Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, which operates Riyadh's Al Faisaliah Hotel, says it will showcase the Saudi capital's ultra-luxurious Al Faisaliah Banquet and Conference Hotel at Arabian Travel Market 2002, the Middle East's foremost travel and tourism exhibition, which will be held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in May.
"This is the most recent addition to our Middle East portfolio," said Ron Cusiter, Director of Marketing, Al Faisaliah Hotel. "With Arabian Travel Market's hosted buyer programme this year concentrating specifically on the Meetings, Incentive, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) sector, it is vital we put our case across as an exceptional venue in an expanding market.
"With our hi-tech conference and banquet centre being the largest column-free public space in Saudi Arabia, capable of catering to 4,000 delegates for conferences and 3,300 for banquets, we would be an ideal choice for major event producers.
"And because approximately 70% of our target market for our two Saudi Arabian properties is based in the Middle East, and we also rely heavily on this target market to feed our European properties, it is essential we are at the show to network with regional industry players."
Rosewood's Arabian Travel Market push comes as the Texas-headquartered group, which manages properties on five continents, predicts an upturn in private sector investment in Saudi Arabia.
"The Kingdom is a growing market as it is now possible to launch a 100%-owned foreign company. This will undoubtedly bring an influx of investment to Saudi Arabia and the hotel and leisure sector will benefit," said
Cusiter.
Fourteen Saudi Arabian companies are to participate in Arabian Travel Market 2002, which takes place at the Airport Expo Dubai, United Arab Emirates from May 7-10. The country is among 47 nations from which, to date, exhibitors have registered for the show.
"Most leading international hotel groups are represented this year when intra-regional travel will be in key focus," said Matt Thompson, Group Exhibition Director (Overseas Events), Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), which organises Arabian Travel Market. "This year we have achieved solid rebookings from the Saudi market which is a key indication that the show is delivering genuine business results.
"Saudi Arabia is of vital interest to both inbound and outbound suppliers and the travel trade from the Kingdom consistently emerges as a high priority target for industry professionals visiting the show. For that reason, 20 Saudi tour operators have been included in our hosted-buyer programme when they will meet exhibitors and participate in a buyer-meet-supplier session on the opening day."
Arabian Travel Market 2002 is the ninth in the highly-successful annual series, the only travel and tourism event with a true Pan Arab reach.
RTE, which is part of Reed Exhibition Companies (REC), organises 11 events worldwide, including World Travel Market, Arabian Travel Market, C.I.S. Travel Market, EIBTM, British Travel Trade Fair, PATA Travel Mart, International Golf Travel Market, Mediterranean Travel Fair, Top Resa, AIME and ICCA Exhibition in association with ICCA Congress.
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