Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) will be the destination partner for Hitec Dubai 2018 - the world’s largest hospitality Technology Exhibition and Conference brand.

Co-produced by Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) and Naseba, the two-day trade show will be held on December 5 and 6 at the Madinat Jumeirah Dubai.

The annual business-to-business (B2B) exhibition will give Middle East buyers, currently worth over $75 billion, access to the world’s leading technology solution providers and experts in the hospitality sector.

Frank Wolfe CAE, CEO of HFTP, said: “Dubai has an image of doing things big, bigger and biggest. Dubai has emerged as one of the fastest growing smart cities in the world. With such visionary leaders, Dubai will soon become the smartest city in the world. With Expo 2020 and such a huge influx of tourist, the hospitality industry will take centre stage in positioning Dubai as the smartest city. Hitec Dubai gives an opportunity for regional hospitality buyers to introduce latest technologies into their organizations.”

According to recent industry reports, Dubai attracted $21.66 billion worth of foreign direct investment in high-end technology transfers in three years. This consequently earned the emirate the top rank globally in 2018 in the share of FDI in technology transfers like artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics.

HITEC Dubai will feature three key areas including exhibition, technology theatres and a high-power conference. Naveen Bharadwaj, production director of Naseba and Hitec Dubai, said: “The Middle East continues to make huge investments in the hospitality industry given mega events such as Dubai Expo 2020 and the increase in tourists. A large portion of this is being spent on technology products and services that optimize internal processes, enhance guest experience and increase profitability. Hitec Dubai will address the needs of the industry by introducing top level regional stakeholders with leading technology providers from across the world. We are glad that DTCM is endorsing the show again.”

Hitec Dubai’s Advisory Council chairperson, Laurent A. Voivenel, senior vice president, operations and development for the Middle East, Africa and India for Swiss-Belhotel International, said: “Over the last decade technology has led to a drastic transformation in the hospitality sector globally as well as regionally which has boosted competitiveness and efficiency while creating new opportunities. Digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence is continuously giving greater choice in every aspect of travel turning customers into DIY travellers who plan, manage and book travel online. Hitec Dubai will the perfect platform to see what lies ahead how the latest innovations and technological advancements are changing our industry.” - TradeArabia News Service