AS Arabian Travel Market (ATM) begins preparations for its twentieth edition in 2013, the region’s expanding aviation sector is once again driving the hospitality industry resulting in a steady rise in hotel RevPar (revenue per available room) rates across many of the GCC countries and a burgeoning hotel development pipeline.
“The predicted growth of the regional hospitality sector is linked to the continuous growth of the region’s major airlines and improved regional connectivity with low cost airlines, such as Air Arabia and flydubai,” said Mark Walsh, portfolio director, Reed Travel Exhibitions, the organisers of Arabian Travel Market.
“Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways, all continue to outpace their international counterparts with high passenger volume loads and ever-expanding networks, which is having a positive effect on the region’s hotel construction pipeline,” added Walsh.
Air travel is the sector of highest interest to visitors to Arabian Travel Market according to the 2012 event statistics, yet its representation on the exhibition floor is relatively small in comparison to some of the larger areas such as hotels. For 2013, in order to guide visitors to the airline stands organisers are to provide visitors with a map of where to find airline exhibitors amongst over 2,400 companies represented on the show floor.
“Air travel will be one of eight major vertical sectors at next year’s show, alongside budget travel, careers, health and wellbeing, luxury, shopping, sports, and cruise and water-based travel. We are making it even easier for exhibitors and visitors to plan their appointment schedules by guiding visitors directly to the industry sector they are looking for using sponsored floor trails, allowing them to fast track their way around the show, managing their time more effectively,” said Walsh.
Arabian Travel Market 2013 will be held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from May 6-9, 2013.