Bahrain's hotel industry is set to spend $50 million (BD18.9 million) in 2010 on kitchen and laundry equipment, up $14 million (BD5.3 million) from this year, according to experts.

It will take hotel spending by GCC countries to an estimated $634 million (BD239 million) next year in the kitchen and laundry equipment sector, says a report by market research firm Proleads.

This is up from $617 million (BD233 million) this year, suggesting that the hotel industry is still growing despite the economic downturn, it said.

The figures were revealed ahead of The Hotel Show 2010, which will take place From May 18 to 20 at Dubai's World Trade Centre.

'In global terms, the Middle East is one of the few regions where hotel kitchen equipment suppliers can find new markets,' said the show's exhibition director Maggie Moore.

'The study shows that while the hotel sector is experiencing something of a slowdown globally, substantial new business is available for hotel equipment and service providers in what is still a regional growth industry.'

The UAE is forecast to take the largest share of the total GCC budget this year, spending more than $427 million (BD161 million).

However, this figure is expected to fall in 2010 to just under $390 million (BD147 million) as a large number of ongoing hotel projects are completed, according to Proleads.

Saudi Arabia's budget is forecast to climb from $119 million (BD45 million) this year to $137 million (BD51.7 million), Qatar's from $16 million (BD6 million) to more than $32 million (BD12 million) and Kuwait from $6 million (BD2.26 million) to over $11 million (BD4.15 million) in 2010.

Meanwhile, Oman's budget is expected to remain virtually static at around $11 million (BD4.15 million) from this year to the next.

The Hotel Show showcases the latest products, services and technologies for all aspects of the hospitality and leisure sector. This year's show featured 758 exhibitors from 41 countries, attracting nearly 9,780 key industry players from more than 77 countries.-TradeArabia News Service