The Mena region’s leading hospitality supplies show achieved a recorded a 13 per cent increase in total attendance, with 16,479 visitors and exhibitors attending the three-day exhibition held recently in Dubai.

The 14th edition of the Hotel Show saw the announcement of the 10 per cent municipality tax waiver on three- and four-star hotels, to propel the development of more mid-range hotels in the emirate.

Helal Saeed Almarri, director general of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, said: “In order to achieve our headline objective of 20 million visitors per year by 2020, we need to widen the range of options for visitors, across hotels, events, attractions and experiences.

“While our Tourism Vision has an end date of 2020, our strategy is focused on continual growth year-on-year, and we want to see the destination offer noticeably broaden every year. Trade shows such as The Hotel Show provide a platform for ourselves, other governmental departments and the private sector to come together and issues and opportunities within the industry”

With more than 560 exhibitors covering 5 different sectors, visitors to the exhibition had the chance to meet face to face with regional and international companies from the Horeca industry, interiors and design, operations equipment and supplies, outdoor resort and experience, and technology and facility management sectors, besides experts from various hospitality brands.
 
Event director Christine Davidson said: “We are incredibly pleased with the high turnout and engagement at this year’s show. Having seen a 18 per cent increase on attendance on just the first day, we are confident this year’s show will continue to support our overall objective in showcasing the diversity and large potential in the Mena countries, that together form a leading tourism and hospitality region.”

The show included new features including a three-day Vision Conference programme that brought 70 regional and international industry leaders and experts to host more than 30 sessions and presentations on the growth of the regional hospitality industry, and a career zone in partnership with some of Dubai’s top hotels brands.

It was also co-located with the Leisure Show, a new forum created to highlight regional investment and business opportunities in the leisure industry. Manufacturers, service providers and distributors had the chance to meet and network with the decision makers and buyers representing key public and private sector organisations, projects and facilities, working to develop the Mena leisure industry.

The 15th anniversary edition of The Hotel Show will run from September 28 to 30, 2014. - TradeArabia News Service