Fairs and Exhibitions, organisers of the Gulf Pack and Gulf Print exhibitions said the new management team for its 2009 events has brought in new addition to the format.

The 2009 events will take place at the Dubai Airport Expo Centre from April 6 to 9.

The new management team, headed by Sue Rothwell, group event director of Fairs and Exhibitions has implemented a number of changes to the events format and marketing to ensure that the events are more successful than the previous editions.

A new addition to the exhibition format is the Label Summit Middle East, reflecting the rapid development of label technology in line with the growth of the packaging market in the Middle East.

Labeling technology will also be discussed as part of the Thought Leadership Conference Program. The conference program will feature independent and high profile guest speakers addressing key business issues surrounding the printing, packaging and labeling industries.

The visitor marketing campaign has been revamped, to ensure that the correct decision makers will attend the event.

Marketing efforts are being focused on the printing,and packaging markets across the entire Middle East region, ensuring a truly regional attendance.

Marketing of Gulf Pack has been extended to the regional retail, logistics, and food and beverage markets.

These new marketing initiatives are resulting in the signing of several new exhibitors as well as ensuring the repeat participation of regular exhibitors including Kodak, Heidleberg, Canon and Xerox – all of whom have taken on additional space for 2009.

"With seven months still to go until the 2009 event, sales of exhibition floor space for Gulf Print 2009  have already exceeded that sold for our last event in 2007. Gulf Pack sales are not far behind, having sold 90 per cent of the 2007 sq m total," said Rothwell.

Rothwell's senior management team includes Geraldine Chiverton as sales director, Rhona Greenhill as conference director and Caryn McChonnachie as operations director.

A sales agent has also been appointed in Germany, where a majority of packaging machinery is manufactured, to further increase the international presence on the Gulf Pack floor.

"The only constant factor at Gulf Pack and Gulf Print 2009 is that they will remain the only truly regional exhibitions catering for the printing and packaging industries in the Middle East," said Rothwell.

"With the fresh approach being adopted by the new team we are anticipating considerable growth across both shows and predicting that Gulf Pack and Gulf Print 2009 will have the largest floor space, number of exhibitors and visitor traffic yet." - TradeArabia News Service