04 06 accommodation bahrain: 20,000 rooms by 2018 · etihad airways strengthens. african ties...
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ETIHAD AIRWAYS STRENGTHENS AFRICAN TIES
DUBAI: 500,000 MEDICAL \ TOURISTS BY 2020
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08 OCTOBER 2016 ISSUE 361
BAHRAIN: 20,000 ROOMS BY 2018
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TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS
08 OCTOBER 20162
MARKET UPDATE www.traveltradeweekly.travel
MANAGING EDITOR
Mary Kammitsi [email protected]
ASSISTANT EDITORRita Kasziba
JOURNALIST Ellen Petty CONTRIBUTORS
Ana Mladenovic Dominique Christou
SALES & SALES SUPPORT Maria Demetriadou Magda Christou Raluca Apostolescu
DESIGN & LAYOUTElena Stylianou
WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis
DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi
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7.10.2016as ofMENA EXCHANGE RATES
UNWTO: 21 MILLION MORE TRAVELLERS
WEST BANK TOURISM WEAKENS
International tourist arrivals globally grew four percent between January and June compared to the same period in 2015, according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)’s latest World Tourism Barometer.
During the first half of this year, the West Bank received 952,000 inbound visitors and 1.12 million domestic tourists, a year-on-year decline of five percent and 32 percent, respectively.
During the period under review, some 561 million people travelled the world, 21 million more than in 2015.
“Tourism has proven to be one of the most resilient economic sectors worldwide. It is creating jobs for millions, at a time when providing perspectives for a better future to peo-
ple of all regions is one of our biggest challenges. But tourism is also creating bonds among people of all nations and backgrounds, bringing down stereotypes and fighting fear and distrust,” said Taleb Rifai, secretary general, UNWTO.
International arrivals in the Middle East decreased by an estimated nine percent year-on-year, with mixed results among destinations.
All in all, approximately 2.07 million visits were made to tourism and leisure sites in the area, with seven percent of the foreign travellers hailing from the US, six percent were Russian na-tionals, while three percent represented India. The number of hotel guests decreased 20 per-cent to 193,745 who spent a total of 604,918 nights in West Bank hotels over the six-month
period. According to Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics and Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, in 2014
there were 7,064 organisations working in the tourism sector with their total output reaching USD603.2 million.
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08 OCTOBER 2016
Dubai: 500,000 Medical Tourists by 2020
T he forum explored opportunities to further consolidate the emirate’s position as a global medi-cal hub.
Speaking of DHA’s continued efforts to drive growth, Layla Al Marzouqi, director, Health Regulation Department and Medical Tourism Office, Dubai Health Authority, said, “[The conference was] another important step towards our goal of attracting 500,000 medical tourists by 2020.”
Now with 32 facilities, the Dubai Health Experience (DXH) initiative also continues to evolve, noted Linda Abdullah Ali Ruhi, head, Medical Tourism Office.
“The DXH programme has been growing rapidly since we launched in April and it has already proved a major stimulus to Dubai’s rapidly growing medical tourism industry,” added Al Ruhi.
The second Dubai Health Regulation and Medical Tourism conference was hosted by Dubai Heath Authority (DHA) earlier this
week.
New Yas Island Identity to Reflect
Vibrant Ethos
I n an event at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Miral unveiled a new brand for Yas Island to echo its position as a world-
class destination with a wealth of leisure, cultural, social and business attractions.
Mohamed Abdulla Al Zaabi, CEO, Miral, also revealed Yas Island’s objective for 2022 to attract 48 million visitors per annum, adding that the island looks to host 100,000 corporate travellers, and is projected to have 4,000 hotel rooms.
Al Zaabi continued, “With ambitious development plans underway, Yas Island is set to be home to 10,000 residents and another 10,000 commuting to the island every day.”
A campaign, Yas Dream, was also launched, inviting visitors to share their favourite moments.
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WEEKLY NEWSwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
Around 600 delegates and 40 Indian journalists are expected to attend the 63rd an-nual convention of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), which will be held be-tween October 14 – 16 at Emirates Palace.
Abu Dhabi won the right to stage the programme due to its potential as a leisure and MICE destination.
Ahead of the event, Sultan Al Dhahero, acting executive director, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, said, “The convention gives us an unparalleled opportunity to directly speak to these industry influencers who can impact a market which is now the emirate’s larg-est overseas hotel guest source market.”
Abu Dhabi Hosts Indian Travel Forum
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DeG Launches Digital Table Technology
Sharjah Department of eGovernment (DeG) has revealed details of its interactive touch-screen table technology ahead of its par-
ticipation in GITEX Technology Week 2016, where DEG will reveal a new communal game.
The demonstration of the digital resource took place at the 2nd Sharjah GITEX Workshop, where 35 government departments were in-formed of the innovation’s aim of increasing visi-tors’ interactivity and engagement with Sharjah as a brand.
The modern offering is expected to play a key role in informing guests of the locations of each government entity while offering information about the destination and its digital developments.
The workshop was also a platform for DeG to ensure attendees’ alignment with its mission and vision behind its promotional slogan, Sustainabil-ity and Digital Innovation.
GITEX Technology Week will be staged between October 16 – 20 at Dubai World Trade Centre.
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WEEKLY NEWS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Presenting Al Habtoor City
D uring the recent Great GM Debate in Dubai, Ferghal Purcell, general manager, The Ajman Palace Hotel, emphasised the increasing importance of the MICE segment to the region.
With the UAE, Qatar, Oman and Saudi Arabia driving its rapid and robust growth, the sec-tor contributes significantly to the Middle East’s economic development through income and employment as well as by attracting foreign investment.
In addition to underscoring the region’s strategic geographical location, Ferghal noted, “The UAE is one of the safest destinations in the world and has set a great example in that di-rection. The developments in terms of infrastructure and facilities taking shape for Dubai Expo 2020 will further boost its global and regional positioning as a MICE destination.”
MICE Industry Highlighted at Great GM Debate
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BAHRAIN TOURISM & EXHIBITIONS AUTHORITY (BTEA) IS DETERMINED TO BOOST THE NUMBER OF HOTEL ROOMS IN THE COUNTRY TO 20,000 BY 2018.
“W e are working [on] having more four-star beachfront hotels,” noted Yousef AlKhan, director, marketing and tourism promotion, Bahrain Tourism & Exhibitions Authority, adding that eight beaches and is-lands are due to be developed by the aforementioned date.
AlKhan continued to explain that the expansion of the Kingdom’s offering is in line with BTEA’s aim of increasing the total number of visitors to 15.2 million by 2018, which is being supported by the Ministry of Interior’s visa fee reduction.
BAHRAIN: 20,000 ROOMS
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Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, chairman, Al Habtoor Group, welcomed a delega-tion from Marriott International, led by
Arne Sorenson, president, Marriott Interna-tional, at his office.
Representatives of the hotel company travelled to Dubai for a courtesy visit and to tour Al Habtoor City, a new landmark in the emirate which incorporates three Marriott International brands.
Al Habtoor said, “You will not find a com-plex like Al Habtoor City anywhere else in the world. It is not only a new landmark in Dubai, it is a destination like no other […].”
During the meeting the parties discussed ways that the companies can build on their already fruitful partnership, and also touched upon upcoming projects such as the new The St. Regis Dubai, Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club in Dubailand, which is scheduled to open later this year.
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Best Western Hotels & Resorts has introduced SureStay Hotels, hailed as a revolu-tionary new white label franchise model in the hotel industry.
With three distinctive brands, the premium SureStay Hotel, the lower mid-scale SureStay Plus Hotel and midscale softbrand SureStay Signature Collection, the company aims to provide options in the marketplace for franchisees, granting owners fair and reasonable early termination provisions with no liquidated damages, allow-ing them to have a voice through advisory committees, and permitting procurement outside of brand channels.
“With SureStay, we are seeking to create a core group of hotels that will differenti-ate themselves from others in the market, focussing on delivering high quality and outstanding service,” said David Kong, CEO, Best Western Hotels & Resorts.
All three brands will be marketed under the SureStay umbrella, with no consumer reference to Best Western Hotels & Resorts. This will allow the company to leverage its existing infrastructure while creating a new revenue stream, tapping into the vast opportunities that exist today in the economy space, without compromising on its already established position in its current segments.
Best Western Launches White Label
Lounge Returns at Four Seasons Dubai
Mercury Lounge has reo-pened for the season atop Four Seasons Resort Dubai
at Jumeirah Beach. Now reminiscent of a venue on
the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, its summer closure saw the restyl-ing of the glamorous spot to offer a relaxed atmosphere complete with a new food concept.
The menu at Mercury Lounge seamlessly blends influences from across the Mediterranean, serving var-ious delicacies from Spain, Italy as well as Lebanon. Guests can enjoy a selec-tion of antipasti, sharing plates and light entrées while taking in 180-de-gree views of Downtown Dubai.
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I n a new partnership with Mayo Clinic, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group loyalty scheme members now have
the opportunity to receive health and wellness information from Mayo Clinic.
Effective until the end of the year, Club Carlson cardholders can exchange points for The Mayo Clinic Guide to Stress-Free Living e-book, which sug-gests ways to overcome stress and anxi-ety and has also recommendations on how to improve resilience, quality of life and health.
In addition, Club Carlson Concierge Elite subscribers can also benefit from complimentary access to Ask Mayo Clinic, an online assessment resource.
Roger Chacko, chief branding and marketing officer, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, commented, “This collaboration with Mayo Clinic offers our members proactive engagement with easy to use and actionable health and wellness resources.”
A s of October 15, Madinat Jumeirah will relaunch its Friday brunches at Jumei-rah Al Qasr and Jumeirah Mina A’Salam.
At Jumeirah Mina A’Salam, two restaurants, namely Hanaaya and Tortu-ga, next to the turtle lagoon, will welcome guests to the expanded terrace featuring themed food trucks with a live action feel as chefs display a myriad of flavours and culinary delicacies.
Additionally, Jumeirah Al Qasr Brunch will showcase the best of the chefs at three restaurants, including the American meatery The Hide, Spanish restaurant Al Hambra as well as Arboretum.
To complete the experience, both properties will offer entertainment.
Club Carlson Affiliates Offered Healthcare
Information
Madinat Jumeirah Offers Brunch
T he Ajman Palace Hotel hosted International African Education Summit (IAES) which focussed on in-creasing student capacity in international schools while also highlighting the enhanced opportunities.
Organised by Potters International Collage, the conference’s primary aim was to boost student en-rollments, broaden the network of education consultants and reinforce existing relations amongst Middle East ern and African stakeholders.
Highlighting the property’s extensive venues, Ferghal Purcell, general manager, noted that each space is equipped with state-of-the-art technology to ensure the smooth organisation of any kind of event.
IAES Held at The Ajman Palace Hotel
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WEEKLY NEWS AIRPORTSwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
Abu Dhabi Airport Welcomes 2.3 Million Travellers
M ore than 2.3 million passengers passed though Abu Dhabi International Airport in August, a year-on-year increase of 2.3 percent, bringing the total
figure for the first eight months of the year to over 16.4 mil-lion, up 6.2 percent.
Compared to August 2015, traffic to India soared 14.3 per-cent, upholding its position as the most popular country from the hub. Meanwhile, visitor volumes to the UK rose 4.2 per-cent to 153,208 and with a boost of 12.3 percent, due to pil-grims travelling for Hajj, Saudi Arabia became to fourth busi-est destination. With the introduction of Etihad Airways’ three daily services and Egypt Air’s enhanced offering of 13 flights each week, numbers to and from Egypt rose 26.6 percent.
Despite the surge in passenger figures, total aircraft movements in the aforementioned month declined 2.4 per-cent in contrast to 2015.
QAIA: Record-breaking Passenger Traffic in August
D espite this, monthly aircraft movements fell two percent compared to August 2015, while cargo volume rose 1.1 percent.Between January – August, over five million tourists travelled through QAIA, a year-on-year growth of 5.1 percent. Commenting on the success, Kjeld Binger, CEO, Airport International Group, noted, “These figures not only reaffirm the
airport’s position as Jordan’s prime gateway to the world, but they also drive us to work toward setting new milestones and surpass-ing benchmarks, particularly following the inauguration of the second phase of QAIA’s new terminal project earlier this month.”
Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) welcomed 830,259 travellers through its doors in August, marking the highest monthly passenger traffic in 33 years of operations.
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WEEKLY NEWS AIR www.traveltradeweekly.travel
Qatar Airways and British Airways Join Forces
Q atar Airways and British Airways’ parent company, International Airlines Group, established a joint business agreement that will come into effect on
October 30.The newly-formed initiative will benefit customers by
offering a wider selection of flights, an enhanced network, greater choice of fares and various perks for members of the two carriers’ frequent flyer programmes.
Crucially, the partnership will allow the airlines to pro-vide passengers with better links and an even more seam-less travel experience between the UK, Asia, Middle East and Africa. The joint business will see the carriers codesharing on all nonstop routes between the UK and Doha.
Akbar Al Baker, group CEO, Qatar Airways, said, “This part-nership brings together two world-class airlines to provide an enhanced operation for our passengers with increased daily flights between London and Doha.”
Etihad Airways Strengthens African Ties
Effective from October 30, the deal will allow the Abu Dhabi-based airline’s passen-gers to take advantage of enhanced flight options to a number of key destinations, such as Cape Town, Durban, George as well as East London, via Johannesburg.
The partnership further strengthens the Gulf carrier’s commitment to Africa and brings the total number of destinations that it serves across the continent to 23.
Peter Baumgartner, CEO, Etihad Airways, said, “Through the agreement, kulula will give inbound passengers direct access from Johannesburg to four key destinations along South Africa’s renowned coastline, and I am certain the extended reach offered through this partnership will appeal to business and leisure travellers alike.”
Two New Routes for Emirates A380
Etihad Airways continues to consolidate its presence in Africa through a new codeshare agreement with South African low-cost carrier kulula.
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H. E. Sulaiman Alhamdan, chairman, Saudi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA), an-nounced the board of directors’ approval of the carrier’s fleet plan, which includes the acquisition of 63 airplanes.
Among the new purchases will be 15 Boeing 777-300ERs, 13 Boeing 787s and 35 Airbus A320/A321neo.
H.E. Saleh Aljasser, director general, SAUDIA, said, “As part of the fleet renewal we are taking several aircraft out of service according to a phase out plan; four 747-400 aircraft have been phased out in this year, and we have started the phase out of the ERJ-170 fleet of 15 aircraft and this will be completed by end of the year in addition to the phase out of 5 aircraft from our 777-200 fleet of 23 aircraft and the remaining 18 will be phased out before the end of 2017.”
E mirates launched two new daily Airbus A380 services from Dubai to Guangzhou and Moscow.
The Chinese and Russian cities join more than 40 destinations in the airline’s network served by the aircraft.
Many of the features of carrier’s flagship airplanes are unique offerings in the re-spective countries for travellers. The double-decker aircraft allows travellers to enjoy the comfort of 14 private suites in first class and 76 fully flat-bed mini-pods in business class on the upper deck, which is also home to the signature onboard shower spas and an onboard lounge.
SAUDIA to Add 63 Aircraft
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TRAVEL CHANNELSwww.traveltradeweekly.travel
Carnival Corporation, through its philanthropic arm, Carnival Foundation, is do-nating USD2 million to the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Afri-can American History and Culture.
After 11 years in the making and built at a cost of USD540 million, the mu-seum opened on September 24, boasting 12 initial exhibitions, covering topics
ranging from military and sports history to performing arts and the western and northern migration.
“The National Museum of African American History and Culture is a celebration of the many contributions African Americans have made to the history, culture and community of the US,” said Linda Coll, executive director, Carnival Foundation.
Qantas has launched Qantas Out Of Of-fice, a new service that transforms the generic out of office auto email reply into a real-time photographic travel journal.
The innovative programme links the email ad-dress to Instagram and updates the automatic mes-sage with holiday snaps that are tagged with the hashtag #qantasoutofoffice.
To set it up, people need to visit the airline’s dedi-cated website, connect their Instagram account and email ID, enter dates they are away, where they are travelling to, and compose a simple message.
As Olivia Wirth, executive, brand, marketing and corporate affairs, Qantas Group, explained, the out of office travelogue is expected to inspire more col-leagues, friends and family to travel the world.
CARNIVAL SUPPORTS US MUSEUM
QANTAS TAKES OUT OF OFFICE EMAIL
TO NEXT LEVEL
National Museum of African American History and Culture
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TRAVEL TALK www.traveltradeweekly.travel
GENERAL MANAGER, THE SUN SIYAM IRU FUSHI, MALDIVES
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER, ACCORHOTELS MIDDLE EAST
“Spa by Thalgo’s double rec-ognition at the World Spa Awards is a wonderful affir-mation of our efforts to pro-vide both sophisticated trav-ellers and spa visitors to the Maldives with a flawless and contemporary spa experience connected to authentic treat-ments and ancient rituals.”
“We are delighted to have been recognised [at the World Travel Awards] as the Middle East’s leading hotel operator. We believe these awards are a testament to the work we have put in as a team to ensure that our properties deliver excellent service to our guests across the full spectrum of our flag-ship brands, from luxury and upscale to midscale and economy.”
[The award] is a wonderful affirmation of our efforts
These awards are a testament to the work we have put in
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PRESIDENT, WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS
“World Travel Awards has long had a close relationship with Dubai and it was an honour to return here [for this year’s event]. We have recognised some of the leading lights of Middle Eastern tourism […] and I wish to offer my heart-felt congratulations to all of our winners. The St. Regis Dubai, part of the new Al Habtoor City develop-ment, proved a wonderful host for the gala ceremony and I am sure the destination will grow into an icon in the Middle East in its own right.”
World Travel Awards has long had a close relationship with Dubai
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CEO, HMH - HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENTHOLDINGS
“A strategic approach is needed to ensure investment is maxim-ised to positively impact both operational performance and capital value. A well-thought-out and executed capital ex-penditure strategy in the form of a hotel improvement plan can propel a hotel ahead of its competitive set. There are a number of considerations, including age of asset, legisla-tive regulations and changes, emerging consumer preferenc-es and competitive positioning in the market that influence the way in which capital expendi-ture budgets are directed.”
A hotel improvement plan can propel a hotel ahead
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TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE – this is a casual forum for travel industry professionals to discuss current issues and share stories. We want to hear from you, so send your comments, questions, frustrations and observations to
13
AGENT CORNER www.traveltradeweekly.travel
When and how did you get in-volved in the tourism industry?I first tried my hand at tour planning when I created and sold a language tour to Guatemala to learn English. I only had a few clients, but it was enough to get me hooked.
What are the most important at-tributes of a good travel agent/tour operator?I always put myself in the scene; planning how to make highlight experiences for life-long memories. And of course, exceptional atten-tion to detail.
What is the most frequently asked question that your compa-ny receives from customers?As we only cater for solo travellers, it is along the lines of their worry or fears about travelling alone for the first time.
What are the must-visits and must-dos in Australia that no-body should miss? My must-visits are about realising how diverse Australia is. Visit Far North Queensland for a laid back tropical lifestyle, and of course, our Great Barrier Reef. Fly to the heart of our Red Centre to stay over at Ayers Rock to visit Uluru at sunrise and sunset, and be sure to include the new Field of Light experience. Sydney is cosmopolitan but at the same time you are just a stone’s throw away from so many beautiful surf beaches.
Which destination is on your bucket-list?I am planning my first visit to Myan-mar in 2017. I have the idea that My-anmar will be a raw and authentic experience.
AGENT’S INSIGHT
Justine Waddington
Founder and director
Encounter Travel
Sydney, Australia
www.encountertravel.com.au
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08 OCTOBER 2016
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What incentives and packages are available for or-ganisers interested to entrust you with their event?
TREVOR MCCARTNEY: We are offering event organisers of corporate, govern-ment and private events and meetings the chance to impress with our competi-tively priced Convene Meeting Package. This bespoke events solution has been tailored to meet the most sophisticated needs of function planners, catering for gatherings of 25 to 150 people in the iconic venue’s brand-new state-of-the-art hospitality suites, with additional options for larger conferences of 200 to 500.
TREVOR MCCARTNEY
Q & A
with
GENERAL MANAGER, OMAN CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE
WITH THE LANCH OF THE EXHIBITION CENTRE, HOSPITALITY SUITES AND
THE MAIN KITCHEN NOW OPEN, OMAN CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTRE
(OCEC) WELCOMES EVENTS AND BUSINESSES FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE
AS TREVOR MCCARTNEY, GENERAL MANAGER, OCEC, EXPLAINS.
and inspire their participants.
TREVOR MCCARTNEY: Oman is a truly rich and historic country, and as such there are many things that add extra di-mensions to holding an event in Oman. Conference and trade show visitors are assured of the renowned warm Omani welcome and will experience traditional Oman but in a modern and dynamic en-vironment. There are cultural treasures in Oman to be discovered such as the Royal Opera House and the historic Souk Al Mina as well as a large number of natu-ral attractions from beaches to mountain top hotels, caves to islands, as well as four UNESCO World Heritage Sites. These are all available for visitors to explore after a conference or exhibition, while also providing activities such as scuba-diving and mountain climbing, as well as shopping whether in a luxury mall or a traditional Omani souk. Bringing fam-ily to Oman for some leisure time after a convention is also an option, with Oman voted one of the world’s safest countries, and being listed amongst [...] the top 20 must-see destinations.
Event organisers choose Oman for its wealth of intellectual capital – its broad-based economy, thriving busi-ness community, especially small- and medium size enterprises, and flourish-ing culture of entrepreneurship that benefits from strong government sup-port and encouragement.
A powerful draw to event organis-ers is also Oman’s strategic location at the nexus of East-West trade routes, on the doorstep of the booming markets of Asia and Africa, and within seven hours flight time for 50 percent of the world’s population.
The Convene Meeting Package of-fers a choice of full and half day options. Organisers can select from a range of seating layouts in their preferred suite, while receiving personalised support from the centre’s expert events team at every stage of planning and throughout the day of the function, from arrival to conclusion.
The array of services at the OCEC ex-tends to menu offerings too. Executive chef Oswald Jochheim and his team have created an exciting selection of menu concepts, focussing on delicious local ingredients and inspirations, and a mouth-watering array of traditional and international cuisine selections that will satisfy every palate and add flavour to the delegates’ overall experience at OCEC.
Delegates will enjoy the warm tra-ditional Omani hospitality from the OCEC team and experience the ulti-mate comfort of the versatile suites, which blend Arabesque influences with contemporary design and luxurious modern features. Fully sound-proofed, they have the latest in communications and audiovisual technology along with complimentary hi-speed Wi-Fi. OCEC also benefits from its centralised loca-tion less than 10 minutes from Muscat International Airport with ample and convenient parking.
For all other events the OCEC busi-ness development team will tailor a proposal that meets the needs of the individual event organiser.
TRAVEL TRADE WEEKLY: What expe-riences and nearby attractions would you recommend to event and incen-tive trip organisers looking to wow
08 OCTOBER 201614
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Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre
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Bahrain’s Royal Golf Club is holding activities and promotions in support of the Think Pink Bahrain breast cancer awareness charity
Kempinski Hotel & Residences Palm Jumeirah celebrated five years of
excellence
Hilton Worldwide properties scooped six Middle East World Travel Awards
More than 300 participants attended the UAE World Tourism Day Conference hosted by Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority
Kindergarteners, children and nursing home residents can meet a variety of wildlife and
agriculture at Abu Dhabi's Emirates Park Zoo and Resort
Room service at Jannah Hotels
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08 OCTOBER 201616
NEWS & EVENTS www.traveltradeweekly.travel
ADNEC Hosts Climate and
Hardware Events
Pacific World Designs
Emotion-led Experiences
Climate Abu Dhabi, a heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration exhibition, and Abu Dhabi Hardware Show, the emir-
ate’s first specialised tools and hardware fair, were held concurrently at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).
The introductory edition of Climate Abu Dhabi focussed on three major themes; indoor climate, process cooling and cold chain technology, whilst also laying emphasis on efficiency and sus-tainability.
Commenting on global manufactur-ers’ expansion to the UAE ahead of the programme, Omar Mudassar, marketing manager, Dome Exhibitions, noted, “Abu Dhabi Hardware Show is set to create new avenues for manufacturers, ven-dors, suppliers [...].”
At this year’s IMEX America in Las Vegas, Pacific World will reveal seven new themes for bespoke incentive pro-
grammes which focus on experiences that are aligned with emotions.
The event and destination man-agement company analysed research results to develop the topics which in-clude high-end adventures, inspiration-al special events, authentic local experi-ences, innovative technology concepts that challenge creativity, corporate and social responsibility activities as well as holistic retreats.
Highlighting that clients often seek truely meaningful experiences, Selina Chavry, global managing director, Pa-cific World, noted, “Understanding what drives each client is the key to designing a compelling programme, to help them engage and motivate their attendees.”
IMEX AMERICA
Las Vegas, USOctober 18 - 20 www.imexamerica.comThe hosted buyer programme qualifies and brings key buyers to the show, with IMEX America covering travel and accommodations.
WORLD TRAVEL MARKET
November 07 – 09London, UKwww.wtmlondon.comA global meeting place for the travel trade, providing attendees with quality contacts, content and communities.
ITB ASIA
SingaporeOctober 19 – 21www.itb-asia.comHundreds of companies and organisations will come together for the annual trade show.
CULTURAL TOURISM MIDDLE EAST
November 14 – 15Dubai, UAEwww.culturaltourismme.comHigh-level officials from the tourism, cultural development and antiquities, heritage and arts, cultural activities and architectural heritage community will convene in Dubai.
EVENTS