Arabian Travel Market 2005 set for another Record Year

The Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2005 is set to be yet another sell out with an increase in floor-space to 14,200 square metres. Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), organisers of the annual show, reported that 78 per cent of its increased floor space has been confirmed after just nine weeks of the sales campaign for next year’s event.

“There has been a phenomenal response for the show,” said Chris Chackal, Group Exhibition Director – Overseas Events, RTE. “To date, exhibitors from 24 countries have confirmed space.

“New exhibitors taking dedicated stands for the first time include IFA Hotels & Resorts, which has taken 200 square metres, I&M Galadari, a major developer at Dubailand, and Jumeirah Beach Residence.

“We also have new big ticket developers like The Pearl-Qatar, Yoharah LLC Dubai and Majid Al Futtaim Group exhibiting for the first time.”

According to Chackal, Nakheel, the developer of Dubai’s three Palm Islands and the innovative World project, has booked the largest stand ever at the show, three times bigger than its space in 2004. The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Government of Dubai has also taken more space to meet demand from private sector sharers.

Brazil is returning for the first time since 2001 and Iran and Kuwait have confirmed larger pavilions.

Grant Burgham, ATM Sales Manager for Middle East and North Africa, said: “Despite increasing floor space at next year’s show to 14,200 square metres, we are well ahead of our end-of-year sales target. Space is now extremely limited and exhibitors who completed rebooking forms onsite at the 2004 event should now confirm as soon as possible to ensure they are not disappointed.”

Burgham added that visitor numbers are also expected to increase in 2005 with RTE having started a direct mailing campaign to over 30,000 industry buyers. 

The ATM 2005 will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre in exhibition halls one through seven from May 3-6, 2005.

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