Six Continents Hotels plans to launch special summer packages at Arabian Travel Market 2003

One of the Middle East’s largest hotel operators - Six Continents Hotels – is planning to launch special summer packages at its 63 properties in the region and others round the world at Arabian Travel Market 2003 – the region's premier travel and tourism exhibition, which will be held in Dubai in May.

One of eight major international hotel operators to date confirmed for the show, Six Continents Hotels will mount a 110 square metre stand at Arabian Travel Market 2003, which will run at the Airport Expo Dubai from May 6-9.

Six Continents Hotels, which manages the InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn hotels and resorts within the Middle East and Africa, has been among key Arabian Travel Market participants since the annual event was launched 10 years ago.

"Our presence at the exhibition has grown each year, just as the event has grown in significance," said Denis Johnson, Vice President, Sales and  Marketing, Six Continents Hotels, Middle East and Africa.

"Arabian Travel Market 2002 presented us with an excellent opportunity to launch the Six Continents Hotels Middle East Central Reservations Office to an important audience of travel trade and travel media representatives.

"The opening of the reservations office, which allows the travel trade, and individual travelers to quickly and easily book rooms at our hotels world-wide, with a single, free phone call, was a significant development for the company. Arabian Travel Market was an ideal platform for the launch."

Six Continents Hotels says regionwide expansion is also part of its strategy.

"At present we have seven new hotels and resorts under development in the Middle East, while we are also looking towards a number of other new projects as part of a major ongoing regional development programme," explained Johnson.

"Among the new hotels that will be opening this year is a superb new InterContinental resort property at Soma Bay in Egypt, as well as the InterContinental Heliopolis, which will be part of CityStars Heliopolis, a spectacular new development at the heart of the Egyptian capital, combining shopping, entertainment, office and residential elements.

"Further down the line we have another new InterContinental hotel opening at Aqaba in Jordan in 2004 while two new Holiday Inn hotels will also open next year in Doha, and again in Cairo, as part of the CityStars project."

Johnson says industry efforts to promote the region as a leisure destination will pay dividends, particularly when the Middle East is perceived as having greater stability.

"Obviously, development in the Middle East market requires stability in the region and, despite the current situation, we have to believe that the problems will be overcome," he said. "When that happens, we believe that the great efforts that have been made to promote the region's many attractions will pay off.

"Egypt and Lebanon are both markets with tremendous potential. By introducing and developing in these countries our InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn brands, we've taken a key role in moves to revive their images as travel destinations."

According to Johnson, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Yemen all have huge tourism prospects in the future.

"We're pledging support for official measures to promote Saudi as a travel destination, with InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn properties across the Kingdom driving to attract more business and leisure visitors and conference organisers.

"Oman is taking very positive strides to encourage tourists, particularly by relaxing visa formalities for visitors from key markets. In Bahrain, the Tourism Board is recruiting representatives in Europe to promote the country, and this is a major step forward."

To date, exhibitors from 38 countries have contracted for Arabian Travel Market 2003, which is organised by Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE).

"International hotel chains have been solid supporters of Arabian Travel Market since its inception," explained Matt Thompson, Group Exhibition Director, Overseas Events, RTE. "Feedback has shown that the exhibition has become something of a forum for finalising regional contracts. In addition, the hospitality industry is one of the main beneficiaries of the Arabian Travel  Market's hosted buyer programme, particularly in recent years when it has focused heavily on the MICE industry."

The hosted buyer programme for Arabian Travel Market 2003 will target 50 of the world's leading Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) buyers as well as 20 of the top travel purchasers from throughout the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC). They will stay at the five-star deluxe Grand Hyatt Dubai, which will be the largest conference and convention centre hotel in the  UAE and meet exhibitors in an appointment-setting session on the first day of the show.