Global Loyalty Organisation is hosting a loyalty dedicated panel on May 8th on "Emotional Loyalty & Experiences" with panelists from leading global companies: Dr. Nejib Ben Khedher, Divisional Senior VP - Emirates Skyward • Ali Ozbay, Regional Director of Marketing & Communications - Rixos Hotels UAE •
Jelena Kezika, Senior Director Strategy - Global Hotel Alliance • Ali Bin Zayed, Senior Manager Corporate Loyalty - EmCan (Emarat Petroleum) • Radhey Tawar, CCO - Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts
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GLOThe upcoming Arabian Travel Market (ATM), a leading global event in travel and tourism, is poised to be a crucial gathering for stakeholders in the hospitality sector. Scheduled from May 6 to 9 at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the event comes amidst positive forecasts for Dubai’s hospitality market in 2024, according to Deloitte. Dubai, surpassing major capitals like London, New York City, and Bangkok, now boasts over 150,000 hotel rooms.
Data from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) indicates that the city hosted 17.15 million overnight visitors in 2023, with an increase in the average length of stay. Occupancy rates peaked at 88% in February, highlighting the city’s robust tourism performance.
In the broader region, STR figures reveal significant hotel supply growth in Riyadh, with an additional 28,465 rooms, and Doha, which has doubled its hotel inventory over the past decade, now offering 39,968 rooms.
Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME at Arabian Travel Market, noted a 21% increase in exhibition space dedicated to hotel brands at ATM 2024, indicating strong interest and demand. IHG Resorts is the event’s official hotel partner, with renowned brands like Four Seasons Hotels, Rosewood Hotels and Resorts, and the Shangri-La Group set to participate.
New European hotel brands, including Ethno Belek in Turkey and Buff Medical Resort in Germany, will make their debut at ATM. European Voyages, specializing in tours, transfers, and private jets, will also mark its first appearance. Exhibitor participation from Italy and Turkey has notably surged, reflecting growing interest from these regions in the Middle East tourism market.
ATM 2024 will feature summits and panel discussions where attendees can learn about the latest trends in the hospitality industry.
Global Loyalty Organisation is hosting a loyalty dedicated panel on May 8th on “Emotional Loyalty & Experiences” with panelists from leading global companies:
- Dr. Nejib Ben Khedher, Divisional Senior Vice President – Emirates Skyward
- Ali Ozbay, Regional Director of Marketing & Communications – Rixos Hotels UAE
- Jelena Kezika, Senior Director Strategy – Global Hotel Alliance
- Ali Bin Zayed, Senior Manager Corporate Loyalty – EmCan (Emarat Petroleum)
- Radhey Tawar, Chief Commercial Officer – Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts
Other panels include the ‘Frameworks for Tourism Investment’ session, presented by industry leaders like Guy Hutchinson of Hilton and Basmah Al-Mayman of UNWTO, will provide insights into catering to new markets and identifying business opportunities.
The ‘Trends Shaping the Future of Hospitality in the Middle East’ session, on ATM’s new ‘Future Stage’, will discuss industry updates, upcoming trends, and challenges. Senior representatives from IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriot International, Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts, and others, along with hospitality experts, will participate.
Haitham Mattar, Managing Director of IHG, emphasized the importance of ATM as a platform for dialogue, debate, and knowledge-sharing in the regional travel industry.
ATM 2024 will focus on the theme ‘Empowering Innovation: Transforming Travel Through Entrepreneurship’, exploring how innovators in the travel and tourism space are attracting funding to enhance the sector’s contribution to global GDP. Strategic partners include the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Emirates, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Al Rais Travel, and STA.
Register to ATM here
Source: GLO
