The UK's Northstar Travel Media, one of the world's leading providers of travel information, is planning to establish a Middle East office in July this year.
The company's physical entry into region is to be unveiled at ATM. "The Middle East has been generating a substantial portion of our revenue, hence the discussion to get closer to the market and its fast developing hospitality industry," said Dessi Seth of Northstar. The company is returning to the ATM after a healthy showing at last year's event. "Arabian Travel Market 2002 was very good for us," said Seth. "We signed $90,000 worth of new business and new contracts with existing customers." Northstar is among 16 British companies scheduled to individually participate at ATM 2003. Many more UK companies will also be housed in a 150 square metre pavilion being mounted by the British Tourist Authority. "Northstar's experience mirrors a number of occasions when ATM has helped bring a new player to the Middle East market," said Matt Thompson, group exhibition director, Overseas Events, Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), which organises Arabian Travel Market. "The results the company achieved at last year's show is yet another example of how Arabian Travel Market can genuinely improve exhibitors' bottom-lines."