Arabian Travel Market (ATM), the region’s leading travel industry showcase, opens its doors tomorrow (April 25) 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 April 25-28, 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 to cater to the over 2,800 exhibiting companies and 64 national pavilions. Over 100 new exhibitors are set to make their ATM debut this year.

“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, ATM, told a press conference in Dubai.

The event was attended by Chris Newman, corporate director of operations, Emaar Hospitality Group; Thierry Antinori, executive vice president and chief commercial officer, Emirates Airline; Simon Press, senior exhibition director, ATM and World Travel Market; Issam Abdul Rahim Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing; and Ali Abu Monassar, chairman, The Vision Destination Management.

“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 April 25 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 - vice president 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 April 26, 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 vice president 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 April 27, 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.

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. - TradeArabia News Service