More than 600 hoteliers and hospitality industry professionals from across the globe are showcasing their innovative products and solutions at The Hotel Show and The Leisure Show which opened in Dubai today (September 17).

The leading events for the hospitality and leisure industry in the Middle East and Africa – also co-located for the first time this year with Piscine Middle East – are expected to welcome more than 30,000 visitors till September 19 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Majid Saif Al Ghurair, the chairman of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, opened the 2016 Hotel Show and The Leisure Show this morning.

After officially opening the exhibitions, Al Ghurair was given a tour of the show floor by Event Director Gary Williams, during which he met leading representatives from the sectors that play a pivotal role in maintaining Dubai’s growing economy.

Issam Kazim, the chief executive of the Dubai Corporation of Tourism and Commerce Marketing said the annual hospitality trade event, The Hotel Show will bring together more than 600 exhibitors from around the world.

On its 17th edition, Kazim said: "Providing valuable networking opportunities for hoteliers and industry professionals offers Dubai an ideal platform for the city to showcase its diverse accommodation portfolio, ranging from luxury five-star resorts to mid-market hotels and more."

"As we continue to work towards our Tourism Vision for 2020 targets, which includes elcoming 20 million visitors per year to Dubai by 2020, Dubai’s hotel inventory continues to grow and expand month by month, in line with sustainable targets to ensure Dubai retains its competitiveness and attractiveness to international travellers," he noted.

On The Leisure Show, now entering its 4th edition, Kazim said: "It is a vital component of Dubai’s ever-expanding destination offering and plays a key role in ensuring that the city is at the forefront when it comes to attracting the global traveller over and above other destinations."

Throughout 2016 the Emirate continues to build on the pillar with a host of recently opened family attractions enhancing the emirate’s proposition including Dubai Opera and IMG Worlds of Adventure – and plenty more to come, such as Dubai Safari and Dubai Parks and Resorts, expected to come on line before the end of the year.

The expansion and diversification of the city’s unique selling points, combined with the growing hotel portfolio ensures that Dubai remains a destination of choice, and critically encourages greater length of stay and repeat visitation.”

At The Hotel Show, The Leisure Show and Piscine Middle East, thousands of global suppliers will showcase everything needed to build, develop and maintain hotels and leisure facilities across the region.

Speaking at the launch, Williams said: "In line with the Tourism Vision for 2020, our events are providing local and international suppliers and owners of hotels and leisure facilities with the unique opportunity to do business in a world-class destination that is investing heavily in the future of hospitality."

"This year, we have added more features to our line-up than ever before to provide more opportunities for networking, knowledge and ideas sharing, and trendsetting for the industry," he noted.

Noemi Petit, the event director at GL events, organisers of Piscine Middle East, said it was the first time Piscine Middle East was being held in Dubai instead of Abu Dhabi, whre the earlier edition was hosted.
 
"Dubai is one of the fastest growing markets in the world for pools and spas, particularly as the new hotels and leisure attractions coming on line are set to have some of the best of such facilities in the world," stated Petit.

"Our showcase of the latest swimming pools, spa features, equipment and accessories, is from all over the world including as far afield as Canada and Australia – as the world looks to Dubai as a lucrative market for this industry," she added.

An extensive content programme across the three events for 2016 includes: conferences (Vision Conference); presentations and live demonstrations (The Fit Hub and TecSec Summit); awards (Middle East Pool & Spa Awards and Pool Vision Awards); live features (‘The Future of Hospitality Design’ and ‘Pool Innovations Zone’) and much more.

Piscine Middle East is a growing event in UAE that draws pool and spa professionals of all types, giving them a unique opportunity to meet and exchange ideas. In 2014, the show welcomed 2,800 visitors and hosted more than 100 different brands.-TradeArabia News Service