A 2014 YouGov Luxury Travel report for the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region showed that out of the 1,000-plus regionally based survey respondents, luxury clearly has a home in the Middle East with Dubai claiming the top spot as the preferred upscale destination.
As such, luxury travel trends will once again be a highlighted feature at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2015, with the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) Middle East showcasing matching luxury-focused exhibitors with travel buyers from the region looking to discover the very best experiences from around the world.A two-day ILTM@ATM programme has been developed and includes a series of pre-scheduled appointments and dedicated luxury travel focused seminars and panel debates to run from May 5 to 6. ILTM@ATM 2015 will welcome up to 25 Middle East hosted buyers with a specific interest in luxury products, and up to 28 exhibitors representing the luxury travel offering, from hotels and cruise lines to DMCs and destinations. In a recent report by YouGov, a total of 69 per cent of respondents agreed that luxury travel is defined by the availability of five-star accommodation as a minimum standard. Also those surveyed admitted they had taken an average of 1.9 luxury holidays over the last 12 months, meaning that the region’s wealth of upscale hotel properties is perfectly positioned to capitalise on growing demand from high net-worth travellers eager to discover new destinations or enjoy an exclusive experience in their favourite resort.The report also highlighted the fact 61 per cent of luxury tourists from the Mena region choose to travel with their spouse, staying for an average of 5.1 nights, with four out of five people choosing to go on a luxury holiday for pure relaxation.Today the definition of luxury is strongly dependent on the perspective of the traveller. With no universally accepted definition of what luxury travel is, brands need to truly understand what luxury means to their customers in order to be successful. The subject is of strong interest to travel brands in this market and it is great to see ILTM focus on this issue. The luxury theme forms part of a packed agenda being developed for ATM 2015. Other highlights include budget travel, health and wellbeing, shopping, transportation, technology, sports, culture and heritage, and adventure.Arabian Travel Market, takes place at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, on 4-7 May 2015. For more information, please log on to: www.arabiantravelarket.com• Nadege Noblet is the exhibition manager of Arabian Travel Market By Nadege Noblet