Middle East tourism leaders set agenda for investment conference

Fifty of the Middle East’s tourism leaders have participated in an online debate to discuss the future of tourism in the region – and the drive to encourage inward investment – as the advisory board sets content for the first Arabian Hotel Investment Conference, to be held in Dubai in April 2005.

The advisory panel includes among others: Salem bin Dasmal, CEO of Dubailand; Gerald Lawless, managing director of Jumeirah International; James Wilson, president of IFA Hotels and Resorts; Wahid Attala, executive director of Nakheel; Jurgen Baumhoff, CEO of Qatar National Hotels; Jean-Claude Baumgarten, president of World Travel & Tourism Council Company; and regional directors from international hotel groups InterContinental, Marriott, Movenpick, Rezidor SAS and Rotana.

According to Jonathan Worsley, organiser of the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC), the conference has been launched to reflect the region’s tourism growth. He said: “Arabia is one of the world’s fastest-growing regions for travel and tourism; in fact, tourism is driving the economies for many of these countries.”

Worsley, one of the founders and organisers of Berlin’s International Hotel Investment Forum, continued: “We see the importance of AHIC as a move to encourage operators and investors from the region – and further afield – to look to Arabia.”

Industry leaders were quick to lend their support and form an advisory panel to set the agenda for the conference. Sarmad Zok, CEO of the Saudi Arabia-based Kingdom Hotel Investments, said: “We are looking to AHIC to encourage and foster the growth and development of the hotel industry in a region that desperately needs more investment activity and governmental initiatives.”

According to Tony Williams, vice president of resorts and projects for Emirates Holidays, the launch of AHIC mirrors activity in the UAE. He said: “This supports the development of the emirate and general development of the region. With a target of 15 million visitors by 2010, the future of Dubai is ambitious, and therefore we need the hotel rooms to support this increased demand.”

Peter Cardnell, director general of Abu Dhabi National Hotels, added: “We are keen to be involved to ensure that the region continues to be recognised as one of the most exciting, rewarding and high potential markets for hospitality investments.” 

The Arabian Hotel Investment Conference will run from April 30 – May 2, 2005, on the eve of the Arabian Travel Market, at Dubai’s new Madinat Jumeirah resort. The conference is organised by CB Richard Ellis Hotels, the largest commercial real estate firm in the world, and MEED Conferences.

Already signed up as platinum sponsors are: IFA Hotels and Resorts; Nakheel Company LLC; Kingdom Hotels Investment; and Rezidor SAS Hospitality.

Gold sponsors are: HVS International; Gullivers Travel Association; Jumeirah International; Movenpick Hotels & Resorts; RSP Group; Arabian Travel Market; Strategic Solutions and AME Info.