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre from 28 April – 1 May 2019,
got underway as board members discussed next year’s theme – cutting-edge
technology and innovation – while brainstorming other topics and issues for
debate at next year’s show.
Pilbeam added: Meeting with
key industry representatives to hear their views on ATM, market performance and
current trends is invaluable as we work to build the agenda for next year’s
show and continue to strengthen our offerings - providing more business
opportunities for our exhibitors.”
ATM – considered by industry
professionals as a barometer for the Middle East and North Africa tourism
sector, welcomed over 39,000 people to its 2018 event, showcasing the largest
exhibition in the history of the show, with hotels comprising 20% of the floor
area.
With a spotlight on technology and
innovation, ATM 2019 will build on the success of this year’s edition with a
host of seminar sessions discussing the ongoing unprecedented digital
disruption, and the emergence of innovative technologies that will fundamentally
alter the way in which the hospitality industry operates in the region.
Arabian
Travel Market 2019 will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre from 28 April –
1 May 2019.
