Atlantis, The Palm Jumeirah in Dubai named as Venue for 5th Annual Orion Congress

Atlantis, The Palm Jumeirah in Dubai has been named as the venue for the annual Orion Congress to be held on 11 October, 2008, shortly after the hotel’s eagerly awaited soft-opening. The one-day Congress which is predictive in nature, will focus on a theme What’s Next? Innovation in the tourism and hospitality industry.

Now in its fifth year, the Orion Congress is held in a different country each year. For 2008, Dubai won the right to host the event and will present a program which includes key note speeches by senior industry executives and academics (both local and international) and interactive panel discussions structured around the key topic.

“The Congress is a unique tool which was initially conceptualised as an exchange of information between the industry and hospitality educators,” said Mr Adam Sargeant, Regional Manager, Orion Hotel Schools.

“We are excited that the Congress will offer one of the first opportunities for hospitality professionals to visit Atlantis, The Palm.”

“Today we explore and look to the future. Unlike other forums, the Orion Congress will have its findings and conclusions published in the Orion Observatory – Journal of International Hotel Management,”

“Like the Congress, The Orion Observatory journal content will centre around a common theme of innovation, addressing the question, ‘What new ideas are shaping, informing, changing and driving the 2020 agenda for tourism and hospitality’,” he added.

The not-to-be-missed event is open to all tourism professionals (US$390 per person) and students (US$200 per full-time student). The Congress delegate rate includes:

- Registration (09:00 – 09:45) 
- Attendance at the Full-day Congress (10:00 – 17:30)
- Morning and Afternoon tea Networking Sessions
- Lunch at Saffron Restaurant, Atlantis, The Palm
- Congress Kit including a copy of the current issue of Orion Observatory – Journal of Hotel Management “21st Century Guest Expectations: The Mint on the Pillow will not be enough!” 
- Post-Congress all delegates will receive a copy of the new issue of Orion Observatory which contains the findings and conclusions from the Congress

According to Mr Sargeant, the Congress is a must-attend event for: General Managers; Resident/Hotel Managers; Sales, Marketing & PR professionals; Procurement Managers; Human Resources Directors and anyone in the industry with a keen interest in the future.

“We have intentionally kept the Congress to one day, as we appreciate the hectic schedules of delegates and the difficulty, particularly for General Managers and those in operations to be away from their hotels for extended periods of time” he said.

“The Congress is broken down into three key sections: Marketing, Operations and Resourcing. It is a very tight programme but we are confident that the topic will drive discussion among delegates,”

“Consider the majesty of Burj Al Arab and what that landmark hotel achieved for Tourism and the destination. Likewise, Atlantis, The Palm Jumeirah. An amazing construction feat, which at the time of the Congress will be the latest tourism offering to open in Dubai. ‘Build it and they will come’ was the way forward but what will come next? And not just in Dubai, but elsewhere? Space Hotels perhaps?!”

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