Arabian Travel Market 2022 - Preview

HYBRID Dubai : 9 - 12 May 2022 Virtual : 17 - 18 May 2022

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ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET 2022

Danielle Curtis

O

ur annual countdown is almost at an end and excitement levels are running high. On Monday, May 9, Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2022 will open its doors, welcoming over 20,000 visitors from the global tourism and hospitality community to Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

The tourism industry has faced unprecedented times in recent years. To support businesses, ATM 2022 will take a deep dive into the future of global tourism by providing a platform to discuss and explore the latest trends and opportunities for recovery and future growth.

ATM also represents a fantastic opportunity for thousands of industry professionals from every corner of the world to gather face-toface in the UAE, and this year’s edition is no exception. Hosted in conjunction with Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), and forming an integral part of Arabian Travel Week, ATM 2022 will feature 1,500 exhibitors as well as representatives from 112 destinations, making this one of the busiest and most exciting editions in our 29-year history.

But with so much going on and only four days to take it all in, it can be difficult to identify the elements that will add the greatest value to your visit. So, before you finalise your itinerary, I’d like to take this opportunity to run through some of the sessions and events that are at the top of my watchlist.

First of all, the revamped and rebranded ATM Travel Tech event (previously known as Travel Forward) features a series of mustattend seminars, debates and presentations centred on ATM 2022’s theme, ‘The future of international travel and tourism’. Several global leaders from within this field will be on hand to provide expert opinion and direction to attendees by discussing exactly where the tourism sector is heading and, perhaps more importantly, outline how to get involved.

I’m also incredibly excited about our inaugural ATM Draper-Aladdin Start-up Competition,

which will see 15 travel, tourism and hospitality innovators pitch for up to US$500,000 of funding, not to mention the opportunity to secure an additional US$500,000 of investment as part of the hit TV show, Meet the Drapers. We believe ATM 2022 is ideally placed as an incubator for future tech and innovation start-ups by capitalising on the region’s position as a start-up hub.

After joining us remotely for ATM 2021, both the Arival Dubai @ ATM forum and the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) will participate live in Dubai for the first time this year.

Arival Dubai @ ATM will cover current and future tour operators and attractions trends, focusing on growing business through marketing, technology, distribution, thought leadership and executive-level connections.

GBTA, meanwhile, will deliver the latest business travel content, research and education to help drive the sector’s ongoing recovery and support longer-term growth in business travel.

On top of this, ATM 2022 will include in-depth buyer forums dedicated to India and Saudi Arabia, enabling attendees to explore trends and potential opportunities within both key markets. Our show floor will also feature live interviews with aviation and hospitality experts, debates on the future of sports, city and responsible tourism, digital influencer networking and best stand awards.

This year, ILTM Arabia will also return with its focus on the lucrative luxury travel market.

Whatever your specialisms and interests, ATM 2022 will include sessions and events that cater to you, not to mention countless networking opportunities with professionals and organisations from around the globe.

We look forward to welcoming you to Dubai World Trade Centre very soon.

Bon voyage!

Danielle Curtis Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market

ATM PREVIEW 2022

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Mapping the future of travel

Discover the future of travel and tourism

Elevating travel

Explore the latest trends in the in-destination industry and its recovery strategies

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Partners

The key companies partnering with ATM 2022

Floorplans

Navigate the show with our essential easy-to-read ATM map

ATM highlights

All the must-visit events, sessions and features from this year’s show

Exhibitor news

The industry’s latest happenings from this year’s exhibitors

The last discovery

Four Saudi women embark on an unforgettable road trip through NEOM. Discover more about their journey

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Seminar schedule

Stay up to date with what’s happening and when on the ATM show floor 4

ATM PREVIEW 2022

Charting a new course

The aviation industry has bold recovery plans in place to guarantee long-term success

Competitive edge

Discover what attendees can expect from this year’s rebranded ATM Travel Tech event

On the fast track

New modes of transport are transforming the way in which we will move around the world

Spotlight on Saudi

The kingdom is on track to become one of the region’s prime tourist destinations

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Understanding the Arab traveller

The Arab traveller segment is now being recognised as one of the industry’s most lucrative audiences

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Building resilience

Industry figureheads highlight the hospitality landscape in the Middle East

Trending now

What do modern travellers want from their experiences? We delve deeper

Talking loyalty

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Business as usual?

A social connection

Taking responsibility

Experts offer insight into strategies travel and tourism businesses can adopt to be more responsible

Vox pops

Exhibitors share their thoughts on ATM 2022, ahead of their participation ATM PREVIEW 2022

The Arabian Travel Market Show Preview is

How are loyalty programmes steering the recovery of travel and tourism?

Explore the best strategies to work with travel influencers in today’s landscape

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ATM 2022 HIGHLIGHTS

IN THE SPOTLIGHT With a carefully curated conference programme, ATM 2022 will highlight the future of international travel and tourism

Dubai skyline

Arabian Travel Market (ATM) returns to Dubai from May 9 to 12, 2022. Now in its 29th year working in conjunction with Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the 2022 edition marks the annual event’s second in-person exhibition since the onset of the pandemic in 2020.

The leading global exhibition dedicated to inbound and outbound travel and tourism in the Middle East, ATM serves as the ideal platform for travel and tourism professionals and businesses in the region to unlock their

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maximum potential. For the last 28 years, the event has connected products and destinations from around the world with buyers and travel trade visitors at DWTC. Considered by industry professionals as a barometer for the tourism sector in the Middle East and North Africa, ATM hosts the biggest names in the business during the course of the four-day event.

Travel luminaries and high-profile brands are in attendance, showcasing their latest products and technological innovations, while the carefully curated conference programme features some of the most influential speakers in the industry.

Arabian Travel Market 2021

ATM 2022 HIGHLIGHTS

direction of our industry,” said Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, ATM. “This year’s theme will shine a spotlight on the growth trajectory of our industry as travel and tourism professionals address the challenges and capitalise on the inevitable opportunities that lie ahead.

“To achieve that goal, we aim to provide an innovative and inclusive platform from which industry professionals from around the world can reconnect face to face, exchanging ideas, views and opinions in a collaborative and positive environment,” she explained.

ON THE AGENDA

THE WAY FORWARD With restrictions continuing to ease around the world and the travel industry pulling out all the stops to return to some form of normalcy, ATM 2022 will throw the spotlight on the future of the business. The theme ‘The future of international travel and tourism’ has aptly been chosen for this year’s show.

“After two years of uncertainty caused by the global pandemic, we truly believe that ATM 2022 offers the international travel community an ideal opportunity to come together to explore the long-term strategic

Supporting this year’s theme, the conference programme will bring together industry experts who will address the latest trends and movements steering the industry forward.

Topics will cover everything from COVID-19 recovery, aviation and hospitality to responsible tourism and business travel while also spotlighting new technologies that are driving positive change.

Through valuable insights shared on the show floor, the event will help map out the future of the industry while exploring new trends, opportunities for growth, innovation and, of course, effective recovery.

“We have so much in store for our participants this year. Show highlights will include, amongst others, destination summits focused on the key source markets of Saudi Arabia and India,” said Curtis.

“For the first time ever, the Arival Dubai @ ATM forum and the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) session will take place live in Dubai, after joining us remotely for ATM 2021.

“The former will cover current and future trends for tour operators and attractions, focusing on business development harnessing marketing, technology, distribution, thought leadership and executive-level connections.

“Meanwhile, GBTA, the world’s premier business travel and meetings trade organisation, will discuss its latest business travel content and research, during two main sessions on the Global Stage.”

Among other highlights, ATM 2022 will also focus on the recovery of aviation, the future of the region’s hotel industry, influencer marketing in the post-COVID-19 age, the rise of sports

tourism in the Middle East, the return of city tourism, the role of gourmet dining in destination marketing, the future of transport and much more.

FINGER ON THE PULSE The ITIC Tourism Investment Summit is one of the biggest highlights of this year’s ATM Global Stage.

Taking place on Tuesday, May 10, the Middle East Tourism Investment Summit will host panel discussions, one-to-one interviews and presentations that will highlight the Middle East as a major financial hub for global tourism investments.

Industry experts will discuss the factors driving investment in the region’s tourism industry, new and improved flight connectivity in the Middle East that will further support tourism growth and the financing of future tourism projects.

Also on the agenda are panel discussions that will highlight the economic integration of women through the tourism industry, the digital revolution reshaping the sector and an in-depth look at strategies that will help mitigate the impact of future crises.

1,500 EXHIBITORS FROM

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20,000 VISITORS

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ATM 2022 HIGHLIGHTS

TIME FOR TECH Travel has never been as complex as it is today. With the pent-up desire to explore the world and reach new places – as safely and securely as possible – the reliance on technology has increased drastically. This means that there is ample potential for businesses to tap into these trends and leverage new technologies to create seamless experiences for customers. Travel technology will, therefore, once again, be a major focus during this year’s show.

“The revamped and rebranded ATM Travel Tech event – previously known as Travel Forward – will take place at ATM 2022, hosting seminars, debates and presentations,” said Curtis.

ATM Travel Tech is the event for cutting-edge technology for travel and hospitality, attracting decision makers from across the globe. It connects innovative technology providers and senior executives in the industry.

During the course of four days, attendees can expect insights, open debate, unrivalled networking opportunities and discussions on the latest technologies and trends that will shape the future of travel.

Topics featured will include engagement, personalisation, Arabian Travel Market 2021

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digital marketing, blogging, social media, chatbots, payment solutions, entrepreneurship and hospitality technology.

A key event taking place on the ATM Travel Tech Stage is the firstever ATM Draper-Aladdin Start-up Competition, which is a new and exciting forum designed to showcase the very latest technology innovations from some of the brightest minds in the travel and hospitality industry.

“The inaugural competition will offer an incredible opportunity for start-ups and entrepreneurs from across the industry to pitch their business plans to industry judges and investors.

“It will take place on the ATM Travel Tech Stage on Tuesday, May 10, 2022, where up to 15 start-ups will vie for up to half a million dollars of funding, a DASC Certificate and the chance to appear on Tim Draper’s TV show, Meet the Draper,” explained Curtis.

VIRTUAL PERSPECTIVES To complement the four-day in-person show and reach a wider audience than ever before, ATM’s hybrid format returns this year, following the success of last year’s live and virtual event, from May 17 to 18.

Arabian Travel Market 2021

ATM 2022 HIGHLIGHTS

DURING ARABIAN TRAVEL WEEK, ALL EYES WILL BE ON THE CITY AS DUBAI INVITES THE INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL INDUSTRY TO COME TOGETHER AND TAKE PART IN THE EVENTS THAT SHAPE THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL Curtis explained: “It is imperative to include a virtual element as part of Arabian Travel Week because many industry professionals from around the world may not be able to attend the in-person event.

“ATM Virtual, now in its third year, will feature speed networking events, a virtual digital influencers’ speed networking session and one-to-one meetings. It will also facilitate online networking and a wide range of business opportunities.

Sessions from the in-person show will also be available on-demand during the virtual event. Virtual destination briefings will also be available which will provide industry professionals with an opportunity to showcase their destination to ATM’s audience of travel buyers globally.”

A WEEK IN TRAVEL Arabian Travel Week made its debut during the 2019 edition of ATM and will

return this year from May 9 to 19, 2022.

Curtis said: “Arabian Travel Week is a 10-day festival of events, dedicated to enabling international travel professionals from across the industry to discuss strategies and potential partnerships that will drive the recovery of the Middle East travel industry through exhibitions, conferences, breakfast briefings, awards, product launches and networking events.

“The travel events that are part of Arabian Travel Week include the inperson Arabian Travel Market exhibition, luxury travel event ILTM Arabia, influencers’ events and activations, as well as Travel Tech, ARIVAL Dubai for the tours and attractions sector, regional buyer forums, and, of course, ATM Virtual,” explained Curtis.

During Arabian Travel Week, all eyes will be on the city as Dubai invites the international travel industry to come together and take part in the events that shape the future of travel.

ATM PREVIEW 2022

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INDUSTRY NEWS

UNWTO: GLOBAL TOURISM ENJOYS STRONG START TO 2022

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he World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) revealed that global international tourist arrivals more than doubled by 130 percent in January 2022 compared to 2021, as per the latest available data. The 18 million more visitors recorded worldwide in the first month of the year equals the total increase for the whole of 2021.

While these figures confirm the positive trend already underway last year, the pace of recovery in January was impacted by the emergence of the Omicron variant, which saw the reintroduction of travel restrictions in several destinations.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Following the 71 percent decline of 2021, international arrivals in January 2022 remained 67 percent below pre-pandemic levels.

All regions enjoyed a significant rebound in January 2022, though from low levels recorded at the start of 2021.

Europe and the Americas continued to post the strongest results with a growth of 199 percent and 97 percent, respectively, although international arrivals are still around half pre-pandemic levels.

The Middle East and Africa also saw growth in January 2022 over 2021, recording an 89 percent and 51 percent increase respectively, but these regions

still saw a drop compared to 2019.

While Asia and the Pacific recorded a 44 percent year-on-year increase, this can be attributed to several destinations remaining closed to non-essential travel, resulting in the largest decrease in international arrivals over 2019.

After the unprecedented drop seen in the last two years, international tourism is expected to continue its gradual recovery in 2022. As of March 24, 2022, 12 destinations had no COVID-19 related restrictions in place and an increasing number of destinations were easing or lifting travel restrictions, which contributes to unleashing pent-up demand.

ETIHAD UNVEILS NEW AIRBUS A350

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tihad Airways recently unveiled its new Airbus A350-1000 on a special inaugural commercial flight from Abu Dhabi to Paris. The aircraft is the first A350 to be operated by the UAE’s national airline and the first of five A350s set to join Etihad’s fleet over the coming months.

The aircraft, named Sustainability50, carries a unique livery in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the formation of the UAE and Etihad’s commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. It will join the airline’s industry-leading sustainability drive as part of a programme aimed at decarbonising aviation.

Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, said: “The Airbus A350 is an absolutely incredible aircraft and we are proud to introduce it into the Etihad Airways network. Our teams have worked closely together to craft a product

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and travel proposition that will ensure every journey with Etihad is a choice well made – both for our guests and for the planet. With highly efficient fuel consumption and CO₂ savings, the A350 will support our goals to reduce carbon emissions and deliver an unmatched flight experience for our guests.”

Formed as a partnership between Etihad, Airbus and Rolls Royce in 2021, the Sustainability50 programme will see Etihad’s A350s used as flying testbeds of new initiatives, procedures and technologies to reduce carbon emissions, building on the learnings derived from Etihad’s similar Greenliner programme for the Boeing B787 aircraft type.

The Rolls-Royce Trent XWBpowered Airbus A350 is one of the most efficient aircraft types in the world, with 25 percent less fuel burn and CO₂

Etihad Airways - Airbus A350

emissions than previous generation twin-aisle aircraft. “We designed our sustainability programme as a vehicle for collaboration and our strategic partnership with Airbus allows us to harness the sustainability credentials of the A350 through the Sustainability50 programme, as we work towards our joint objectives to reduce aviation’s impact on the environment,” said Douglas.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

DUBAI’S TOURISM SECTOR DELIVERS STELLAR 2021 PERFORMANCE

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ccording to the latest data published by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Dubai welcomed 7.28 million international overnight visitors between January and December 2021, representing 32 percent year-on-year growth.

In the last quarter of 2021, international arrivals to the city surpassed 3.4 million visitors, achieving 74 percent of the total pre-pandemic tourist arrivals of Q4 2019. This growth can be attributed to the success of Expo 2020 Dubai, which recorded 24.1 million visits from residents and global travellers in the space of six months and dovetailed with the UAE’s golden jubilee celebrations.

The 2021 figures underline the resilience and resurgence of the city’s travel and tourism sector and reaffirm the role of tourism as a key driver of economic growth. This further validates Dubai’s recent selection as the world’s most popular destination in the Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards 2022.

The emirate’s number one source market, India, delivered 910,000 visitors, followed by 491,000 travellers from Saudi Arabia, while Russia and the United Kingdom contributed 444,000 and 420,000 visitors, respectively.

Robust international visitation was boosted by strong tourism arrivals from regional markets. The MENA and GCC collectively contributed to 26 percent of the total volumes, reinforcing Dubai’s continued appeal to travellers from proximity zones.

For the first time, the hotel sector outperformed pre-pandemic levels across

all measurements in Q4 2021, including over 81.4 percent occupancy compared to 80.7 percent during Q4 2019.

The average occupancy, overall, reached 67 percent in 2021 compared to 54 percent in the previous year, which is among the highest rates internationally.

Guests also spent longer in Dubai’s hotels, with the average length of stay reaching 4.6 nights (up from 4.2 nights in 2020). The total of 31.47 million occupied room nights represented 53.7 percent growth compared to 2020 and approximately 98 percent of the occupied room nights of 2019.

Supporting the city’s commitment to always offer something unique to travellers, 2021 saw the opening of new attractions, including the Museum of the Future, Ain Dubai, Deep Dive Dubai, Hatta Dome Park and The View at The Palm, to name a few.

Also, as one of the world’s most vaccinated nations with more than 94 percent of the population inoculated, the UAE achieved the first position globally in Bloomberg’s Covid Resilience Ranking in January 2022.

Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, commented: “Dubai’s successful blueprint to navigate far beyond the pandemic and emerge as a highly competitive, attractive and resilient destination is the result of the constant inspiration from our visionary leadership to position Dubai as the leading city for business, investment and tourism.”

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Dubai

DEMAND FOR OUTBOUND TRAVEL FROM INDIA SPIKES

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irline businesses and travel agencies in India have reported a rise in demand with an increase in holiday bookings, although high fuel prices and vaccine-related curbs remain potential downside risks.

The spike is in response to the government announcing the resumption of regular international flights in March. National carrier Air India and Delhi-based Vistara – the only two Indian airlines that operate flights to Europe and the Americas – witnessed a huge increase in demand. Both airlines anticipate good growth for leisure travel on tourist routes in the upcoming holiday season.

Analysing recent trends, experts say that there is demand for both long-haul and short-haul international flights, with Europe’s Switzerland, France, Spain and the UK still heading the leader board, followed by short-haul destinations like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Thailand, Maldives, Turkey, Egypt and Singapore. Long-haul destinations with options to various cities in Australia also remain popular.

Highlighting these trends in the Indian outbound travel market, TravTalk India will host a session focussing on this key sector at Arabian Travel Market 2022.

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ATM PREVIEW 2022

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INDUSTRY NEWS

QATAR TOURISM SET FOR LANDMARK YEAR

Diriyah Gate

EMAAR TO MANAGE ARMANI HOTEL IN DIRIYAH

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ubai-based Emaar Hospitality Group is set to expand its portfolio in Saudi Arabia with the opening of a new Armani Hotel. The third Armani Hotel in the world, after Dubai and Milan, the Emaarmanaged property will be located in the historic city of Diriyah in Riyadh province. A 300-yearold site located 15 minutes from Riyadh, Diriyah is regarded as the birthplace of the kingdom and the capital of the first Saudi state.

Overlooking Diriyah’s luxury hospitality and retail quarter, Armani Hotel Diriyah will feature 70 rooms, two restaurants and a spa. The property will offer guests an array of wellness, hospitality and relaxation experiences.

Jerry Inzerillo, Group CEO of Diriyah Gate Development Authority, said: “It is an honour to partner with Armani Hotels on this prestigious project. Their elegant and forward-thinking approach to modern hospitality will bring a new dynamic to Diriyah’s hospitality offering and bring with it an exciting guest experience to the kingdom.

As we develop what will become one of the world’s great gathering places, rich in culture, history and authenticity, we are proud to partner with brands such as Armani who demonstrate such a timeless approach to hospitality.”

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n line with the World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) projections for the resumption of travel to pre-pandemic levels in the Middle East in 2022, Qatar has seen its visitor numbers steadily scale up.

His Excellency Akbar Al Baker, Chairman of Qatar Tourism and Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, said: “Our strategy is to triple our visitor numbers to six million by 2030, making Qatar one of the world’s fastestgrowing tourism destinations.”

It is an exciting time for tourism in Qatar, with many firsts for the Gulf country, including becoming the first Middle Eastern country to win the right to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. While this mega sporting event is a milestone in the country’s tourism growth journey, sports will continue to feature heavily in the 2030 strategy as one of four key contributors to drive tourism in Qatar. The country is working on building its calendar of events to continue attracting athletes, amateurs and professionals in various fields well beyond 2022.

As part of the nation’s efforts to offer exciting experiences outside sporting arenas and stadiums, there are 205 hotels and resorts, including a raft of cultural and retail attractions – such as Place Vendôme and Winter

Doha, Qatar

Wonderland – due to open in time for the influx of fans expected to visit Qatar later this year. Simultaneously, more than 80 projects are in the pipeline, bringing the total up to 291 hotels and resorts.

Qatar is also capitalising on its geographic location for the growth of its cruise tourism sub-sector. In the past decade, the Arabian Gulf has risen to the top three cruise destinations worldwide during the winter months. While hosting cruise ships for overnight stays, Doha has also become a turnaround port, allowing visitors to enjoy longer stays before and after their cruise.

As a step towards enhancing the experience for cruise guests, the fully renovated Doha Port terminal will be inaugurated this spring. A new gateway to the country, located in Doha’s cultural district, it is in close proximity to the capital’s key attractions With rapid development underway in the country, Qatar Tourism recognises its responsibility to ensure that all its tourism products and services deliver an unparalleled visitor experience. The Service Excellence programme was, therefore, recently launched in order to empower its partners from across different sectors to enhance the experience at every touchpoint along the visitor journey.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

RAKTDA EXTENDS ‘LIVE RAK PLAY’ PROGRAMME

Ras Al Khaimah

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as Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) announced an extension to its popular ‘Live RAK Play’ programme, inviting digital nomads to relocate to the emirate for up to a year.

Available until September 30, 2022, the programme features a range of long-stay offers across numerous hotels in Ras Al Khaimah with seamless connectivity and discounts on dining, laundry and car rentals. Also featured in the package are complimentary tickets to

the Suwaidi Pearl Farm, Jais Adventure Park and a half day-mountain excursion at the Bear Grylls Explorer Camp.

As industries across the world adopt more flexible working policies, professionals are increasingly seeking new and safe destinations while staying connected digitally. According to Mercer, an HR and workplace benefits consultancy, companies have reported that productivity is the same or higher than it was before COVID-19, even with their teams working remotely,

contributing to greater employee wellbeing and better work-life balance.

“We’ve seen first-hand the impact of remote working on employee wellbeing,” said Raki Phillips, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority.

“Our own company culture, which reflects a host of workplace initiatives to help our people both professionally and personally, has given employees the space to focus on their mental wellbeing. As the government entity with the ‘Happiest Work Environment’ in Ras Al Khaimah and a ‘Great Place to Work’, we’re driven to create even more opportunities and ‘Live RAK Play’ taps into this culture by giving remote workers the chance to call our beautiful emirate home.”

With an array of activities to weave into the daily routine, Ras Al Khaimah offers an idyllic work from home setting.

The emirate’s outdoor offering is abundant, with the world’s longest zip line on the highest mountain in the UAE, picturesque wadis for hiking enthusiasts, white sandy beaches and more. Its welldeveloped hospitality offering and diverse landscape also means that guests can enjoy an array of hotels set on the beach, in the desert or in the heart of the city.

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EMIRATES MARKS 30 YEARS OF ENTERTAINMENT AND CONNECTIVITY

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Emirates

his year, Emirates marks 30 years since the airline installed TV screens in all seats across all cabin classes throughout its fleet.

A revolutionary move at the time, it shaped traveller expectations and the in-flight entertainment industry in the decades to come.

Since then, the Dubai-based carrier has consistently introduced new innovations in entertainment and

connectivity. Large, ultra-high-definition 4k screens as well as faster and improved Wi-Fi connectivity are among the latest developments Emirates has planned for its new generation in-flight entertainment (IFE) systems that will be delivered with its future fleet on order. Alongside, Emirates is updating its extensive library of content, with over 100 movies and 200 TV episodes added each month.

Patrick Brannelly, Senior Vice President Retail, IFE & Connectivity, Emirates said: “When Emirates introduced personal screens on every seat back in 1992, it was considered a massive industry innovation. Other airlines questioned the sense of this huge investment, estimated at about US$15,000 per seat at that time. But we quickly realised that our customers loved being entertained throughout the flight.”

Brannelly added: “Emirates has led in the in-flight connectivity space, too, from the introduction of satellite

phones in 1993 to becoming the first to install systems that enabled mobile phones to be used on aircraft.”

Emirates’ award-winning in-flight entertainment system, ice, offers over 5,000 channels of on-demand movies, music, television shows, box sets and documentaries, in over 40 languages.

An Emirates passenger would have to fly over 500 times from Dubai to Sydney in order to consume the entire library.

In addition to entertainment, ice offers a range of other practical features, such as the ability to check the status of the flight en route, a real-time view of the sky during take-off and landing from cameras that are fixed on the aircraft’s nose, tail and underbelly, a helpful travel guide about Emirates’ hub Dubai, EmiratesRED, the world’s first in-flight TV shopping channel and a range of personal development content.

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ATM PREVIEW 2022

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INDUSTRY NEWS

FLYDUBAI WINS AVIATION ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Flydubai team

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lydubai has been recognised at this year’s Aviation Achievement Awards in two categories. Ghaith Al Ghaith, Chief Executive Officer at Flydubai, was named CEO of the Year, while the Dubai-based carrier was awarded Low-Cost Airline of the Year.

While receiving the awards on behalf of the airline, Hamad Obaidalla, Chief Commercial Officer at Flydubai, said: “The awards celebrate key achievements in the

aviation industry and honour excellence in leadership, innovation and resilience.

The recognition demonstrates the commitment and hard work of everyone at Flydubai, while reflecting our agility as a business and the contributions we have made to the travel sector in the last year.”

Earlier this month, the carrier reported a profit of US$229 million for the year ending on December 31, 2021, which the airline attributes to

its strong business model that has served it well through the pandemic.

The year 2022 was off to a great start for the airline with Flydubai inaugurating its new service to AlUla in Saudi Arabia in the beginning of March, growing its network to more than 95 destinations in 50 countries operated by a single fleet type of 62 Boeing 737 aircraft.

VISIT STAND ME2410

ROTANA OPENS CENTRO MADA AMMAN

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omegrown hospitality group Rotana has announced the soft opening of Centro Mada Amman, a concept hotel designed for a new generation of business travellers.

The new property is the first of the Centro by Rotana brand to open in Amman and the third Rotana-managed hotel to join the hospitality group’s growing portfolio in the kingdom.

Nestled in the heart of the Jordanian capital’s business and leisure hub of Abdoun, Centro Mada Amman is minutes away from key embassies, historical sites and Queen Alia International Airport, making it the ideal base for travellers seeking a convenient, comfortable stay.

Combining elegance with contemporary design, the hotel delivers a modern twist on longstanding Jordanian cultural elements, including the warm hospitality for which Jordanians are renowned.

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Centro Mada Amman

Imad Akil, General Manager of Centro Mada Amman, said: “We are thrilled about the opening of our first Centro property in Amman and we are confident that Centro Mada will positively meet the demands of the new generation of travellers who seek superior experiences and good value. We are excited to offer a taste of the Centro Mada experience, with its lifestyle approach that provides guests with a distinct combination of style, warmth and convenience with a dash of creativity in all its offerings.”

The opening highlights the group’s firm belief in the country’s potential as a vital tourism and business hub in the region. Akil, who brings more than 15 years of experience in the hospitality sector and has played key leadership roles in the launch of several Rotana hotels across the region, also noted that the hotel bridges the gap in Jordan’s midtier market, which currently occupies only 27 percent of the local hospitality sector.

VISIT STAND HC0720

INDUSTRY NEWS

MIDDLE EAST TOURISM SECTOR SET TO BOOM

Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai

TAJ OPENS THIRD HOTEL IN THE UAE

I Dubai

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ew research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has revealed that the travel and tourism sector in the Middle East could reach US$246 billion this year, just 8.9 percent behind pre-pandemic levels. The study shows that as the region continues to recover from the pandemic, with major markets reopening borders and easing restrictions on travel, the sector’s contribution to employment could almost reach pre-pandemic levels later this year.

In 2019, before the pandemic struck, the travel and tourism industry in the Middle East was booming, contributing US$270 billion to the region’s economy. However, in 2020, when COVID-19 brought international travel to an almost complete standstill, its contribution more than halved, plummeting 51.1 percent and suffering a loss of more than US$138 billion.

Research by WTTC revealed that, if restrictions on international travel are eased around the world, almost 6.8 million people could be employed in the sector by the end of 2022, just 40,000 behind pre-pandemic levels. To reach this mark, WTTC

stated that governments around the world must continue focusing on the vaccine rollout and allow fully vaccinated travellers to move freely.

The global tourism body also urged governments in the Middle East and around the world to ditch the patchwork of restrictions and enable international travel using digital solutions that allow travellers to prove their status in a fast, simple and secure way.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant losses to the Middle East’s travel and tourism sector, but we now have a reason for real optimism.

Since the start of the pandemic, governments across the Middle East have shown a real commitment to travel and tourism. Saudi Arabia, in particular, has shown strong leadership throughout the crisis and is making a major investment in travel and tourism.”

She added: “2022 is poised for a strong recovery if governments across the region continue to open up their borders and remove restrictions to travel, which will have a massive positive effect on both the economy, the society and jobs.”

ndian Hotels Company’s (IHCL) iconic brand, Taj, has launched Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai. Located on Palm Jumeirah, the property is the third Taj branded hotel in the UAE. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, IHCL, said: “This opening is in line with our strong focus to be present in global growth markets. With the addition of Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, IHCL expands to strengthen its footprint in Dubai. We are honoured to partner with the Arenco Group to bring Taj’s signature hospitality to Palm Jumeirah, one of the world’s most exciting destinations.”

The new resort offers 325 rooms and suites, an array of culinary experiences and wellness at the award-winning Jiva spa, complete with a private beach and the longest pool in Palm Jumeirah.

Ranjit Phillipose, Area Director – Middle East and General Manager, Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, The Palm, Dubai, said: “We are thrilled to welcome our guests to Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, the latest addition to Dubai’s vibrant lifestyle, dining and cityscape.

This island oasis will allow guests to create memories of a lifetime as they immerse themselves in the sincere care and warmth that Taj is synonymous with.”

VISIT STAND ME2510, ME3110, ME3150

ATM PREVIEW 2022

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INDUSTRY NEWS

HOTEL DEVELOPMENT REMAINS ROBUST IN GCC

Dubai

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ccording to recent research commissioned by Arabian Travel Market, hotel development in prime GCC tourism destinations is growing at six times the global average.

Conducted by hotel market intelligence and global benchmarking company STR, the study revealed that the development pattern in Middle Eastern tourism hubs like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Qatar remains substantial despite the effects of the pandemic.

The research further goes on to state that Makkah and Doha are both expanding their hotel room inventory by 76 percent, followed by Riyadh, Madinah and Muscat with 66 percent, 60 percent and 59 percent growth, respectively.

In Dubai, room growth stands at 26 percent, which is still sizeable considering the existing base and

following years of continuous hotel development, and is still more than double the global average.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “With the global average sitting at 12 percent, we are witnessing multiple GCC destinations growing at six times those rates. These figures, coupled with the ongoing relaxation in travel restrictions, will undoubtedly encourage travel professionals throughout the Middle East and further afield.”

According to the report, there are almost 2.5 million hotel rooms currently under contract around the world, and 3.2 percent or 80,000 rooms of that supply are taking shape in Saudi Arabia alone. Also, with Dubai having wrapped up Expo 2020 Dubai on March 31, 2022, the mega event’s effects have been

far-reaching. It has acted as a catalyst for accelerated hotel room growth in the UAE with almost 50,000 rooms still due to open this year across the emirates.

Following closely behind is Doha, with final preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup™ now being put in place. Doha is on track to deliver 23,000 hotel rooms before and after the event, adding to Qatar’s burgeoning hotel portfolio.

“Whilst the actual numbers may not seem particularly significant in comparison to the global hotel room pipeline, the growth above existing supply is staggering and underlines government strategy to diversify their economies away from hydrocarbon receipts and their confidence in the growth of tourism throughout the region,” concluded Curtis.

MINOR HOTELS INTRODUCES NH COLLECTION HOTELS TO ASIA

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inor Hotels is all set to expand its property portfolio in Thailand. The hotel management group will introduce its first NH Collection Hotel in Chiang Mai, with the development of the NH Collection Chiang Mai Ping River.

Located on the Mae Ping River and in close proximity to Chiang Mai International Airport, the property is set to open in the first quarter of 2023.

Occupying two low-rise buildings right on the riverbank, the resort will be integrated into nature and the riverside landscape. In addition to 79 rooms and suites – some with private swimming pools – the new

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hotel will feature a host of dining and leisure facilities. A partnership between Osmo Ping River, a subsidiary of Osmo Properties Group, and Minor Hotels, the new property will also mark the first venture of the NH Collection brand outside of Europe and Latin America.

Dillip Rajakarier, Chief Executive Officer, Minor Hotels, said: “NH Collection Chiang Mai is a singular venue surrounded by history, culture and nature.

Every NH Collection experience is based on our promise to connect guests with the city’s soul, so getting the destination right was extremely important for our first NH Collection property in Asia. Together with our partner Osmo Ping River, we

NH Collection Chiang Mai Ping River

look forward to giving the city of Chiang Mai a truly standout property that will speak of its standing as Thailand’s centre of creativity.”

VISIT STAND HC0425

Welcome to Radisson Hotel Group, Where Every Moment Matters Radisson Hotel Group is one of the world’s largest hotel groups with more than 1,700 hotels in operation and under development in 120 countries.

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With an overarching brand promise “Every Moment Matters”, a signature Yes I Can! service ethos, the Group has expertise across all key segments and business models.

With nine vibrant brands spanning from economy to premium lifestyle, we have a brand for every moment.

Visit Radisson Hotel Group at ATM stand HC0632

Radisson Blu Dubai Canal View

INDUSTRY NEWS

KSA PREPARES TO MEET DEMAND AMID ONGOING RECOVERY

Oman

OMAN SEES 384% JUMP IN VISITOR NUMBERS

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he Sultanate of Oman welcomed approximately 652,000 visitors in 2021, while 1.9 million passengers, including citizens and expatriates, flew out during the same period. Most visitors were from the GCC countries (293,125) followed by India (106,042), Yemen (41,923), Pakistan (19,326) and Egypt (18,173).

According to the latest data issued by the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI), the total revenue of hotels with three- to five-star ratings amounted to US$265 million, with these properties hosting 1.2 million guests.

In December 2021 alone, the number of international visitors arriving in Oman amounted to 180,000, an increase of 384 percent compared to 37,000 visitors during the same period of the previous year.

More than 75,000 visitors were from the GCC alone, accounting for 42 percent of the total visitors during this period. This was followed by Indian visitors, accounting for 12.7 percent of the total with Germans and Yemenis at 5.4 and 4.8 percent, respectively.

The hotel occupancy rate reached 47.5 percent during December 2021, compared to 26.7 percent for the same period in 2020.

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total of 32,621 hotel rooms are currently under construction in Saudi Arabia. According to the latest research from STR, commissioned by Arabian Travel Market, the kingdom is preparing to meet pent-up demand from pilgrims returning to its holy cities.

The study pointed out that the country’s revenue per available room (RevPAR) recovery index stands at 52 percent, noting that the absence of millions of Muslim pilgrims has significantly impacted hotel performance in Saudi Arabia.

Madinah and Makkah witnessed RevPAR rates of just 33 percent and 24 percent, respectively, in 2021.

Although significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels, the kingdom’s hotel performance registered year-on-year gains in 2021 and the sector’s recovery is expected to persist throughout the coming year, with pent-up demand driving further improvements as restrictions continue to ease.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “As was the case for markets the world over, the global pandemic had a major impact on Saudi Arabia’s hospitality sector. Even so, STR’s findings clearly point to ongoing and sustained recovery, and we are looking forward to exploring the vast untapped potential of the kingdom’s burgeoning tourism sector at ATM 2022.”

Hotels in Al Khobar are currently outperforming those in Saudi Arabia’s other major cities, with RevPAR

Riyadh

surpassing pre-pandemic levels in 2021. Riyadh, Dammam and Jeddah, meanwhile, recorded recovery index rates of 88 percent, 85 percent and 56 percent, respectively, last year.

In terms of outbound travel, research conducted by Colliers International shows that overseas journeys from the kingdom are set to grow to over six million in 2022, compared to an estimated 3.7 million in 2021 and 4.8 million in 2020.

In the longer term, outbound tourist trips are expected to rise to over nine million in 2025, although this figure would still be significantly lower than the peak of 19.7 million recorded in 2019.

Outbound tourist expenditure is set to grow to US$8.7 billion this year, compared to an estimated US$5.26 billion in 2021 and US$5.86 billion in 2020. Total expenditure is expected to increase to US$14.56 billion in 2025.

Other takeaways from Colliers International’s analysis include the growth of travel related to ‘visiting friends and relatives’ (VFR) during the pandemic, which accounted for more than half of outbound trips (55 percent) in 2020, compared to 39 percent in 2019; and an increase in the average trip length, rising from 15.4 days in 2019 to 19.2 days in 2020.

“While religious tourism will no doubt remain a mainstay for Saudi Arabia, the global travel community is also understandably excited about new prospects that are opening up, thanks to the country’s growing investment in other segments,” concluded Curtis.

VISIT STAND ME4410, ME4440

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INDUSTRY NEWS

TIME HOTELS MARKS 10 YEARS OF HOSPITALITY

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he UAE-headquartered hospitality company, Time Hotels, recently celebrated its 10th anniversary by recognising key milestones during a decade of service excellence and corporate achievement.

Time Hotels was founded in Dubai in 2012 under the leadership of Mohamed Awadalla, CEO of Time Hotels. The company initially launched with six properties in Dubai and Sharjah, before introducing Time Express and expanding

TIME Hotels team

into Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and, most recently, Mauritius, which marks Time’s first property outside of the MENA region. With three more hotels due to open this year, Time’s portfolio will have grown to 19 properties.

Mohamed Awadalla said: “Our success as a homegrown brand can be attributed to our progressive corporate strategy which consists of four main pillars – environmental issues, staff welfare, social responsibility and ethical

governance. More than 10 percent of our existing staff have been with us from the beginning. Another benefit of being independent is that with a flat management structure, we are also very flexible and have been able to react quickly to market trends and issues.”

Since launching, one of Time’s first achievements was to secure an international hotel sustainability certification, initially through Green Globe, then subsequently with Green Key, which it has maintained ever since, complying with global standards through annual audits.

“We have accomplished so much over the last 10 years; we are extremely proud of our achievements and we are committed to expanding our portfolio based on our brand values and our founding principles,” added Awadalla. “In recognition of our efforts, we have received a total of 79 local, regional and international awards, over the last decade. It is particularly gratifying to receive accolades from industry professionals, governments and humanitarian organisations.”

VISIT STAND HC0625

CORPORATE TRAVEL SPEND SET TO RISE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

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usiness travel expenditure in the Middle East is forecast to rise by 32 percent in 2022, following a predicted 49 percent increase in 2021, according to a recent report by the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

The WTTC report was compiled in collaboration with McKinsey & Company.

Titled ‘Adapting to Endemic COVID-19: The Outlook for Business Travel’, the report draws on research, analysis and in-depth interviews with travel and tourism business leaders to enable organisations to prepare for corporate travel in the post-pandemic era.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “This positive data will provide a welcome boost for business travel and tourism professionals throughout the Middle East region, as economies around the world begin to relax travel restrictions, despite the disruption caused by the outbreak of the Omicron variant.

“During 2021, the increase in business spending for the full year is expected

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to have actually outpaced spending on leisure travel by 13 percent, 10 percent and one percent in the Middle East, Europe and Africa respectively.

“Aviation experts speaking at ATM 2021 had expected business travel to lag behind leisure travel, but this estimated increase of 32 percent comes on top of a predicted rise during 2021 of 49 percent which, although 2020 was a challenging year, the business travel segment is now clearly accelerating towards prepandemic levels,” added Curtis.

In terms of business travel spending in 2021, the report ranks the Middle East region first with an increase of 49 percent, followed by Europe and Africa (36 percent), Asia Pacific (32 percent) and the Americas (14 percent).

According to the report, the Asia Pacific region will lead the world in 2022 with growth in spending of 41 percent, followed by the Americas with a 35 percent increase, the Middle East at 32 percent, Europe at 28 percent and Africa with a 23 percent rise.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

MALDIVES REMAINS PREFERRED DESTINATION FOR GCC TRAVELLERS

Maldives

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ccording to statistics released by the Maldives’ Ministry of Tourism, over 359,000 tourists visited the island nation from January to March 2022 as compared to 241,407 arrivals during the same period in 2021.

As one of the first destinations to open its borders in July 2020, the country has fared well in visitor numbers ever since. This year, the Maldives aims to welcome 1.6 million tourists to its shores.

YouGov’s Travel & Tourism Rankings report for 2022 revealed that the Maldives has secured a place in the top 10 destinations for travellers from the UAE. This indicates

the number of tourists travelling to the archipelago from the UAE is expected to surge. With convenient, short-haul daily flights and easy access, the Maldives remains a popular travel destination for visitors from the Middle East.

Thoyyib Mohamed, CEO & Managing Director of Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation, said: “The Maldives is brimming with freshness. One of the main reasons behind the Maldives’ success in the tourism industry is that our destination offers a slice of paradise for all types of travellers on any budget.”

Tourism is the biggest contributor to the Maldives’ GDP and economy, and the industry experienced the fastest growth in the Maldives.

The country also witnessed a laudable recovery from the pandemic in only half a year since the outbreak, as it implemented strict hygiene protocols and had one of the swiftest vaccination drives in the world.

The successful strategies employed by the government during the global pandemic saw the nation achieving the ‘Global Safety Stamp’ from the World Travel Tourism Council as early as September 2020.

The country also won the prestigious title of ‘World’s Leading Destination’ at the World Travel Awards for two consecutive years in 2020 and 2021.

VISIT STAND AS2150

ANANTARA LAUNCHES NEW PROPERTY ON WORLD ISLANDS

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nantara World Islands Dubai Resort, the first luxury resort on Dubai’s World Islands archipelago, has opened to guests. Located in the Arabian Gulf, approximately four kilometres off the coast of Dubai, the new island resort is also the first hotel to open in the South American continent of the World Islands development in the emirate.

Offering guests a new luxury destination in Dubai and a unique perspective on the city, Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort comprises 70 suites as well as beach and pool villas, each with a light, contemporary feel. The new resort is accessible by a 15-minute luxury speedboat ride from the jetty at Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort.

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The property is home to multiple restaurants and bars, all benefitting from Dubai skyline views, in addition to Anantara’s signature Dining by Design private gourmet experience, which can be enjoyed in a bubble on the shoreline.

Unique experiences include Hamacland – a floating lounge with hammocks, food and drinks – and a cinema under the stars for complete peace and privacy. A well-equipped gym, yoga classes and water sports are available for the active types, while for those seeking relaxation, Anantara Spa offers a range of spa and wellness therapies.

VISIT STAND ME2510, ME3110, ME3150

Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort

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INDUSTRY NEWS

AL MAKTOUM INTERNATIONAL TO REOPEN

F InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah Mina Al Arab Resort & Spa

RAS AL KHAIMAH WELCOMES NEW IHG RESORT

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as Al Khaimah recently welcomed the first property from luxury hospitality brand IHG Hotels & Resorts – InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah Mina Al Arab Resort & Spa. Nestled between the Al Hajar mountains and the Arabian Gulf, the hotel is located on Hayat Island and is a 45-minute drive from Dubai International Airport. The resort’s design is inspired by the diverse landscape of the emirate and the tribes residing in various terrains: the desert, mountains and sea.

InterContinental Ras Al Khaimah Mina Al Arab Resort & Spa offers 351 seafacing rooms, suites, private pool villas and six dining outlets. It also features an exclusive Club InterContinental offering, where guests can expect elevated privileges and avail of an end-to-end

experience with a dedicated check-in area and access to an exclusive lounge with its own pool as well as lavish à la carte breakfasts, afternoon teas and a range of evening beverages.

Equally appealing to MICE visitors, the resort offers almost 1,000 square metres of meeting venues, including a spacious ballroom and two large meeting rooms with bespoke catering options.

Ras Al Khaimah’s tourism potential has attracted the world’s attention, luring travellers seeking immersive cultural and adventure activities. It has a strong appeal to both domestic and international visitors, and the new resort is a welcome addition to the emirate’s burgeoning hospitality scene.

or the first time since the pandemic, Dubai is set to reopen Al Maktoum International Airport, with commercial flights operating from May 2022.

Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, said that the airport will handle some passenger flights that typically operate from Dubai International Airport (DXB) during refurbishment works at the main hub that will close one of its two runways for 45 days. Thereafter, airlines that operated out of the second airport before the pandemic will continue to operate flights from Al Maktoum International.

The main hub, DXB, started operating at 100 percent capacity from December 2021 after the opening of the final phase of Concourse A at Terminal 3. DXB continues to be the world’s busiest airport by international passenger numbers for the eighth consecutive year after clocking 29.1 million in annual traffic in 2021. The airport also welcomed a record number of new airlines connecting Dubai to new destinations.

In 2022, Dubai airport is forecasting passenger traffic to more than double to 57 million from 2021 figures.

VISIT STAND ME2510, ME3110, ME3150

VISIT STAND ME3310

ABU DHABI TO OPEN NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM

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bu Dhabi will become home to the Natural History Museum in 2025. The project is currently under construction in the UAE capital’s Saadiyat Cultural District.

The new landmark, which will reportedly be the largest of its kind in the region, will take visitors on a 13.8 billion-year journey with thought-provoking insights into a sustainable future for the planet.

A highlight of the collection will be Stan, a mostly complete 39-footlong Tyrannosaurus rex, which is

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one of the best-preserved and most studied fossils of this iconic predator from the late Cretaceous period.

Acquired from Christie’s New York in 2020, the 67-million-year-old dinosaur – the world’s most expensive fossil – will be made available for research.

The museum will also be home to a Murchison meteorite specimen, which crash-landed in Australia more than 40 years ago, as well as some of the rarest natural history specimens.

Covering an area of more than 35,000 square metres, the landmark will not

Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi

only elevate the emirate’s status as a scientific hub but also bring a new wave of history enthusiasts from the region and the world to Abu Dhabi.

VISIT STAND ME2350, ME2310

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THE LAST DISCOVERY Five days, four Saudi women, one unforgettable road trip

NEOM

NEOM is the unseen, the unexplored.

With paths untrod, seas uncharted and hills unclimbed, it is one of the last places on earth to discover – a destination found at the crossroads of civilisation, rich in heritage, upon which the land of the future will be founded.

In this place of majestic beauty, NEOM invited four young Saudi women, each a leader in their field, to explore and discover the raw landscapes – rich red deserts with towering monoliths, some reaching hundreds of metres into the sky, majestic high mountains that receive snowfall each year as well as pristine and spectacular coastlines bordering turquoise waters teeming with the most vibrant of corals and rare sea life.

Professional drivers Reema Juffali and Dania Akeel joined DJ Nouf Sufyani (aka

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ATM PREVIEW 2022

Cosmicat) and photographer Tasneem Al Sultan on a five-day road trip through NEOM, exploring the most remote and picturesque sites, uncovering the untold heritage and enjoying local hospitality as they camped under the stars. Along the way, they discovered a lot about each other and a little bit about themselves.

They came as strangers but left as friends.

Driving fully electric vehicles, powered by renewables, their journey started in the dramatic Hisma Desert, following the ancient Hajj and trade routes that weave between the red monoliths.

It allowed them to take in the stark beauty of the landscape while exploring the narrow canyons and unearthing the ancient inscriptions left behind by those who had come before – all the while enjoying the freedom that the vast

Catalina seaplane wreckage

NEOM | ADVERTORIAL L to R: Reema Juffali, Tasneem Al Sultan, Dania Akeel, Nouf Sufyani

Road from Maqna to Ras Al Sheikh Humaid

NEOM INVITED FOUR YOUNG SAUDI WOMEN, EACH A LEADER IN THEIR FIELD, TO DISCOVER THE RAW LANDSCAPES space in this land and the desert night sky provides to those who venture in.

From there, they travelled to the Gulf of Aqaba and the great Wadi Tayyb-Esm, with its 400-metre dramatic cliffs that cascade into the dark blue waters. They then drove down the coast to arrive at the Catalina seaplane wreckage at Ras Al Sheik Humaid to hear the tale of the Kendall family and how it came to be.

Warm autumn days were spent exploring the pristine Red Sea coast, visiting the beautiful sandy beaches of Gayal and Haddah, and swimming

in the crystal clear turquoise waters teeming with sea life. Evenings were spent watching the sunset behind the grand islands of Tiran and Sanafir as camp was set.

The journey ended back where it all started, in the beautiful Hisma, where one last night was filled with stories and music as Cosmicat curated a night show inspired by the journey and the many discoveries.

To hear more stories from the road trip, visit the NEOM stand at ATM (ME4250)

ATM PREVIEW 2022

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SEMINAR SCHEDULE

ATM Global Stage MONDAY 9TH MAY 12:00 - 13:00 ATM OPENING SESSION: THE FUTURE OF INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL Leading industry figureheads discuss the future of international travel, identifying new trends and global movements steering the sector forward. Find out what factors, priorities and innovations are reshaping the industry for generations to come.

Moderator: Eleni Giokos, Anchor and Correspondent, CNN Speakers: Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing; Scott Livermore, Chief Economist, Oxford Economics; Jochem-Jan Sleiffer, President, Middle East, Africa, & Turkey, Hilton; Bilal Kabbani, Industry Head, Travel & Tourism, Google 13:15 - 14:15 INVESTMENT MINISTERIAL ROUNDTABLE - WHAT IS DRIVING INVESTMENTS IN TRAVEL AND TOURISM SECTOR? Tourism destinations in the Middle East are widening their appeal, extending their offerings from luxury hotels to the mid-market segment and as these countries aim at increasing tourist arrivals, a package of incentives has been elaborated to attract FDI. Moderator: Sameer Hashmi, Middle East 36

ATM PREVIEW 2022

Business Correspondent, BBC News Speakers: HE Dr Ahmad Belhoul AlFalasi, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and SMEs, Chairman of Emirates Tourism Council; HE Nayef Al Fayez, Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, Jordan; HE Zayed R. Al Zayani, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Bahrain; Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica; Hon. Philda Nani Kereng, Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Botswana; Gerald Lawless, ITIC Director and Ambassador WTTC 14.45 - 15:45 THE ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET SAUDI FORUM - SESSION 1: FROM STRATEGY TO REALITY: SAUDI ARABIA’S TOURISM VISION COMES OF AGE High-level speakers discuss how the kingdom’s tourism ambitions, including attracting 100 million visitors annually by 2030, are now being realised. This session provides an update on tourism project and infrastructure progress and new opportunities for stakeholders and niche markets and also looks at what steps must now be taken to boost global awareness of ‘brand KSA’, in order to meet arrivals targets.

Moderator: Dan Murphy, Anchor, CNBC Speakers: Fahd Hamidaddin, Chief Executive Officer, The Saudi Tourism Authority; Fawaz

Farooqui, Managing Director, Cruise Saudi; Majed Bin Ayed Al-Nefaie, CEO, Seera Group Holding; Captain Ibrahim S. Koshy, CEO, SAUDIA Air Transport Company 16:00 - 17:00 THE ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET SAUDI FORUM - SESSION 2: SAUDI ARABIA’S BLUEPRINT FOR RESPONSIBLE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT Find out how Saudi Arabia is setting a new global benchmark for responsible tourism, developing projects that first and foremost, preserve the planet and its people. Industry experts discuss the role of sustainability, community inclusion, education and training, and the legacy impact of the kingdom’s broad-ranging tourism vision, underpinned by huge investment in infrastructure and large-scale developments that in the future, will provide a best-practice blueprint for other nations globally.

Speakers: Melanie de Souza, Executive Director Marketing, The Royal Commission for AlUla; John Pagano, CEO, The Red Sea Development Company and AMAALA; Jerry Inzerillo, CEO, Diriyah Gate Development Authority; Andrew McEvoy, Managing Director Tourism, NEOM

SEMINAR SCHEDULE

TUESDAY 10TH MAY 10:30 - 11:30 AIRLINES EVOLVING FOR THE FUTURE: HEAR FROM THE INDUSTRY LEADERS The interview will address the many challenges faced by the airline industry due to the Covid pandemic and its aftermath. It will equally focus on opportunities and likely structural change for the industry coming out of the crisis. Topics will include the latest status on markets opening up and the reduction in government restrictions, the lessons we have learnt or those that should be learnt and how airlines are managing an increasing debt level, rising fuel prices and likely changes in the passenger mix.

Moderator: John Strickland, Director, JLS Consulting Speakers: Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group; Adel Abdullah Al Ali, Board Member and Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia

country. As we enter a post-pandemic era, travel is at the top of a GCC consumer’s ‘to-do’ list. D/A’s insight session will look into the current and emerging trends in Arabic traveller behaviour and planning. We will uncover who is the Arabic traveller we will be talking to, where are they looking to go in the world and why, and how can we connect with them and bring them into our worlds. We will also discuss the travel industry ‘state of play’ in the GCC to understand how brands can develop strategies to own the relationship with Arabic travellers. The session will be based on a recent travel study conducted by analysing over 1.3 million travel conversations ambiently in Arabic. D/A’s analytics and science teams have drawn the most impactful and actionable insights from natural conversations to deliver a true picture of Arabic traveller intent and barriers that travel brands can address.

Speaker: Paul Kelly, Managing Partner, D/A

12:00 - 12:45 THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORT From new hyperloop systems and driverless vehicles to next-generation aircraft and space travel, new modes of transport are fast emerging, transforming how we move from A to B. Fuel is being redesigned to allow for next-generation aircraft, will SAFs play a role? And do train offerings stand to supplant air travel?

Moderator: Sarah Hymers Hedley, Executive Editor, ConnectingTravel Speakers: Kuljit Ghata-Aura, President, Middle East, Turkey & Africa, Boeing; Kata Cserep, Vice President and Global Managing Director, Aviation, ICF; Karime Makalouf, Chief Commercial Officer, Royal Jordanian

14:00 - 18:00 ITIC TOURISM INVESTMENT SUMMIT MIDDLE EAST TOURISM INVESTMENT SUMMIT Theme: The Middle East as a major financial hub for global tourism investments 14:00 - 14:10 - Welcome notes Speakers: Dr. Taleb Rifai, Chairman ITIC and Former Secretary General UNWTO; Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director – Middle East, RX 14:10 - 14:30 - Global Economic Outlook Speaker: Nicolas Mayer, Global Tourism Leader, PWC 14:30 - 14:45 - Reenergising air connectivity to support tourism growth in the Middle East A conversation with a special guest and Sameer Hashmi, Middle East Business Correspondent, BBC News 14:45 - 15:30 - Panel discussion: How the Middle East is reinventing the financing of future tourism projects?

Moderator: Gerald Lawless, Director, ITIC and WTTC Ambassador Panellists: Sandip Walia, Chief Operating Officer, Middle East, Marriott International; Badr Alherbish, Executive Director of Strategy

13:15 - 13.45 ARABIC TRAVELLERS INSIGHT: UNDERSTANDING HOW TO CONNECT WITH THE ARABIC TRAVEL AUDIENCE Arabic travellers are a powerful consumer segment and while outbound tourism from the GCC means tens of billions spent in the destination countries, it also presents an opportunity for entities with the originating

Tourism Development Fund, Saudi Arabia; Laurent A. Voivenel, Senior Vice President, Operations & Development, Middle East, Africa & India, Swiss-Belhotel International 15:30 - 16:00 - Panel discussion: The economic integration of women through the tourism industry Moderator: Elizabeth Maclean, Co-Managing Director, Herdwick Communications Panellists: HE Sheikha Mai Bint Mohammed Al Khalifa, President, Bahrain Authority for Culture and Antiquities, Bahrain; Marloes Knippenberg, CEO, Kerten Hospitality; Liz Ortiguera , CEO, PATA; Aradhana Khowala, CEO, Aptamind Partners 16:00 - 16:45 - Destination focus: Investment opportunities - 16:00-16:30 - Win Wynn Project in Ras Al Khaimah • Raki Phillips, CEO, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority • Alison Grinnell, Chief Executive Officer, RAK Hospitality Holding LLC - 16:35-16:40: Guillaume Pellerin, CEO, Wild World - 16:40-16:45: Mark Abraham, Founder & CEO, Shackle 16:45 -17:15 - Unlocking new modes of payments in the travel and tourism industry Speakers: Mark Beer, Chairman of Metis Institute, Dirk Van; Loggerenberg, CEO of Dale Capital Group and Yariv Fisher, Chairman of Flyeast GRP 17:15 - 17:55 - Panel discussion: Enhancing preparedness to mitigate the impact of future crises Moderator: Sameer Hashmi, Middle East Business Correspondent, BBC News Panellists: HE Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica and Co-chair GTRCMC; Taleb Rifai, Chairman ITIC and Former Secretary-General, UNWTO; Paul Griffiths, CEO Dubai Airports 17:55 - 18:00 - Closing Speakers: Dr. Taleb Rifai, Gerald Lawless and Ibrahim Ayoub

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WEDNESDAY 11TH MAY 10:30 - 11:15 THE FUTURE OF THE REGION’S HOTEL INDUSTRY Where is the Middle East’s hotel sector heading? Where are the development hotspots and what potential is there to bring new hospitality concepts to fruition?

Moderator: Paul Clifford, Group Editor, Hospitality, ITP Media Group Speakers: Christopher Lund, Director, Head of Hotels MENA, Colliers International; Mark Kirby, Head of Hospitality, Emaar Hospitality Group; Tim Cordon, Area Senior Vice President Middle East & Africa, Radisson Hotel Group; Judit Toth, Founder & CEO, Vivere Hospitality 11:45 - 12:30 WHAT GUESTS REALLY WANT From experiential and eco-conscious stays with a local edge and wellness experiences that go beyond spas to loyalty programmes and apps that meet new lifestyle demands, this session looks at what motivates guests in 2022.

Moderator: Gemma Greenwood, Director, Content Inc. Speakers: Folker Heim, Chief Operating Officer, Global Hotel Alliance; Chris Nader, Co-Founder, ENVI Lodges; Federico Toresi, Global VP Design, Ultra Luxe, Luxury & Premium Brands, Accor; Walter Knight, Director of Hospitality, Farnek Services LLC; James Britchford, Vice President Commercial IMEA, InterContinental Hotels Group

12:45 - 13:30 SPORTS TOURISM KICKS OFF IN THE GULF Major destinations across the Gulf have robust strategies in place to put the region on the world sports tourism map.

From smart cities and sponsorships to centres of excellence and sporting events destinations, discover the ambitious projects and initiatives that will attract millions of visitors and set new benchmarks.

Moderator: Thomas Urquhart, Broadcaster, Arabian Radio Network Speakers: Andy Preece, Director, Buro Happold; Philip Wooller, Senior Director, Middle East & Africa, STR; Philip Dickinson, Vice President of International Markets, Qatar Tourism; Naif AlDossary, Advisor to the Strategic Planning and Investment Deputy, Ministry of Sport; Tricia Warwick, MCIM, Director Asia Pacific Middle East Africa China, VisitBritain 14:00 - 14:45 HUNGRY FOR TRAVEL: WHY UNIQUE DINING EXPERIENCES ARE AN ESSENTIAL TOOL IN THE DESTINATION MARKETING PLAYBOOK Great food is more than just sustenance: it connects us to people, places, and flavours; to culture and heritage; to tradition and society.

The memories forged while eating a meal with friends or strangers in lands unknown are often more powerful than any other travel encounter involving time-honoured rituals of

hospitality and generosity. And travellers are hungry for more. Unique dining experiences are a major consideration for luxury travellers when it comes to choosing a destination.

From big-name chefs and award-winning restaurants to authentic local experiences that connect visitors to a destination and create a sense of place, culinary encounters are an increasingly important part of a destination’s appeal. A handful of the Middle East’s leading restaurateurs, hoteliers, and culinary kingpins discuss the growing appetite for unforgettable dining encounters and the unquenchable thirst for unique experiences.

Moderator: Joe Mortimer, Editor-atLarge, Destinations of the World News Speakers: Suhaila Ghubash, Events Director, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment; Lynne Bellinger, Director of Food & Beverage Design & Development, Marriott International EAME; Amanda Elder, Chief Commercial Officer, Member of the Management Board, Kempinski Hotels SA; Michael Ellis, Founder and CEO, Passionomy.tv; Talal Nabil Kensara, Chief of Strategic Management, Diriyah Gate Development Authority 15:00 - 16:00 THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS TRAVEL What will business travel look like in a postpandemic world and as a severely impacted sector when and how will it recover?

This session will look at the megatrends impacting business travel and the medium term forecasts for the return to travel.

Moderator: Gemma Greenwood, Director, Content Inc. Speakers: Catherine Logan, Regional Vice President - EMEA, GBTA; Shaun Anderson, Head of Sales, dnata Travel Management; Matthew Roberts, Vice President of Sales, Accor IMEA; Sam Dawson, Commercial Director, MENA, YouGov; Ian Moore, Chief Commercial Officer, VistaJet 16:15 - 17:00 BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS TRAVEL PROGRAMME Corporations across the globe are committed to operating more sustainably – but where does business travel fit in this picture? This session will look at how corporations can measure; manage and reduce the environmental impact of their business travel programme.

Moderator: Chris Pouney, Associate, GoldSpring Consulting Speakers: Martin Drew, Senior Vice President, Sales & Cargo, Etihad Aviation Group; Philip Halanen, Head of Sourcing & Sustainability, Europe, Middle East, Eurasia, Africa, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts; Julien Etchanchu, Sustainability Director, Advito; David Todd, Head of Operations MEA, InterContinental Hotels Group

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THURSDAY 12TH MAY 10:30 - 11:15 THE INDIAN TRAVELLER: WRITING THE GLOBAL RECOVERY SEQUEL Pent-up demand and eagerness to travel are terms that are very often used for Indian outbound travel. Yes, the Indian traveller is raging to go and wants to travel the world.

This segment is quick to rebound, remains strong, and has the spending capacity.

Luxury has become the new mantra for Indian traveller. Research shows that the frequency of travel has increased and spending is going up. Will the Indian outbound traveller replace the Chinese traveller from the pre-pandemic world? What does the Indian traveller now expect and what can international brands do to welcome them with open arms?

Let’s discuss this further with stalwarts from the Indian outbound sector who can highlight these new trends and redefine the new and evolved Indian traveller.

Moderator: Mr. SanJeet, Founder and CEO, DDP Group and Buzz Travel Marketing Speakers: Deepak Rawat Senior Vice President – International Markets, MakeMyTrip (India) Ltd; Jaal Kalpesh Shah, Group

Managing Director, Travel Designer Group; Sandeep Dwivedi, Chief Operating Officer, InterGlobe Technology Quotient Pvt Ltd 11:45 - 12:30 RESPONSIBLE TECHNOLOGY FOR TRAVEL & TOURISM The tourism industry – travel, hospitality and attractions – has developed a bewildering range of tech solutions. For this panel, we have chosen speakers who can look behind the brochures and the sales pitch to share what they have learnt about what works, what doesn’t and why? Globally is about supporting businesses in taking sustainable action. Globally urges businesses to take a fresh look at technologies many of which can improve bottom lines as well as reducing environmental footprints. Keith and his colleagues in Globally share the aspirations of the Responsible Tourism movement; together we can change the world for the better.

Moderator: Keith Bradley, Managing Partner, Globally Speaker: Hugo Domingues, General Manager, Enernouva

14:15 - 15:00 THE RETURN AND RISE OF CITY TOURISM With international airline re-connectivity rapidly on the rise and an increasing number of countries scrapping Covid-related restrictions to ease travel, city tourism is steadily returning. We bring together key city tourism boards from around the globe to discuss their sustainable rebuilding and growth strategies post pandemic, and the growing importance of cultural festivals and sporting events in motivating travellers.

Moderator: Rashi Sen, Editor, TTN Middle East Speakers: Kiran Jay Haslam, Chief Marketing Officer, Diriyah Gate Development Authority; Deveekaa Nijhawan, Global Head of International Market, Qatar National Tourism Council; Ismail Abouzeid, Research Analyst, Euromonitor International; Emily Jenkins, General Manager, dnata Travel Tom Kiely, President and CEO, West Hollywood Travel and Tourism Board; Bahru Asgarov, Deputy CEO, Azerbaijan Tourism Board

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Abu Dhabi B

14:00 - 17:45 OMAN TOURISM FORUM 2022 - EXPLORING TOURISM PARTNERSHIP IN OMAN Oman received over 3.2 million international tourists in 2019, ranked 18th in Global Foreign Direct Investment in 2021.

According to World Economic Forum, it is one of the safest countries in the Middle East. Lonely Planet rated Oman as the Top 10 countries to visit in 2022.

Oman Tourism Forum 2022 aims to explore global and regional tourism partnership opportunities with Oman. The event’s esteemed panel speakers and VIP guests include the world’s largest construction and real estate firm, OMRAN, China’s largest tour operator CTS, ICCA, Alibaba, Rotana, MINOR, Oman Air, Salam Air, Spring Air, China Southern Airline, ASAAS, the MICE industry and many more.

We are expecting about 150 - 200 delegates from Oman, China, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. There are 30 Chinese travel agents confirmed.

The event is organised by the Oman Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, co-organised

by International China Investment Forum and coordinated by China Travel Online.

13:30 - 13:55 - Registration, refreshments and networking 14:00 - 14:05 - Program begins 40

ATM PREVIEW 2022

TUESDAY 10TH MAY

with Master of Ceremony Gemma Greenwood, Director, Content Inc. 14:05 - 14:10 - Introduction by Marcus Lee, Forum Chair, CEO China Travel Online 14:10 - 14:15 - Welcome address by HE Salim Mohammed Al Mahrouqi, Minister of Heritage and Tourism of Oman 14:15 - 14:20 - Group photo of organisers and His Excellency 14:20 - 14:30 - Oman Tourism Opportunities: Overview and outlook Speaker: HE Ibrahim bin Said Al Kharusi, Undersecretary, Ministry of Heritage and Tourism 14:30 - 15:15 - Oman Tourism Global Partnership Speakers: Hashil Bin Obaid Al Mahrouqi, CEO, OMRAN; Joachim Schmitt, CEO, Orascom Hotel Management; Zhang Jiang Han, GM, China Travel Services and CITS; Shabib Mohamed Al-Mamari, CEO, Visit Oman; Yang Yang, GM, Beijing Spring Travel Services; Marcus Lee, CEO, China Travel Online 15:15 - 15:20 - MOU Signing Ceremony Representatives: Shabib Mohamed Al-Mamari, CEO, Visit Oman; Yang Yang, GM, Beijing Spring Travel Services; Marcus Lee, CEO, China Travel Online 15:20 - 16:05 - Improving Connectivity through Aviation and Technology Speakers: Shk. Aimen Ahmed Sultan

Al-Hosni , CEO, Oman Airports; Piyush Kakkar, Regional Director, Alibaba Cloud; Captain Mohammad Ahmed, CEO, Salam Air; Mahmoud Fathy, GSA Manager, China Southern Airline; Mundher Al Shikhani, Senior Manager, Oman Air 16:05 - 16:50 - Hotel Expansion and Partnership Prospects Speakers: Suliman Ahmed Al-Kindi, CEO, ASAAS; Hashil Bin Obaid Al Mahrouqi, CEO, OMRAN; Guy Hutchinson, President & CEO, Rotana Hotel Group; Amir Golbarg, Senior Vice President, MINOR Hotel; Mohamed Awadalla, CEO, Times Hotel Group 16:50 - 17:35 - Sector on the Rise: Maximising MICE and Retail’s Potential Speakers: Khalid Al-Zadjali, Director, Oman Convention Bureau; Senthil Gopinath CEO, International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA); Said Salim Al Shanfari,CEO, Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre; Marcus Lee, Chairman, International China Investment Forum (ICIF); Mahmood Mohamed Ali, Chairman, Aljarwani Group; Michelle Chen, CEO, Hunter Tourism International 17:35 - 17:45 - Prize Draw Flight tickets and hotel packages by sponsors 17:45 - 17:50 - Closing Speech: Ministry of Heritage and Tourism 17:50 - 18:00 - Refreshments and programme end

‫رو بعد‬ َ ُ‫حكايات مل ت‬

LET OUR STORIES UNFOLD .‫� يكشف عن فصل جحديد من حكايته‬ ‫إرث أبوظ ج� � ي‬ Erth Abu Dhabi reveals its next chapter.

‫إقامة تروي حكاية‬

Stay with a story .‫قري�ا‬ ‫ االفتتاح ًج‬.‫ املسبح‬،�‫الشاط‬ ،‫الفيالت‬ ‫ئ‬

The villas, beach and pool. Unveiling soon.

ERTH.AE

SEMINAR SCHEDULE

ATM Travel Tech Stage MONDAY 9TH MAY 12:30 - 12:55 ARIVAL: THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL IS EXPERIENCES: THE ROLE AND OUTLOOK OF TOURS, ACTIVITIES & ATTRACTIONS IN TOURISM’S RENEWAL The Arival @ ATM program assembles the in-destination industry’s brightest minds and leading voices to explore the essential themes defining the new future for tours, activities, attractions, and experiences in 2022 and beyond. The Future of Travel is experiences.

Our industry — tours, activities, attractions, events, experiences — is not just the thirdlargest part of travel; it’s why people travel in the first place. Douglas Quinby shares exclusive Arival research on the outlook for tours, activities, and attractions, why it’s the most important part of tourism, and what are the key themes defining its future.

Speaker: Douglas Quinby, Co-Founder & CEO, Arival 12:55 - 13:20 ARIVAL: FIRESIDE CHAT: FERNANDO EIROA, CEO, DUBAI HOLDING ENTERTAINMENT As the recently appointed CEO of one of the largest attraction operators across the MENA region, Ferando Eiroa is setting strategy for multiple theme parks, entertainment experiences and the world’s tallest Ferris wheel, Ain Dubai. In this wideranging interview, we’ll discuss the postpandemic outlook for travel in the region, key themes defining traveller behaviour and experiences, the role of technology in the guest experience, and how to steer such a significant enterprise through a period of continued global uncertainty.

Moderator: Douglas Quinby, Co-Founder & CEO, Arival Speakers: Fernando Eiroa, CEO, Dubai Holding Entertainment 13:20 - 13:50 ARIVAL: THE FUTURE OF EXPERIENCES: THE NEOM VISION Saudi Arabia is placing a big bet on tourism as part of its visionary city of the future. And experiences are at the heart of the Kingdom’s plan for the destination. In this talk from the travel and tourism veteran who is driving travel strategy and product development at NEOM, we’ll hear what they are doing, but more importantly why, and what that means for the travel industry and the future of experiences.

Speaker: Andrew McEvoy, Managing Director Tourism, NEOM

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13:50 - 14:20 ARIVAL: THE OTHER SIDE OF DUBAI: MEET THE LOCALS The story of Dubai’s rise as a global hub of commerce and tourism is extraordinary, but there is much more than cosmopolitan modernity. This Emirati entrepreneur wants to show visitors a different side of Dubai, and help them connect with the local people, culture and cuisine of the UAE. Speaker: Khadija Ahmad Abdul Aziz Ahmad Behzad, Founder and CEO, Meet The Locals 14:20 - 14:45 GOOGLE ‘THINGS TO DO’ (AND WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU) The world’s biggest search engine has taken a big step into the Best Part of Travel with Google Things to Do, a new initiative that presents attraction and experience ticket prices and purchasing options directly in Google search results. This has big implications for attraction operators and ticket resellers. This session by tours and attractions connectivity provider LIVN walks through how Google Things to Do works and how attractions and other experience operators can leverage it to drive more direct bookings.

Speaker: Steve Martinez, Founder & CCO, Livn 14:45 - 15:30 ARIVAL: MUNCH & MINGLE Refreshments and networking with the brightest minds and leading executives from across tours, attractions and experiences.

15:30 - 16:00 ARIVAL: INTERVIEW: DUBAI IS RE-ENVISIONING DISTRIBUTION. CAN IT WORK? Dubai and Dnata share a big vision for tours and attractions distribution: deliver a destination-wide technology platform to connect UAE operators with online travel agencies, global distributors and travellers directly, and make it easier than ever for visitors and locals to discover and book all of the emirate’s amazing things to do. But change is never easy. In this interview with the head of PrioHub, we’ll explore the vision, the opportunity, the challenges and the questions and concerns from attractions and distributors.

We’ll also examine whether this could be a model for the future of connected distribution for tours and experiences beyond Dubai.

Speaker: Alaa Alkhatib, Vice President, Destination Management, Dnata Travel Group

16:00 - 16:25 ARIVAL: SAFARI REIMAGINED: HOW RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL CAN DRIVE PURPOSE & PROFIT It’s the iconic tourist experience of the region — the desert safari. But the rapid rise of global travel demand is compelling our industry to reconceive our experiences for a sustainable future. In this talk, tour operator veteran Adam McEwan shares the Platinum Heritage story: how they built a safari business that puts sustainability first and how responsible practices can advance profit as well as purpose for every experience provider.

Speaker: Adam McEwan, CEO, Hero Experiences Group 16:25 - 17:00 ARIVAL: DISTRIBUTION, TECH & WHAT’S NEXT FOR TOURS, ACTIVITIES & ATTRACTIONS Digital, distribution and online platforms are ushering in dramatic change, from how travellers plan and book to how operators and distributors connect. The pandemic has accelerated the need for operators to get ahead on tech, and traveller expectations to find and book on their phones on the spot have never mattered more. This session will explore the changes afoot amid the rise of OTAs, direct online marketing, Google, channel management, and what this means for tour and attraction operators across the region.

Moderator: Bruce Rosard, COO, Arival Speakers: Julia Randow, Director of Sales - APAC, Middle East, and Parts of EMEA, GetYourGuide; Essam Salah, Co-Founder & CEO, Oceanair Travels; Suren Sultania, Co-founder & COO, Headout; Mahender Kumar Tanwar, Global Product & Revenue Management Director, Farah Experiences 17:00 - 17:25 ARIVAL: ASK ME ANYTHING: ZEINA DAGHER, CEO, EMAAR ENTERTAINMENT Eexplore the future of visitor attractions, travel trends, and what’s next in distribution, attraction tech and the guest experience with the CEO responsible for the strategy of some of the UAE’s top attractions Moderator: Douglas Quinby, Co-Founder & CEO, Arival Speakers: Zeina Dagher, CEO, Emaar Entertainment 17:25 - 17:30 ARIVAL: THAT’S A WRAP! Arival co-founders Douglas Quinby and Bruce Rosard close the day with a synopsis of key themes and takeaways, and a big round of thanks to all of our speakers and partners.

SEMINAR SCHEDULE

TUESDAY 10TH MAY 10:30 - 11:30 ON THE ROAD TO SEAMLESS TRAVEL What progress is the industry making in adopting new technologies like biometrics, data analytics, mobile and Artificial Intelligence to make the travel experience more frictionless, easier and ultimately more enjoyable for the customer?

In this session experts from the travel technology sector will share their vision for a future that’s more digitised, more multi-modal, and more joined-up, bringing traditional transport suppliers and lastmile journey options together for a truly integrated door-to-door experience.

Moderator: Lee Hayhurst, Executive Editor, Travolution Speakers: Alex Villeyra, Chief Operating Officer, Mabrian Technologies; Francois Blanc, Amadeus Traveler ID Managing Director, Amadeus; Mike Ferguson, Commercial Director, Skyscanner 11:45 - 12:30 TECHNOLOGIES TO SHAPE AND NAVIGATE THE NEW TRAVEL ERA Changes in the travel and tourism industry keep accelerating. Not only the impact of COVID-19, but also technology advancements, changing business realities, and shifts in consumer trends are transforming the travel landscape. Find out from our experts how technology helps rebuild travel with tangible examples of what is already in place and what is coming.

Moderator: Delphine Herrmann, Head

of Amadeus Regional Marketing, Western Europe, Middle East and Africa Speakers: Jamel Chandoul, Senior Vice President, Amadeus Travel Sellers - Middle East & Africa; Christophe Roux, Senior Vice President Commercial, Amadeus Airline Business, Middle East, Africa, and Turkey; Cem Cetinturk, Regional Vice President Middle East, Africa, and Turkey, Amadeus Hospitality; Brent Roberts, Director of Sales, Amadeus Hospitality and DMOs 13:00 - 13:45 SHARING SUCCESS: A GUIDE FOR ENTREPRENEURS LOOKING TO BUILD SUCCESSFUL START-UPS This session will feature advice and information for aspiring innovators, as well as details of the ATM Draper-Aladdin Start-up Competition which will take place during ATM 2022.

Industry experts will share their extensive start-up experience, offering tips on the most effective fundraising methods, the biggest challenges faced by new ventures, and the best channels to reach and forge partnerships with investors. Investors will also be on hand to explain the key elements they look for before deciding to back a new venture.

Moderator: Lee Cotterell Clark, Emcee, Draper Aladdin Speakers: Alaa Ismail Al Haija, Founder & CEO, Aladdinb2b, SalesMENA and Draper-Aladdin Startup Competition; Hadi Saeed AlShakhori, Business Incubation Manager; Wa’ed Walid Tarabih, Former Digital Transformation

Advisor, UAE’s Prime Minister’s Office; Hamdi Sultan, CEO, Solitaire IGT 13:50 - 17:30 THE ATM DRAPER-ALADDIN START-UP COMPETITION The ATM Draper-Aladdin Start-up Competition is an exciting, new forum designed to showcase the very latest technology innovations from some of the brightest minds in the travel and hospitality industry.

Hear from the 15 start-ups themselves, pitching their business plan to attract investment with ideas across three travel & tourism sectors from Travel and Transportation; Hospitality Tech and Experiences and Attractions.

Each pitch will last just five minutes followed by a five-minute Q&A with the judges.

Once all the pitches are complete, this will be followed by an awards ceremony to announce the top three winners. The overall winner will receive a minimum of $30,000 up to a maximum of $500,000 investment, a DASC Certificate and the chance to appear on Tim Draper’s TV show, Meet the Drapers, where they compete for another $500,000 while gaining access to a crowdfunding network of 12 million viewers. A further two runners up will receive the DASC Certificate only.

13.50 – 15.00: Start-ups make their pitches 15.00 – 15.30: Break 15.30 – 16.50: Start-ups make their pitches 17.05 – 17.30: Winners presentations and awards ATM PREVIEW 2022

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WEDNESDAY 11TH MAY 10:30 - 11:15 TACTICAL REENGAGEMENT IN THE MIDDLE EAST The 2022 edition of the ATM Middle East will witness increased participation and business opportunities after two years.

The session will highlight how the Middle East is recovering and how it is investing more and more in MICE vertical. The speakers will outline the importance of the meetings industry, the exponential growth expected in the region by 2030, and how it’s focusing on women’s capacity building.

Moderator: Anju Vijay Anthony Gomes, Regional Director, ICCA Speakers: Karina Soraya Lance, Deputy Director, Department of Economy and Tourism; Lujaina Al Maskari, Business Events Executive, Oman Convention Bureau, Ministry of Heritage and Tourism; Kavitha Prabhu, Director - Association Management and Consultancy, MCI Middle East; Jasmine Lew, Section Head Conventions & Exhibitions, Department of Culture & Tourism, Abu Dhabi 11:45 - 12:30 MAPPING TRAVEL’S NEW NORMAL In this session, Sabre will be revealing its latest research into the travel industry recovery landscape following extensive global research with airlines and travel agencies.

Sabre’s vice president for the Middle East Abdul-Razzaq Iyer will present the findings of the study and will then invite industry experts to a 30-minute panel discussion to talk about the findings and what they mean for the travel industry landscape. How has COVID-19 changed the way people travel?

How can the industry capture the tailwinds of recovery? And what are the opportunities for airlines and agencies to create value as we move towards an endemic world?

To answer these questions and more, join Sabre as it maps travel’s new normal.

Moderator: Abdul-Razzaq Iyer, Vice President, Sabre Travel Network Middle East Speaker: Frank Trampert, SVP & Global MD – Commercial, Sabre Hospitality Solutions

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13:00 - 13:45 CATALYSTS FOR CHANGE: FOUR TECH TRENDS SHAPING HOSPITALITY Venturing into a post-pandemic marketplace, there is an imperative to recapture revenue and elevate the guest experience to meet new consumer demands. Achieving such goals requires a greater embrace of technology to rapidly offer high-demand products and services, improve operations, and make work simpler and more rewarding for short-handed staff. Join this session to learn about the four major trends shaping hospitality - and discover how technology can actually enhance the human touch to deliver exceptional service.

Moderator: Alex Alt, SVP and General Manager, Oracle Hospitality Speakers: Judith Cartwright, Founder & Managing Director, Black Coral Consulting; Christopher Hartley, CEO, Global Hotel Alliance; Willem Both, EVP of IT, Kerzner International FZE; Dimitris Manikis, President EMEA, Wyndham Hotels & Resorts 14:15 - 15:00 ENTER THE METAVERSE: TECHNOLOGIES AS A TOOL FOR ADVANCING TRAVEL SERVICES Technology has always been a driving force in setting how businesses and industries function. The travel and tourism industry is the first field that has embraced technological advancement, from the emergence of WEB 2.0 back in its days, questions and worries have risen on whether travel agencies are losing their presence in the world. Now, with WEB 3.0, and technologies such as the blockchain, the metaverse, and artificial intelligence taking the spotlight of the world of tomorrow, we are here to utilize these technologies not as a replacement for agencies and service providers, but as a tool to further advance their role and services within the industry. This session is an introduction to the basics of metaverse, blockchain, and artificial intelligence, followed by a brand new interactive virtual tour of travel destinations, hotels, and attractions,

demonstrating the capabilities of these technologies combined in reshaping the travel industry and preparing it to grasp the future.

Speakers: Omarei Abumadi, CEO, TBS/V Booking 15.30 - 16.00 HOSPITALITY 4.0: NOW MORE THAN EVER The year looks fairly promising for APACMEA region with borders opening up and restrictions being eased while travel patterns have become difficult to predict now more than ever. How will technology help hoteliers the challenges while trying to engage, understand and convert their guests?

Speakes: Kamesh Shukla, Executive Vice President Commercial APAC & MEA, RateGain 16.15 - 17.00 HOW TO WORK WITH INFLUENCERS POST-COVID The pandemic changed influencer marketing for travel dramatically. Many travel influencers lost their incomes and changed careers.

Those that remain have new concerns about promoting brands and destinations.

We conducted a survey of influencers and industry stakeholders to map the new landscape. This presentation will include key takeaways from our research and recommendations for how to work most effectively with influencers post-COIVD. Moderator: Matt Gibson, CEO, UpThink Ltd. Speakers: Paul Johnson, Editor, A Luxury Travel Blog; Amanda Ponzio-Mouttaki, Writer, MarocMama; Maria Khoriaty, Influencer Marketing Coordinator, Hashtag Media FZ LLC; Samantha Wood, Publisher, Event Organiser & Consultant, FooDiva 17:00 – 18:00 INFLUENCER NETWORKING EVENT Travel influencers can meet with the marketing teams from travel and tourism suppliers across the wide spectrum of exhibitors at ATM to explore ways to work together in the future.

SEMINAR SCHEDULE

THURSDAY 12TH MAY 10.30 - 11.15 HOW IS DATA CHANGING AIRLINE RETAILING? Travel tech start-up Atlas is redefining what it means to be data-led. Moderated by industry authority Brian Staunton, serial travel entrepreneur Mary Li will share her insights on how to build a data-led organisation and why harnessing every parameter of travel data these days is the future of travel technology. They’ll be joined on stage by a panel of experts providing agency, airline and technology perspectives to help you better understand the practicalities of data infrastructure and customised analysis, and the skills and experience we can take from

other industries and apply to travel. We’ll get under the hood of what it truly means for you and your customers to be data-led, the alignment of in-house technical and commercial capabilities, and what skills the next generation travel executives will need to hone to remain relevant and compete globally.

Speakers: Ashish Kumar, Director Commercial, Flights Booking, Wego Middle East; Mary Li, CEO, The Atlas Pte. Ltd. 11:45 - 12:30 EMBEDDED INSURANCE AND THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE: HOW CONVENIENCE IS CHANGING THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY

Speakers: Peter Smith, VP, Strategic Partnerships – Travel, Cover Genius; Sriram Jayanthi, Product Manager, Merchandising, Omio Travel Gmbh.

13:00 - 13:45 PAYMENT SOLUTIONS FOR WORLDCLASS GUEST EXPERIENCES Attend this session to learn more about how HyperPay is helping leading hospitality brands to automate internal daily operations and deliver high-quality services to guests with the power of Online Payment Solutions.

Speakers: Aziz Khan, Director of Payment Solution, HyperPay

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THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL & TOURISM

MAPPING FUTURE O At the opening session of Arabian Travel Market 2022, industry experts will discuss new trends and global movements shaping the future of international travel and tourism As Arabian Travel Market (ATM) prepares to welcome visitors to the 29th edition of the annual event, a flock of international travellers is navigating the labyrinth of health regulations and border restrictions to board their next flight. For many others, their upcoming trips are set to proceed as seamlessly as possible – for the first time in two years – with many countries around the world relaxing testing requirements and replacing the patchwork of restrictions with seamless digital solutions.

Industry experts believe that things are moving in the right direction, with these positive changes ushering in better days for the sector. Also signalling that the international travel and tourism industry

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is well on its way to recovery, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) revealed in its latest report that the sector’s contribution to the global economy could reach US$8.6 trillion this year, just 6.4 percent behind pre-pandemic levels.

As per the global tourism body, if the vaccine and booster rollouts continue at pace this year and restrictions on international travel are further eased around the world, the sector could create 58 million jobs in 2022, to reach more than 330 million, just one percent below pre-pandemic levels and 21.5 percent above 2020.

In 2019, before the pandemic stopped travel in its tracks, the sector contributed nearly US$9.2 trillion to

THE WORLD TRAVEL & TOURISM COUNCIL REVEALED IN ITS LATEST REPORT THAT THE TRAVEL AND TOURISM SECTOR’S CONTRIBUTION TO THE ECONOMY COULD REACH US$8.6 TRILLION THIS YEAR

THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL & TOURISM

G THE OF TRAVEL the global economy, generating 10.4 percent of the global GDP. However, in 2020, the crisis brought the sector to an almost complete standstill, causing a massive 49.1 percent drop, representing a severe loss of nearly US$4.5 trillion.

Now, a little over two years later, there’s a paradigm shift in making travel as seamless, secure and safe as possible, with new trends and global movements steering the sector forward.

And as a barometer for the travel and tourism industry, ATM 2022 will shine a light on the factors reshaping the future of the sector during its opening session – The Future of International Travel – which is set to take place on the ATM Global Stage on May 9, 2022.

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BRIGHTER DAYS AHEAD Speaking ahead of the session, Scott Livermore, Chief Economist, Oxford Economics, said: “The outlook for international travel is positive. While we do not expect an immediate complete rebound, significant gains are expected in 2022 and 2023 as pent-up demand is realised. Once business travel recovery is fully underway, and once China and some other more cautious markets ease restrictions, we can expect to see travel volumes regain 2019 levels.

This is currently expected worldwide in 2025 and by 2024 in the Middle East.

The expected timeline for recovery has been deferred by the war in Ukraine but it has not been derailed.”

to continued volatility in the outlook due to renewed COVID-19 outbreaks and the risk of restrictions. The war in Ukraine further adds to uncertainty and may affect traveller sentiment.”

He added: “Destinations and businesses need to pay greater attention to destination and visitor management rather than just marketing. Destination stewardship is important to balance the needs of visitors and residents who have had a break from the positive and negative elements brought about by tourism, for example, overcrowding in some major destinations.”

THE ROAD TO RECOVERY Although recovery is certain, experts agree that the way in which travellers experience the world will not be the same, with new trends redefining the sector as we know it. Discussing the current landscape of the industry, Livermore stated: “Travel remains more skewed towards domestic and shorthaul destinations as these are typically more familiar and perceived to be safer as well as involving lower costs.

“In the short term, travellers will continue to favour short-haul travel and some quieter, more rural destinations, but these trends will fade over time as recovery becomes more entrenched.

“We still anticipate consumerled economic growth in the coming months and years as enforced savings accumulated during the pandemic are spent, which will support pent-up travel demand. However, rising commodity prices will add to inflationary pressures and will erode some savings and income growth to soften this impact.

“Leisure travel will lead recovery and continue to account for a larger share of activity in the coming years than before the pandemic.”

NEW OPPORTUNITIES So what can travel industry businesses do to leverage these new trends and recover faster? Livermore answers: “Businesses should focus on short-haul source markets and those which have already eased travel restrictions for quick gains and to restore volumes.

“Flexibility in bookings and favourable cancellation policies should remain a key part of business plans owing 48

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Scott Livermore

RELEVANT ATM SESSION: ATM Opening Session: The Future of International Travel  ATM Global Stage  Monday, 9th May  12:00 - 13:00

THE FUTURE OF TRAVEL & TOURISM

THE BUSINESS TRAVEL LANDSCAPE

THE SUSTAINABILITY NARRATIVE

Since the initial impact of COVID-19 on travel was felt, it has always been clear that corporate travel would face a slower return to normalcy. But now, the sector, which took the biggest hit during the pandemic, is showing green shoots again. Although much remains to be seen, the successful vaccine roll-out has brought the industry some relief.

Livermore said: “Business travel will return, but a proportion of meetings will remain online and travel budgets will be squeezed. There are real benefits to inperson meetings, which are recognised by businesses, and 2019 levels will be regained over time, but in the near term, we expect to see fewer attendees at meetings per organisation and delegates.

“Large business events will return – and there have been some highprofile examples of successful events that have been held in the post-COVID environment – but there will remain some caution in organising these in many destinations, given the required lead time and lingering uncertainty,” he added.

Industry experts believe that one silver lining to the pandemic is travellers’ heightened awareness of the environment and a renewed commitment to making choices that are better for the planet “We expect to see a greater focus on sustainable and authentic experiences.

These were emerging trends prior to the pandemic that are now coming to the fore,” explained Livermore. “Travellers are likely to take fewer leisure trips involving a flight per year, but of longer duration, in order to minimise carbon footprint.

They are eager to once again experience different places and cultures and will increasingly seek authentic destinations.

“Travellers are also increasingly demanding sustainable travel products and experiences. Businesses and destinations with sustainable policies and practices are seeing the fastest gains and these things are essential to thrive. In this way, the pandemic has accelerated pre-existing trends, along with the desire for more authentic experiences,” concluded Livermore.

WHILE WE DO NOT EXPECT AN IMMEDIATE REBOUND, SIGNIFICANT GAINS ARE EXPECTED IN 2022 AND 2023 AS PENT-UP DEMAND IS REALISED

OFFICIAL SHOW THEME SPONSOR

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ARIVAL

ELEVATING TRAVEL One of the travel sector’s largest segments – the in-destination industry – takes centre stage at ATM with Arival, which will highlight the role of tours, activities, attractions and experiences in shaping the way we travel

Douglas Quinby

Like most aspects of travel, the in-destination industry is continually evolving. Before the pandemic, the changing nature of traveller behaviour and the influx of new technologies were the top factors shaping the segment.

And in the post-COVID-19 era, new variants, updates in health regulations and border restrictions have further contributed to the sector’s dynamic nature. As such, change has become a constant in the in-destination industry.

Made up of tour operators and providers of activities, attractions, events

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and experiences, the in-destination industry is not just the third-largest segment of the global travel and tourism sector, it is why people travel in the first place. That is why everyone, from online travel agencies to hotels and destination marketers, is determined to better understand this ever-evolving market.

Gaining in-destination insights is hugely valuable, especially when it comes to discovering the future trends that will shape the face of the market, now, more than ever, as travel industry businesses enter a new era post-COVID-19.

Throwing the spotlight on the in-destination industry, ATM 2022 will once again host Arival. The programme brings together the industry’s brightest minds and leading voices to explore the essential themes defining the future for tours, activities, attractions and experiences in 2022 and beyond.

MEETING EXPECTATIONS Douglas Quinby, Co-Founder & CEO, Arival, said: “Tours, activities and attractions have been one of the hardesthit sectors from the pandemic, but we are also seeing incredible pent-up demand.

Travellers who are coming back into the market are showing dramatically increased intent to experience and to spend on those experiences.

“Our research shows that consumer spend intent on tours is double that of 2019 levels, while spend intent on attraction tickets is up by 31 percent.

“This indicates that travellers want the most out of their trips in 2022. They no longer want to just see and hear.

It’s not enough just to go to the top of the tallest building or sit on a tour bus and look and listen. Visitors want to touch, taste, smell and experience.”

THE IN-DESTINATION INDUSTRY IS NOT JUST THE THIRD-LARGEST SEGMENT OF THE GLOBAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM SECTOR, IT IS WHY PEOPLE TRAVEL IN THE FIRST PLACE

ARIVAL

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Quinby added: “Travellers want to connect with local people, places, food and culture on their trips. And they want to be co-creators of the experience.”

For travellers to have active – not passive – visitor experiences, Quinby stated that it is up to providers to find innovative ways to meet this growing demand. And now, more than ever, it is important for tour and attraction providers to deliver extraordinary experiences in order to enable a comeback for the sector.

NAVIGATING CHALLENGES Whether it is the way a destination is marketed or a form of technology that is simply a must-have, there are some major challenges that will change the face of the in-destination travel industry.

Discussing this dynamic landscape, Quinby stated: “The key shifts in guest expectations perhaps pose the biggest challenges, and the competition is especially fierce in the UAE, with the dramatic growth of new top-tier attractions and experiences over the past few years.

“In addition, as we shift away from the pandemic, our sector, along with the broader global economy, is facing challenges in hiring, retention and supply chain management, as well as geopolitical uncertainty. We will explore these topics in depth at Arival @ ATM Dubai.”

TECHNOLOGY FOCUS Another area of the in-destination industry that has transformed significantly in recent years is the influx of technology in the sector. Whereas tourists would turn solely to local operators and often pay on arrival in the past, now, thanks to technological advancements, there is a wealth of options with which to book a range of experiences beforehand.

Quinby explained: “The pandemic has accelerated technology adoption across tours and attractions. Historically, the in-destination industry has lagged other tourism sectors in online booking and creating a great digital guest experience.

“Due to local restrictions on capacity management during the pandemic as well as dramatically accelerated consumer adoption of online shopping, ordering and purchasing, the pandemic has driven eight to 10 years of online growth in just 18 to 24 months. This means that online and advance booking

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ARIVAL

THE PANDEMIC HAS ACCELERATED EIGHT TO 10 YEARS OF ONLINE GROWTH IN JUST 18 TO 24 MONTHS is now preferred among travellers. And this presents an incredible opportunity for experience providers to offer upsells, add-on purchases and premium options to enhance the overall experience and generate additional revenue.”

Aligning with this shift, Arival @ ATM will focus on five key areas of technology this year, the first one being technology and the guest experience, which delves into how new mobile and on-site technologies are improving the guest experience, so as to reduce wait times in lines, notify guests of specific options or activities and provide insights back to operators to improve their offering.

Connectivity is another major focus. Quinby explained: “As more of the travel industry adds experiences to their offering, distribution is growing rapidly and becoming more complex.

Direct connectivity between tour operators and attraction systems with reseller platforms will be critical to sustaining efficient growth.”

Dynamic pricing will also be under the spotlight. “While widely adopted for some years in transportation and accommodation, it is still early in tours and attractions, but it is coming. Attractions that smartly leverage dynamic pricing can achieve significant gains in yield in visitors.”

During the pandemic, capacity management became a requirement to mitigate the risk of spreading the virus. However, going forward, capacity management techniques, such as timed entry, dynamic inventory control and guest flow management can be deployed to create a better guest experience. And Arival will explore how.

Finally, Google’s new search product – Google Things to Do – will also be a focus as this feature could have a significant impact on how travellers find and book things to do on their trips. “We have a session devoted to helping operators understand the new product and what it means for our industry,” Quinby concluded.

RELEVANT ATM SESSIONS: The Future of Travel is Experiences: The Role and Outlook of Tours, Activities & Attractions in Tourism’s Renewal  ATM Travel Tech Stage  Monday, 9th May  12:30 - 12:55 Fireside Chat: Fernando Eiroa, CEO, Dubai Holding Entertainment  ATM Travel Tech Stage  Monday, 9th May  12:55 - 13:20 The Future of Experiences: The NEOM Vision  ATM Travel Tech Stage  Monday, 9th May  13:20 - 13:50 The Other Side of Dubai: Meet the Locals  ATM Travel Tech Stage  Monday, 9th May  13:50 - 14:20 Interview: Dubai is re-envisioning Distribution. Can it work?  ATM Travel Tech Stage  Monday, 9th May  15:30 - 16:00 Safari Reimagined: How Responsible Travel can drive Purpose and Profit  ATM Travel Tech Stage  Monday, 9th May  16:00 - 16:25 Distribution, Tech and What’s Next for Tours, Activities and Attractions  ATM Travel Tech Stage  Monday, 9th May  16:25 - 17:00 Ask Me Anything: Zeina Dagher, CEO, Emaar Entertainment  ATM Travel Tech Stage  Monday, 9th May  17:00 - 17:25 That’s a Wrap!  ATM Travel Tech Stage  Monday, 9th May  17:25 - 17:30

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CHARTIN A NEW COURSE 54

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E

The region’s airlines have been navigating through some rough air over the last few years but bold strategies are at the heart of recovery plans for long-term success Airlines in the Middle East have faced a challenging period, feeling the effects of geopolitical shocks, increasing competition and rising oil prices before the pandemic grounded flights globally and brought the sector to a virtual standstill. While some shut shop, others set their sights on recovery and embarked on a new course with bold strategies in tow.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) expects overall traveller numbers to reach four billion in 2024, exceeding pre-COVID-19 levels (103 percent of the 2019 total), which signals that the industry is moving in the right direction. But along the way, lessons are being learnt.

John Strickland, a leading commentator on the airline sector for media worldwide, said: “If not already understood, the importance of having sufficient liquidity has been made crystal clear. The strongest players have ensured that this is the case and indeed have gone out to strengthen reserves.”

While it remains clear that the industry is on its way to recovery, with the world still not out of the grips of the COVID-19 crisis, the impact is still being felt.

“Recovery is going to be lengthy. It could run into years and the structure of many markets will change. Some important sources of traffic, such as business travellers using premium seats, may not fully recover,” he said.

Discussing the prevalent challenges, Strickland explained: “Some airlines are hedged on fuel and have managed to buy forward at prices lower than those prevailing in the market, others are not so fortunate and are currently exposed to rising costs which will be difficult to pass on in prices due to the fragile nature of recovery. Paying back the debt that many airlines have had to take on just to survive will be one of the greatest challenges in the years ahead.”

Shedding light on the key strategies that worked for airlines which managed to stay afloat in turbulent times, Strickland said: “The ability to react quickly and show agility has been critical. Airlines have had to make numerous changes to their timetables, adding and cancelling flights at extremely short notice, as quarantines and different restrictions were introduced by governments.

“They have also had to become increasingly agile in moving and mobilising capacity to where opportunities presented themselves.”

A good example remains that of low-cost carriers, many of which have adapted better to the ever-evolving nature of the market. Strickland said: “They have proved the most resilient, already being very efficient and capable of surviving on the basis of low fare traffic. They have maintained good cash reserves and have been very flexible in moving capacity to take advantage of opportunities.”

Flydubai Boeing 737 MAX 8

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FLYING HIGH Since its launch a little over a decade ago, Flydubai has rapidly grown to become one of the region’s largest lowcost carriers, with a growing fleet of the latest Boeing 737-800 and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft flying to more than 100 destinations around the world. And in spite of challenging market conditions, the airline recorded a successful year.

“Despite ongoing challenges related to COVID-19 and its impact on the aviation industry in 2021, we can look back at a successful year at Flydubai.

While we continued to meet the ongoing challenges, we were able to report tremendous results, both operationally and financially,” said CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith. “We reported a profit of US$229 million in 2021. Our total annual revenue increased by 86 percent to US$1.4 billion, compared to US$773 million in 2020.

“While travel remains complicated, our passengers have recognised that it is possible, and this is reflected in our growing number of weekly flights and an overall increase in passenger numbers by 76 percent year-on-year, with 5.6 million passengers who travelled with us last year and a seat factor of 69 percent. Also, the total number of flights surpassed pre-pandemic levels. We operated 6,430 flights in December 2021, compared to 5,701 flights in January 2020,” he added.

“We have also seen an increase in demand for connecting traffic with 34 percent of passengers connecting to the Flydubai network or through its codeshare with Emirates. The latter saw more than 8.3 million passengers enjoy seamless connectivity of our joined network since the launch of the codeshare partnership in 2017.”

Flydubai also witnessed an increase in demand for business class seats in 2021 in some of its key markets. “The GCC saw a growth of 42 percent in 2021, up from 35 percent in 2019; Europe saw an increase of 51 percent in 2021 up from 41 percent in 2019, and Africa saw an increase of 42 percent in 2021 up from 35 percent in 2019,” explained Al Ghaith.

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Flydubai Boeing 737 MAX 8

LOW-COST CARRIERS HAVE PROVED THE MOST RESILIENT IN THE PRESENT CLIMATE AS THEY ARE ALREADY VERY EFFICIENT AND CAPABLE OF SURVIVING ON LOW FARE TRAFFIC John Strickland

Ghaith Al Ghaith

AVIATION

GROWING CONNECTIVITY

FLEET MANAGEMENT

In 2021, the top 10 busiest routes for scheduled flights across the Flydubai network included Alexandria, Bahrain, Bucharest, Doha, Karachi, Kathmandu, Malé, Tbilisi, Tel Aviv and Zanzibar. And throughout the year, the airline has seen its network grow considerably with the launch of 22 new routes, out of which 13 routes were underserved from Dubai.

“Thanks to the efforts of our teams, we now operate flights to more destinations than before the pandemic. As travel restrictions started to be lifted across the network, we increased our flight schedule in the second half of the year to meet the growing demand for travel.

“Over the summer, we launched flights to five seasonal destinations to offer more options for passengers, including Batumi, Bodrum, Mykonos, Santorini and Trabzon. At the peak of this travel period, we were operating flights to 118 destinations and these seasonal routes were very popular with our passengers.”

With its sights set on further growth, 2022 got off to a good start for the airline with the addition of yet another route. “In March 2022, we launched operations to AlUla in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

“As the momentum for travel continues to build, we can look forward to launching more routes this year to provide our passengers with more options to travel and explore the Flydubai network.”

The year 2021 saw the addition of new aircraft to Flydubai’s growing fleet.

“With the Boeing 737 MAX rejoining our fleet in April, we were able to expand our single fleet type to 59 aircraft as of December 31, 2021.”

Things are looking up for the airline as 2022 will see Flydubai take delivery of the largest number of aircraft since the launch of the airline in 2009.

Al Ghaith said: “We started taking delivery of 20 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in March this year, which has seen our fleet grow to 62 aircraft. The additional MAX 8 aircraft joining our fleet this year will see the further deployment of our bespoke onboard product and also support our airline’s future growth.”

Flydubai business class

A MODEL OF SUCCESS With year-on-year growth reported by the airline, it is clear that Flydubai’s business model remains strong. “As demand for travel returned, our strong fundamentals have translated into a significant improvement in our financial and operational performance. This achievement was made possible by the commitment of our employees combined with our business agility,” he said.

And while this success is celebrated, the airline continues to eye new horizons.

“Our strategy for the year ahead is to contribute to the rebuilding of the travel sector. With travel restrictions continuing to ease across our network, we can be cautiously optimistic to see demand for travel grow, notwithstanding the geopolitical situation and its potential effect on the pricing of commodities.

“To support this growth trajectory, we will need to recruit the best people in the industry willing to contribute to Flydubai’s continued success story.”

RELEVANT ATM SESSION: Airlines Evolving for the Future: Hear from the Industry Leaders  ATM Global Stage  Tuesday, 10th May  10:30 - 11:30

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COMPET EDGE

ATM TRAVEL TECH

Taking place along Travel Tech will ex innovations and sp travel and hospital

Lee Hayhurst

TECHNOLOGY PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE IN HELPING BUSINESSES TO SURVIVE THE WORST OF THE PANDEMIC AND TO STILL BE HERE TO ENJOY THE REBOUND In the age of “everything contactless”, there are hardly any interactions that can occur seamlessly without the use of technology. Whether it’s ordering groceries or paying bills, there are multiple digital touchpoints that facilitate an individual’s everyday interactions with businesses.

As human reliance on technology grows rapidly, consumers expect seamless connectivity from every single business they deal with, setting the standards high for every brand, whether they are fundamentally a tech company or not. And the travel and tourism industry isn’t exempt.

From shortlisting destinations and booking flights and hotels to making

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reservations while on a holiday, the entire travel experience – from the planning stage until completion and reviewing after return – is reliant on the use of technology.

Walter Knight, Director of Hospitality, Farnek Services LLC, said: “Travellers today are looking for hassle-free experiences that make use of technology as a means to accommodate their needs.

Many travellers have become far more mindful since the pandemic and often look to avoid close or direct contact with others. The younger generation prefers to work through devices, such as apps to communicate, rather than call and speak directly to others.

“The demands of the new traveller are higher as we live in a world where

everything is accessible now. The demand for instant gratification is always challenging, however, this is also forcing the industry to become more creative and responsive in the way we run our businesses.

“We have to use technology to our advantage to increase the efficiency of our services and, at the same time, keep our costs in check. The new wave of tech-savvy customers is forcing the industry to evolve.”

In the last decade, a growing number of brands took note of the importance of integrating technology into their operations, substituting traditional methods with modern ones. And then, the pandemic also accelerated the

TITIVE

gside Arabian Travel Market 2022, ATM xplore the next generation of industry potlight cutting-edge technology for lity businesses

ATM TRAVEL TECH

need for tourism businesses to rely more on technical innovations to stay ahead of the curve and ensure seamless experiences for their customers.

“The added complexities associated with travelling during the pandemic underlined the need to provide travellers with reliable, up-to-date information and advice on their digital devices as well as to react in real time to disruptions and ever-changing rules and regulations,” said Lee Hayhurst, who serves as Executive Editor of Travolution and will be moderating the session On The Road To Seamless Travel at ATM 2022.

He added: “The travel industry was also forced to switch to remote working while continuing to service clients and, sadly, reduce headcount to bring operating costs down to a minimum, which meant self-service functionalities for customers became an absolute necessity to limit demands on businesses’ resources. So technology played a crucial role in helping businesses to survive the worst of the pandemic and to still be here to enjoy the rebound.”

Now, as we enter a post-pandemic era, businesses are continuing to leverage industry innovations in order to ease operations in the recovery phase.

Hayhurst explained: “There’s a lot of innovation going on at the travel coalface, with airports like Dubai International and Jordan’s Queen Alia International implementing contactless biometric facial recognition check-in and customs clearing technologies.

“Outside of aviation, rail operator Eurostar and cruise lines Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean are introducing technology to make the customer experience more enjoyable and smoother, while hotels brands are adopting keyless room entry and digital concierge systems.”

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“But probably the most promising developments are being made by firms looking to join up the entire travel journey as the sector moves towards a multimodal future using open API and cloud-based technology architecture,” added Hayhurst.

“Sector specialists like Omio and Kiwi.com and industry incumbents like Booking.com, Tripadvisor and Trip.com are vying with the likes of non-travel tech giants like Google to become a traveller’s in-pocket concierge service of choice.

“Many travel businesses are taking the opportunity of the pandemic to move their technology to the cloud in order to take advantage of more agile, software-as-a-service systems.

This promises operational efficiencies for the business and also brings computing closer to the end customer.

“Aligned with modern data capture and storage, machine learning and artificial intelligence to analyse and make sense of all the information that it is now possible to capture, firms are

starting to understand customers’ needs better and to anticipate demand more accurately so that the experience for the traveller becomes more relevant and integrated with every individual aspect of their trip,” concluded Hayhurst.

ON THE AGENDA AT ATM TRAVEL TECH With many more aspects of travel technology to explore, the revamped and rebranded ATM Travel Tech event – previously known as Travel Forward – will take place alongside ATM 2022. Across four days of insightful seminars, debates and presentations, attendees will be able to discover the innovations shaping the travel and hospitality industry today.

Decision makers from across the globe, innovative technology providers and senior executives in the industry will be in attendance, discussing the latest technologies and trends that will shape the future of travel.

THE REVAMPED AND REBRANDED ATM TRAVEL TECH EVENT WILL TAKE PLACE ALONGSIDE ATM 2022

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ON THE FAST TRACK

From new hyperloop syst driverless vehicles to nex aircraft and space travel, transport are fast emergi how we move around the

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tems and xt-generation new modes of ng, transforming e world

THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORT

The way we travel hasn’t radically changed since the advent of commercial flights in the latter half of the 20th century.

While advancements in technology may have improved functionality in planes, ships, trains, cars and even bicycles, these modes of transport have essentially remained the same. Until now!

As we move into a new era, with more focus on responsible travel, we’re seeing the pace of change increase dramatically in the transport sector.

From new hyperloop systems and driverless vehicles to next-generation aircraft and space travel, new modes of transport are fast emerging, transforming how we move around the world.

Highlighting the beginning of this revolution in transport, ATM 2022 will throw the spotlight on the future of transportation with a session organised by The Resilience Council.

Laurie Myers, Global Strategist, The Resilience Council, said: “We organised this session to share some exciting trends in transportation.

Clearly, there is a large push towards train travel and there are sustainability questions to ask around space travel: will Elon Musk be able to produce the battery supplies needed for the fleets of electric cars being deployed?”

CONSUMER GUILT COULD LEAD TO A CONSIDERABLE DROP IN AIR TRAVEL AND AN INCREASE IN ELECTRIC RAIL TRAVEL. RAIL TRAVEL COULD ALSO HAVE A COMPETITIVE EDGE OVER AIR TRAVEL IN TERMS OF USER EXPERIENCE

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THE RISE IN RAIL TRAVEL Rapid changes in the way we move from one place to another are underway in the region. Bahrain is building its metro; Merav Michaeli, Israel’s Minister of Transportation and Road Safety, has called for a ‘Peace Train’ from Haifa to Dubai; Etihad Rail is set to connect Dubai and Abu Dhabi with a capacity to serve 36 million people by the year 2030.

Sarah Hedley Hymers, Editorial Director, ConnectingTravel, who will be moderating the ATM session, said: “Consumer guilt could lead to a considerable drop in air travel and an increase in electric rail travel. Rail travel could also have a competitive edge over air travel in terms of user experience.

“Today, unless flying business or first class, air travel is overly complicated and uncomfortable, with little room to move and passengers expected to fight over single armrests in the middle seats. With three-hour check-in periods reducing air travel’s main advantage of speed, rail travel could even become the quickest way to travel from door to door in the Gulf, especially if projects like the Hyperloop come to pass.

“With the Gulf approaching its Golden Age of Travel in 2030, when some of the world’s most exciting tourist attractions and destinations will be open for business, there will be even more reason to holiday closer to home and this is when rail travel will come into its own.”

Sarah Hedley Hymers

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THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORT

DECARBONISING AVIATION The environment is one of aviation’s top priorities in today’s climate. Airlines are working constantly to limit their impact on the planet by reducing carbon emissions.

The future of the industry certainly will see a heavy emphasis on decarbonising.

Kata Cserep, Vice President and Global Managing Director, Aviation, ICF, said: “The pressure to decarbonise transport across the board will have repercussions on two primary fronts, including customer expectations to see progress towards ‘greener’ air transport, coupled with switching to other transport modes, where these are available and attractive. Also, the rising costs of carbon and traditional fuel will drive additional incentives towards sustainable aviation fuel usage, electric and hybrid aviation and, eventually, hydrogen aircraft and radical new aircraft designs.”

With its potential to fuel a sustainable future for travel and tourism, sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is becoming increasingly significant. Yet, only a handful of airlines are switching over.

“SAF remains less than 0.1 percent of aviation fuel consumed. The disconnect between production costs and the willingness of airlines to pay is at the heart of the production shortfall. We are certainly seeing progress, particularly

Kata Cserep

in markets where incentives make production and offtaking economically viable (such as in California). In other markets, the investment in new technology refineries and even in retrofits will continue to lag behind where it needs to be, without demand and price certainty for the producers looking to serve this rising need.

“Yet, all being well, these new advancements will help to ensure that future generations are able to enjoy the freedoms the last two generations have enjoyed. Social and economic connections will continue to be supported by aviation, but without the continued unsustainable burden on the environment affected by fossil fuel propulsion technologies. Without them, we risk moving backwards globally.”

CUSTOMERS TODAY EXPECT TO SEE PROGRESS BEING MADE TOWARDS GREENER AIR TRANSPORT ATM PREVIEW 2022

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THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORT

Wisk aircraft

THE ERA OF AUTOMATED TRANSPORT Aviation pioneer and industry leader, Boeing, is constantly investing in researching future technologies to move people, goods and ideas around the world. At present, the aeroplane manufacturer is testing uncrewed electricpowered aerial vehicles for passengers and cargo aimed at market segments that will reduce urban congestion and emissions from vehicles on the ground.

Kuljit Ghata-Aura, President, Middle East, Africa and Turkey, Boeing, said: “Boeing has made a US$450 million investment in Wisk to advance certified autonomous electric flights (future pilotless flying taxis). Wisk’s self-flying eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) air taxi will make it possible for passengers to skip the traffic and get to their destination faster.”

Wisk is an advanced air mobility (AAM) company dedicated to delivering a safe, everyday flight experience for everyone. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area and New Zealand, Wisk has over a decade of experience and boasts over 1,500 test flights. The company is shaping the future of daily commutes and urban travel, safely and sustainably.

While working to deliver safe, autonomous, all-electric, everyday flights with Wisk, Boeing also supports and aligns with the aviation industry’s goals for carbon-neutral growth and commitment to achieve netzero carbon emissions by 2050.

“We’ve already made substantial progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from our worksites and manufacturing facilities as well as building new generations of aircraft.

Boeing operations achieved net-zero emissions at manufacturing and worksites in 2020 by expanding conservation and

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Kuljit Ghata-Aura

renewable energy use while tapping responsible offsets for the remaining greenhouse gas emissions.”

Boeing’s multi-faceted strategy that allows the industry to decarbonise aerospace includes three pillars: fleet renewal, network operational efficiency and sustainable aviation fuels (SAF).

“Sustainable fuels are key to longterm, large-scale reductions in CO2 emissions that aeroplane technology cannot achieve. SAFs offer the best potential to significantly reduce emissions on larger, longer-range aeroplanes for the next several decades.”

For more than a decade, Boeing has collaborated globally with airlines, governments, research institutions, SAF companies and other stakeholders to develop and approve SAF pathways.

In February 2022, Boeing announced a supply agreement for two million gallons of blended sustainable aviation fuel with Epic Fuels to power its commercial aeroplane operations in Washington state and South Carolina throughout the year.

The agreement was the largest announced SAF procurement by an airframer.

“We have confidence that our commercial aeroplanes will be capable and certified to fly on 100 percent SAF by 2030.”

THE FUTURE OF TRANSPORT

Karim Makhlouf

Royal Jordanian

Boeing 787 Dreamliner

FUTURE APPROACH Closer to home, Royal Jordanian, the kingdom’s flag carrier, has embarked on an extensive growth strategy with sights set on a bright future.

Karim Makhlouf, Chief Commercial Officer, said: “At Royal Jordanian, our new five-year restructuring plan aims to double the fleet from 23 to 45 aircraft in the next half-decade and position Amman as the leading gateway for the Levant. We recently placed a tender for overall fleet renewal and growth, aiming to introduce 34 brand-new aircraft within the next five years to replace our existing fleet and expand.”

Aside from renewing its fleet, Royal Jordanian’s approach to the future focuses on restructuring commercially to address productivity and new destination demand.

“A strong focus on route development is also at the core of our operations to address the demands of today’s travellers and increase the overall productivity of our fleet. Our route development strategy is now a combination of hub and spoke as well as point to point, this allows us to be more efficient. Productivity will be focused on ensuring resilience so that a fresh look at charters will be part of the equation.”

RELEVANT ATM SESSION: The Future of Transport  ATM Global Stage  Tuesday, 10th May  12:00 - 12:45

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SPOTLIGH ON SAUD Saudi Arabia stands firm in its mission to become one of the Middle East’s prime tourism destinations, with the country’s giga projects and heritage sites leading the charge

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THE GIGA PROJECT EFFECT

HT DI

Historically, Saudi Arabia hasn’t been a tourist destination. Until the end of the last decade, only religious pilgrims and business travellers were issued visit visas. But all that changed in 2019 with the kingdom’s decision to begin welcoming visitors from all over the world.

As the largest country in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia boasts a diverse landscape, with a striking blend of old and new. Once home to ancient Nabatean kingdoms, the country honours and celebrates its rich heritage – evident in its perfectly preserved historic sites juxtaposed with its modern cities bursting with vibrancy.

THANKS TO THE VISION 2030 PROJECT, THE KINGDOM HAS INVESTED BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN LAUNCHING NEW CULTURE, LEISURE & ENTERTAINMENT PROJECTS, AND SOME ARE ALREADY MESMERISING THE MASSES

With plenty to offer travellers and change sweeping the nation as new avenues for exploration continue to open up, Saudi Arabia is well on its way to becoming a tourism force in the Middle East. Thanks to the Vision 2030 project, which was announced in 2016, the kingdom has invested billions of dollars in launching new culture, leisure and entertainment projects, a few of which are already mesmerising the masses.

It’s all part of the government’s plan to channel a sum of US$800 billion by 2030 into developing everything, from transportation to city infrastructure, in order to support its overall vision. This strategy has significantly enhanced the country’s appeal as a tourist destination and has set the kingdom on track to achieve its goal of welcoming 100 million visitors by 2030.

AlUla

A particular focus for Saudi Arabia has been the transformation of its hospitality landscape, which the country has been able to do by launching a series of giga projects across the kingdom. Several of these are currently taking shape in the northeast of the country and are set to open in phases starting this year.

Among these, Neom, the Red Sea destination, Amaala, Diriyah Gate and Qiddiya are currently taking shape. Set to bring a new vision of urban living to life, these massive projects make the most of the exceptional biodiversity in its surrounds to offer an all-encompassing leisure experience to modern travellers.

Equal emphasis is placed on promoting the country’s heritage, with the destination of AlUla leading the charge in this sphere. Responsible tourism also is top of mind amid the ongoing development, as projects such as Green Riyadh offer a sustainable blueprint on which to build a diverse tourism landscape.

LEADING BY EXAMPLE One of the world’s most ambitious regenerative tourism projects, The Red Sea destination will offer an exclusive experience of unparalleled diversity when it opens to visitors. Made up of 90 pristine islands, this giga project encompasses miles of sweeping desert and dramatic mountain landscapes, peppered with unique luxury accommodation options for all types of travellers.

“Under the guidance of the kingdom’s visionary leadership, we have taken important steps in leading the industry towards a new frontier in regenerative tourism,” explained John Pagano, CEO, The Red Sea Development Company.

“To date, we have signed over 800 contracts worth in excess of US$5.3 billion – including nine hotel management agreements in the last quarter of 2021 – to bring world-leading, luxury hospitality to the Red Sea destination.

We have made significant progress on the ground, with hotels and other assets now taking shape following sustainable off-site manufacturing efforts both in the kingdom and further afield.

“Designs for a spectacular mountain resort nestled between the beautiful wadi vistas in the west of the country were revealed as a testament to our commitment to provide truly distinctive opportunities for the world’s most discerning travellers.”

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Pagano added: “These luxury offerings will form part of the first phase of development scheduled for 2023, featuring 16 hotels out of the 50 that we have planned in total.”

The first wave of visitors to the Red Sea destination is set to arrive by the end of 2022 with several hotels gearing up for a soft opening. Pagano said that visitors will be able to enjoy “authentic and bespoke experiences that will provide rare access to undiscovered coastlines, islands, lagoons, mountain ranges, and dormant volcanoes.”

He added: “Sheltered warm waters amidst mangrove forests will serve as sites for kayaking and diving to witness the world’s fourth-largest barrier reef system – including 314 species of pristine coral. Historical and archaeological sites will celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast, while the highest quality of personalised hospitality and smart services will enable a frictionless visitor journey.”

With completion set for 2030, the project will transform the tourism and hospitality landscape in northwest Saudi Arabia. It will be home to 50 resorts, offering 8,000 hotel rooms and more than 1,000 residential properties that span 22 islands and six inland sites.

The destination will also include an international airport, luxury marinas, championship golf courses, and an array of entertainment and leisure facilities.

Pagano said: “By 2030, the Red Sea destination will contribute US$5 billion per year to the local GDP, while construction and 10 years of steady-state operations will generate cumulative revenues of US$123 billion by 2044. The positive impact of our operations will span the entire tourism economic value chain – from local tourism service providers to adjacent communities and future guests.”

While contributing to the thriving Saudi Arabia economy is a key priority, the Red Sea destination is equally invested in its sustainability efforts and aims to set a new standard in sustainable development.

“We are investing heavily in renewables, conservation and innovative technology, and have partnered with leading architects, designers and scientists to help us transform our vision into reality,” explained Pagano.

“In practice, this means that despite an expansive area of 28,000 square kilometres, we are leaving 75 percent of the project’s islands untouched and

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designating nine islands as special conservation zones, while developing only less than one percent of the total site area – never seen before in a documented coastal development plan in the world.

“Our targets of achieving carbon neutrality and a net positive conservation benefit of 30 percent by 2040 are supporting Saudi Arabia’s pledge towards net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2060, while aligning with all 17 of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals.

“We believe that regenerative tourism is the only way forward to yield maximum benefits for the economy, environment and society.

We envision the Red Sea destination as a catalyst in the global transition to regeneration while exemplifying Saudi Arabia’s efforts in creating a sustainable future for the region.”

AlUla

SAUDI ARABIA

A JOURNEY BACK IN TIME

Habitas AlUla

AlUla’s strategic location in the heart of the Middle East meant that it sat along several trade routes for incense and spices coming from Asia, North Africa and the Levant. A place of deep history, its origins date back to the sixth century BC and it has served as the capital of the kingdom of the Lihyanites.

Its ancient architecture remains well preserved and, today, visitors can discover the UNESCO World Heritage Site and embark on a journey through time, exploring tombs, sandstone outcrops, historic dwellings and monuments, both natural and manmade.

“AlUla is a continuously evolving destination that is nowhere near to reaching its full potential,” explained Phillip Jones, Chief Destination Management and Marketing Officer

The Red Sea destination

ALULA AIRPORT WELCOMED NEW ROUTES LAST YEAR, MAKING ALULA MORE ACCESSIBLE TO INTERNATIONAL TRAVELLERS

The Red Sea destination

at Royal Commission for AlUla. Yet, its ongoing efforts to promote the destination to global audiences have met with success.

“A milestone for us was the number of visitors that AlUla welcomed last year. The expected number of visitors for 2021 was 95,000, and by the end of the year, we reached a total number of 130,000, which means that we surpassed our target by a significant margin.

“Adding to that, we had expected that international travellers would make up about five percent of the total visitors; however, 24 percent of AlUla’s visitors were international travellers by the end of 2021, which demonstrates that our marketing plans are working.”

To meet this growing demand, last year, AlUla Airport welcomed three new international routes, with direct flights from Dubai operated by Flynas and Flydubai as well as from Paris with Saudia, making AlUla more accessible to international travellers.

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ALULA, NEOM, THE RED SEA DESTINATION, AMAALA, DIRIYAH GATE AND QIDDIYA ARE LEADING THE CHARGE TO POSITION SAUDI ARABIA AS AN ATTRACTIVE TOURIST DESTINATION

NEOM coastline Bajdah desert

The hotel landscape in AlUla also saw the addition of 96 rooms and 21 caravans to its total room capacity with the opening of Habitas AlUla. In 2021, AlUla announced the initiation of the Journey Through Time Masterplan, which outlines the development of five districts by 2035. The first district of AlUla Old Town opened last year with AlJadidah village, which has been transformed into a pedestrian-only art, culture and dining destination, set to open in 2022.

Additionally, the destination has become a hub for a wide selection of new experiences, including wellness and adventure activities, such as mountain biking, rock climbing, zip lining, hiking and more. And for visitors who seek extraordinary dining experiences, AlUla has now become a dining hotspot with the opening of more than 15 new restaurants last year, including a farm-to-table concept, well-known international restaurants and celebrity chef-helmed venues.

“While the kingdom is creating a series of world-leading regions for tourism, from the Red Sea to Neom and beyond, AlUla has the advantage of being the first of the major infrastructure projects to welcome visitors and is already giving back to the economy,” explained Jones.

“Our plans in AlUla are all about giving back to the community and creating jobs and opportunities, and we are already delivering on that and will continue to do so as we cement our permanent and seasonal events and attractions. The Journey Through Time master plan will contribute US$31 billion to the GDP, create 38,000 new jobs and welcome two million visitors per year.

AlUla’s positioning allows it to attract and host high-spending individuals from around the world and the kingdom itself and be a key generator for the kingdom’s tourism-related revenue.”

BUILDING CONNECTIONS A trusted name in the Saudi Arabian hospitality scene, the Seera Group (formerly known as Al Tayyar Travel Group) brings 40 years of expertise to the tourism industry in the kingdom.

With the aim of connecting Saudi Arabia with the rest of the region and world, the group has been instrumental in driving the country’s Vision 2030.

“Our ultimate goal is to build an industry that supports the Vision’s aims of economic diversification

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Elephant Rock, AlUla

and job creation,” said Majed Alnefaie, CEO, Seera Group.

“We have worked hard to contribute to building the kingdom’s tourism infrastructure by investing in our accommodation portfolio to cater for the increasing demand, revolutionising the kingdom’s digital travel landscape through our cutting-edge online booking platforms and providing large-scale travel logistics to support some of the biggest events in the country.”

A transformational year for the group, 2021 saw Seera integrate all travel-related verticals under Almosafer to create the largest travel business catering to corporate, government, consumer and VIP travel.

“We also launched Almosafer Chalets+, providing a B2C digital marketplace for alternative accommodation, such as chalets and villas,” added Alnefaie. “Discover Saudi, our destination management company, supported some of the biggest events in the kingdom, including Formula E and Dakar Rally by providing travel arrangements and ancillary services.

“We also developed our digital offerings and launched a new mobile application for our car rental business, Lumi, and also increased our product

ALULA HAS THE ADVANTAGE OF BEING THE FIRST OF THE MAJOR PROJECTS TO WELCOME VISITORS, AND IS ALREADY GIVING BACK TO THE ECONOMY offerings for our clients with the launch of our Harley Davidson bike rentals.”

Elsewhere during the year, the Seera Group signed key partnerships to build new hotels in AlUla and Al Baha while also joining hands with Princess Noura Bint Abdulrahman University to develop travel and tourism training courses for students. Not keen to rest on their laurels, the group has ambitious plans ahead to further contribute to the kingdom’s tourism potential.

“We have weathered a difficult year for the travel and tourism industry and have emerged stronger, with significant growth across the vast majority of our portfolio verticals. Seera Group has shown huge potential for growth as the travel and tourism industry recovers.

“We will be partnering with the Saudi Tourism Authority to further develop outbound, inbound and domestic tourism.

Through Discover Saudi, we will be working hard to promote the kingdom and educate travel agents on the cultural,

natural and historical attractions with the goal of bringing more inbound tourism.

“We are also continuing to pioneer the Kingdom’s digital travel landscape and will be leveraging our joint venture with Klook to create a one-stop-shop digital platform for activities, tours and events.

“Through all our projects we seek to develop and enhance our products and services to provide our customers with the best range of experiences in order to support Saudi Arabia’s tourism landscape.”

RELEVANT ATM SESSIONS: The ATM Saudi Forum: Session 1: From strategy to reality: Saudi Arabia’s tourism vision comes of age  ATM Global Stage  Monday, 9th May  14:45 - 15:45 The ATM Saudi Forum: Session 2: Saudi Arabia’s blueprint for responsible tourism development  ATM Global Stage  Monday, 9th May  16:00 - 17:00

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ARAB TRAVELLER INSIGHT

With countries in the region and around the world recognising Arab travellers as a powerful consumer segment, travel and tourism businesses are seeking new ways to leverage their potential to steer the sector forward Jess Noble

Süleymaniye Mosque, Turkey

The Arab traveller segment has become recognised as one of the industry’s most lucrative audiences in recent years. Once viewed as a niche market largely catered for by small travel firms, the burgeoning segment now has the attention of top travel and tourism companies.

Countries around the world are recognising Arab travellers as a powerful consumer segment and are seeking new ways to leverage their potential to steer the sector forward after the impact of the pandemic.

As COVID-19 regulations continue to ease around the world, travel is at the top of the list for Arab audiences.

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And while outbound tourism from the GCC means tens of billions of dollars spent in destination countries, entities from the originating countries can also benefit from the opportunity to cater to the Arab traveller.

Helping businesses understand how to connect better with this audience is Dubai-based marketing and consumer consultancy, D/A. With their proprietary AI technology, Sila, D/A helps brands get closer to Arabic-speaking consumers through insight, strategy and action.

AT ATM 2022, D/A will present findings from their recent travel study conducted by analysing over 1.3 million

travel conversations ambiently in Arabic.

While defining the modern Arab traveller, the session will also offer insight into where they are looking to go and how brands can develop strategies to enhance relationships with their audiences.

Speaking ahead of the session, Jess Noble, Head of Growth, D/A, said: “From a macro level, the GCC traveller is high value and fast-growing. Generally, a GCC traveller will spend six and a half times the global average. Also, the region has the fastest-growing population in the world and the vast majority will soon be under 25 years of age. This speedy population growth combined with millennial spending

ANDING TRAVELLER

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ARAB TRAVELLER INSIGHT

Thailand

power and the current post-pandemic travel climate has led to some interesting movements in consumer behaviour.”

The latest GCC travel trends report 2022 from D/A highlighted that the GCC accounts for 64 percent of total international departures from the Middle East and 40 percent of GCC travellers spent over US$10,000 on their last trip to Europe. This is why D/A believes that understanding GCC travellers is crucial for regional travel experts.

As with most industries, the travel and tourism sector is witnessing a transformation in consumer behaviour, with newer spending habits and newer desires determining the path forward for the industry.

“There are two distinct shifts that we are witnessing post-pandemic with Arab travellers,” said Noble “First is a new mindset – revenge travel – which is fueling desire into action. And as travel planning shortens, trips are taken with less concern and more passion.

“The language used within travel conversations is far more emotive than before – this is where we are observing another big change in behaviour. With ‘escapism’ driving action and as ‘wants’ are becoming ‘needs’, it changes the ‘reasons to travel’ for Arab consumers.

“We’ve noticed that the vast majority are looking to travel for vacation only and they are looking more and more at destinations that are ‘unlike home’.

Finally free from the restrictions keeping them within the same landscape, there is a desire to experience culture and nature for most, followed by the younger generation that is looking for retail and new local flavours.

Highlighting the trends that the sector has witnessed in Arab traveller behaviour since the onset of COVID-19, Noble explained: “2020 saw the start

AS COVID-19 REGULATIONS CONTINUE TO EASE AROUND THE WORLD, TRAVEL IS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST FOR ARAB AUDIENCES

Santorini, Greece

of a new destination trend around the world – the staycation – and the GCC was no exception. The top three travel destinations, the UAE, KSA and Kuwait, are primarily driven by their own and other GCC residents, only confirming the significance of staycations. This

trend is likely to continue in the near future. Then, in 2021, we saw sentiment in travel conversations sharply increase with an overwhelmingly positive response, both towards the GCC economy and travel. Clearly, the Arab traveller is ready to take off!”

RELEVANT ATM SESSION: Arabic Travellers Insight: Understanding how to connect with the Arabic Travel Audience  ATM Global Stage  Tuesday, 10th May  13:15 - 13:45

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BUILDING RESILIENCE

HOSPITALITY

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HOSPITALITY

Thailand

Leading industry figureheads highlight the hospitality landscape in the Middle East and discuss their vision for the future of the industry According to a recent report by hotel market intelligence and global benchmarking company STR, the development of new hotels is on the rise in the Middle East, with prime tourist destinations such as the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Oman leading the way. Despite the pandemic headwinds that the global hospitality industry has had to contend with, the future of the hotel industry in the region looks bright.

In fact, for many travel and tourism businesses, the pandemic served as an opportunity to build back better.

“While the pandemic has transformed the hospitality industry, it has also made us quicker to adapt to changes and become more resilient in the face of unprecedented times,” said Mark Kirby, Head of Hospitality, Emaar Hospitality Group.

“Our region was one of the first to revive the tourism industry and this was a result of the efficient response from the government while the hotel industry has been outstanding in redesigning guest experiences to incorporate factors like safety, wellness, sustainability and digitisation.”

Now, with travel restrictions and COVID-19 regulations continuing to ease at a rapid pace across the globe,

THE REOPENING OF TRAVEL AND TOURISM AROUND THE WORLD HAS ACCELERATED THE REVIVAL OF THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, WITH THE MIDDLE EAST PAVING THE PATH TO RECOVERY

Kirby added that the “reopening of travel and tourism around the world has accelerated the revival of the hospitality industry” with the Middle East paving the path to recovery.

THE ROAD TO RECOVERY “The pandemic has drastically impacted the world’s economies and changed consumer habits significantly. Since 2021, however, the hospitality sector in this region has been recovering quickly and, today, more than ever, is thriving,” said Guy Hutchinson, President & CEO, Rotana.

“The growth has been supported by an increasing number of key international feeder markets reopening their borders and rolling out effective COVID-19 vaccination programmes. In particular, the impact of Expo has had a very substantial effect on recovery in the UAE, especially for the hospitality industry.”

During the mega event’s six-month run, Expo 2020 Dubai welcomed more than 24 million local, regional and international visitors, highlighting that global events can safely and efficiently take place even amid a pandemic.

Hutchinson added: “Expo came at the perfect time, when demand for a return to international travel peaked and the UAE was already successfully established as a safe, COVID-protected and well-managed travel destination.”

But the impact has been lasting as Hutchinson believes that the global exhibition also contributed to a greater level of awareness for the emirate of Dubai.

“As we continue on the road to recovery, hotel performance remains extremely positive and we can be very optimistic for the future of the industry in the UAE and the wider region.”

Echoing the sentiment, Kirby pointed out that with the Middle East set to host more global events in 2022 and beyond, “it will continue to attract tourism in the region which will further grow our industry.”

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LOOKING AHEAD “2022 is a promising year for the hospitality industry with hotels’ outlook remaining positive across the GCC,” said Tim Cordon, Area Senior Vice President, Middle East and Africa.

“After two incredibly hard years on people and companies around the globe, there is an overwhelming need to travel again, and the Middle East remains a very attractive destination as the host of leading global exhibitions and events.”

Cordon also pointed out that as countries are relaxing their restrictions, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar are anticipating an influx of tourists.

“More specifically, this year will welcome the highly anticipated FIFA World Cup™ in Doha,” he added. And while the event will boost hotel demand in Qatar, the transit hubs in Dubai and Abu Dhabi are also likely to see an influx in visitor numbers around the event.

He further explained: “Increased tourism activations in Jeddah and Riyadh look promising and the pilgrimage season in Makkah and Madinah will further bolster tourism across the region. The Middle East, therefore, continues to be a leading market for us as we plan to reach 100 hotels in the region by 2026, with new developments across all segments.”

Despite the challenges, there are a number of factors coming together at the same time which bode well for the hospitality industry in the Middle East.

TRENDS TAKING SHAPE While recovery has been rapid in the region, it has certainly not been easy, considering the nature of the pandemic –with sudden alterations in travel restrictions as a result of surges – and, above all, the everevolving nature of the consumer.

As Cordon explained: “Safety continues to be a priority for everyone and we can all accept that travellers worldwide will continue to be much more cautious.”

That is why hotels around the world are working hard to regain customer trust and tailor experiences to make them feel safer while travelling during a global pandemic. With an increase in hotel staff vaccination drives, regular sanitisation of guest rooms and public areas as well as contactless operations for safer experiences, hotels are welcoming guests in larger numbers.

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HOSPITALITY

Guy Hutchinson

Mark Kirby

Tim Cordon

FIFA World Cup™ 2022, Doha, Qatar

But the changing world has also seen other traveller habits arise. Highlighting the rising number of ‘workations’, Cordon said: “Another global trend we’ve witnessed is the hybrid solutions offering, especially with remote working becoming the new norm, which we believe will remain a key factor for many business travellers across the globe.”

Hutchinson commented: “Flexibility is also an important factor for consumers when arranging travel plans, as global travel rules continue to be updated.

Guests are looking for hotels to be flexible with check-in and check-out times, updated cancellation policies, free cancellations against local and international restrictions as well as upgrades that allow guests to have a better room to be able to work from and have more space. As travel starts to pick up, companies that adjust to cater for this level of flexibility will lead recovery.”

Kirby added: “We have also seen a rise in wellness initiatives in the industry as guests now opt for wellness experiences close to home – this has also resulted in an increase in domestic travel.

“All these changes combined seem to have a long-term impact on the hospitality sector and the industry is working towards meeting customer requirements with the most efficient and innovative solutions.

“Clearly, the hospitality industry has come back with new strategies and practices that are more customerdriven in terms of experiences and safety, and this will shape the sector’s landscape in years to come.”

RELEVANT ATM SESSION: The Future of the Region’s Hotel Industry  ATM Global Stage  Wednesday, May 11, 2022  10:30 - 11:15

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TRAVEL TRENDS

What do guests want travel experiences? W industry experts who the top trends that a travel and tourism to While coming to terms with the impact of the pandemic, the travel and tourism industry is also acquainting itself with a new wave of travellers. Expectations have altered and demands are now higher, as most industry experts point out. But what is it that guests truly want?

Among new trends taking shape, experiential travel, eco-conscious breaks and wellness experiences that go beyond spas are leading the way. With travellers now becoming more aware of their choices than ever before, they are seeking experiences that transform them, are not detrimental to the environment and offer them the most value.

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ECO-CONSCIOUS BREAKS Even before the pandemic, travellers were becoming more environmentally aware and conscious about the impact of their trips. With tourism contributing to global greenhouse gas emissions, more and more travellers are choosing eco-conscious breaks as a way to mitigate their role in the issue.

And the industry has taken note.

When Chris Nader cofounded ENVI Lodges, it was in response to the strong spotlight that the pandemic shone on the environmental impact of travel and tourism.

TRAVEL TRENDS

t from their We speak to o highlight are shaping oday TRAVELLERS ARE MAKING GREENER CHOICES; THEY ARE CHOOSING RESPONSIBLE BRANDS AND PROPERTIES THAT OPERATE IN A WAY THAT MATCHES THEIR BELIEFS

He noted that there was a psychographic shift taking place in the industry, led by Gen Y and Z, who valued experiences and sustainability above everything else and were choosing hotels that left a positive impact on the environment in which they operated.

Nader said: “Travellers are making greener choices; they are choosing responsible brands and properties that operate in a way that matches their beliefs and they want to make sure that there is accountability and monitoring.

“They need to know how their stay is contributing to the wellbeing of the locals.”

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TRAVEL TRENDS

Chris Nader

“They also need to know that their efforts are supporting the regeneration of the environment or the protection of local heritage,” added Nader.

“We, therefore, developed our sustainability standards with the help of various experts in design, engineering and operations. These standards are included in our sustainability programme – C.A.R.E. – and are based on seven pillars: respect the land, build with a sense of place, protect wildlife, support local communities, be mindful of resources, eat responsibly and engage guests.”

EXPERIENTIAL STAYS Nader noted that transformative experiences are also top of mind for today’s travellers. He said guests are now seeking “experiences that change them, transform them and leave a lasting impact and memory.”

He added: “Often, they do not really know what they want to achieve during their trip or what they hope to take away. As an experiential lodge brand, it is our aim to not only deliver what guests think they want but also what they never thought to ask for.

“We think of our guests as a group of people who share the same mindset and have the same values. We do not

Cenk Unverdi

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follow the traditional segmentation method that is typical in our industry. It doesn’t matter to us if you are a couple, a family or an individual, and it doesn’t matter how old you are. What matters is for us to know what experiences you are seeking, what transformation you hope to achieve and what higher purpose is driving you to stay with us.

“All our guests have three things in common: they want to be immersed in nature, they seek transformative experiences and they care about the environment. So, we develop our lodges based on a pre-defined guest journey that suits predominately one of our guest profiles: the adventurer, the spiritual or the explorer. Each profile has different needs and expectations and, therefore, requires different experiences and facilities.”

WELLNESS TRAVEL The pandemic brought about a sharp rise in the demand for wellness experiences, with physical and mental health becoming a significant part of public discourse. Unsurprisingly, in the last few months, wellness-focused resorts have blossomed around the world.

Responding to the demand for wellness experiences, Dubai-based female entrepreneurs, Sophia Bakkal and Rachel Dowes, founded Beyond Wellness to make wellness-focused retreats more accessible to guests in

the region. “It has been promising,” they said as they continue to tailor wellness experiences in some of the world’s most awe-inspiring locations, from Dubai to the Maldives and Zanzibar.

“Our retreats offer a 360-degree mind, body and spirit experience encompassing physical, mental and spiritual wellness in its entirety. And our retreats are set in some of the world’s most tranquil locations.

“We believe that being close to nature is important for self-healing, so all our experiences are held within natural beauty. For instance, our Maldives retreat is the most popular simply because there’s nothing quite like seeing dolphins swimming by during a yoga session or meditating at night on the beach and witnessing bioluminescent plankton lighting up the ocean.”

ALL-INCLUSIVE LUXURY In a reshuffling of traveller priorities, all-inclusive resorts are beginning to shine. And guests looking to dip a toe into today’s all-inclusive offerings are finding a host of getaway options packed with amenities that allow them to leave their wallets in rooms.

The idea of experiencing travel – especially luxury travel – at a predetermined price and at a time when pandemic-related uncertainties can complicate travel budgets is appealing.

GUESTS ARE SEEKING EXPERIENCES THAT CHANGE THEM, TRANSFORM THEM AND LEAVE A LASTING IMPACT

TRAVEL TRENDS

In the region, Rixos Hotels has championed the trend of all-inclusive stays by becoming one of the first brands to offer a premium hospitality experience to guests at a predetermined price.

Cenk Unverdi, Regional General Manager, Rixos Hotels UAE, said: “There is a growing demand for allinclusive holidays, particularly in the post-COVID-19 era and guests nowadays are looking for experiences more than just hotel stays. They want worry-free vacations and we leverage this idea with our luxury offerings during their all-inclusive stays.

“While the word ‘all-inclusive’ only used to be associated with unlimited dining experiences, Rixos has elevated the concept with its premium offerings to include exceptional entertainment options for everyone and tried to monopolise the luxury stays market. Our all-inclusive offering includes fitness and spa facilities, fine dining at gourmet restaurants, adultonly pools with swim-up venues, 24-hour butler services, on-premises nightclubs and unlimited premium beverages.”

LOCAL ADVENTURES On the rise since the pandemic first grounded travellers in 2020, domestic tourism is in demand now more than ever.

The closure of borders forced travellers to explore their local world with a fresh set of eyes and fully immerse themselves in everything their region had to offer.

“The pandemic highlighted the importance of ‘domestic tourism’ which I believe is here to stay. Tourists understand that there is much to see, explore and enjoy, that is available on their doorstep, without the stress of flights and long-distance travel,” said Walter Knight, Director of Hospitality, Farnek Services LLC. This trend is quite evident in the UAE, thanks to the ease of travel between the seven emirates. With varied experiences available in each and the wide choice of resorts offering a range of settings, staycations are now more popular than ever. And several properties are catering to this demand by offering special rates for residents and curated packages to help staycationers make the most of their breaks.

RELEVANT ATM SESSION: What Guests Really Want ATM Global Stage Wednesday, May 11, 2022 11:45 - 12:30

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LOYALTY PROGRAMMES

TALKING LOYALTY Travellers are acting on their pent-up wanderlust, but are points and miles enough to keep them loyal for the long term?

Folker Heim

When travellers stowed away their suitcases in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines, hotels and other travel businesses scrambled to extend loyalty statuses and offer additional incentives on upcoming trips to keep their customers happy. Now, with the world easing back into travel again, members have continued to cash in their benefits.

In a survey conducted by GlobalData last year, it was found that travellers considered their main obstacles to be quarantine requirements, travel restrictions and the fear of contracting the virus, followed by financial concerns. This study reflected that economic constraints

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are going to be a key consideration for many when planning their future trips.

Travel and hospitality providers have taken note, revamping their loyalty programmes to not only offer customers more value for their money but also appealing benefits to stay ahead of the curve. And to differentiate their loyalty programmes, many travel and hospitality companies are now leveraging customer data to deliver experiences that are memorable, valuable and customised to a member’s preferences.

Folker Heim, Chief Operating Officer, Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), said: “It is paramount to be customer-centric in today’s market. Customer centricity is a driver of growth and a competitive differentiator. That is achieved by the smart use of technology and taking a loyalty data-driven approach.

“Gathering and using advanced behavioural insights allows us to recommend relevant offers to our members in our online touchpoints, target a specific segment or individual by sophisticated personalisation and engage with our members with relevant communications.”

At GHA, Heim is responsible for the group’s global technology platform, which supports the GHA Discovery loyalty programme, bringing together a collection of independent hospitality brands to offer loyalty benefits to their customers.

Discussing new consumer trends in the current travel landscape, Heim

said: “We see that today’s travellers, influenced by the circumstances of the last few years, are booking supersized holidays to bucket-list destinations, often at a much higher average daily rate than in 2019. Travellers are also opting for multiple days and staycations discovering close-to-home hotel experiences with a preference for sustainable travel.

“Booking patterns have changed, too, resulting in much shorter lead times, and customers are demanding more flexible and convenient ways to book and pay for travel. Tech-savvy and health-conscious travellers, weary of pandemic-related red tape, will value convenience more than ever and hotels investing in technology to make their guests’ lives easier.”

But how are these changes impacting loyalty programmes? Heim explained: “We are taking a very forward-looking approach to loyalty, not only meeting the needs of today’s consumers but also giving them a good reason to spend, supporting the organic rebound of travel and hospitality as a key part of the global economic revival in 2022.

“An extensive feedback study conducted with members of GHA Discovery showed that travellers are asking to be rewarded instantly and fairly, not just for nights stayed but also for spend, in a clear and straightforward way.

“With Discovery Dollars, GHA introduced the first digital rewards currency in the industry, enabling members to cash in on their loyalty

LOYALTY PROGRAMMES

RELEVANT ATM SESSION: What Guests Really Want  ATM Global Stage  Wednesday, May 11  11:45 - 12:30

TRAVELLERS ARE ASKING TO BE REWARDED INSTANTLY AND FAIRLY, NOT JUST FOR NIGHTS STAYED BUT ALSO FOR SPEND

from the very first stay and to earn and redeem on a wide range of offerings, including upgrades, stays and exclusive experiences.

“With the launch of GHA Discovery, we are putting millions of Discovery Dollars (D$1 = US$1) into our members’ wallets in 2022. In return, our members will be motivated to spend. Supported by the introduction of our new digital rewards currency, GHA anticipates that the programme will generate some US$1.5 billion in room revenue alone globally.”

With technology shaping every aspect of travel, the impact of new innovations can also be felt in the sphere of loyalty programmes. Heim explained: “Loyalty programmes are highly dependent on technology and require adaptation to the everchanging landscape. We have, therefore, used the time during the pandemic to invest in the backbone of GHA. “Supported by our technology partner Oracle, who is also one of our shareholders, we focussed on enhancing functionality and processes in our systems and applications to improve guest recognition on property, enable seamless experiences on every online touchpoint and provide a direct booking channel with an appealing customer journey and attractive rates.

“Then, a very visible new trend is actually linked to the tremendous revival of an old technology: QR codes. Scanning QR codes is a native functionality in most smartphones nowadays and has enabled a lot of the touchless interactions we are seeing in hotels and restaurants.

Patrons are directed to restaurant menus and other landing pages, which provide the opportunity to enrol new customers to GHA Discovery or prompt existing members to sign in and earn and redeem their Discovery Dollars.”

Heim agrees that the revival of loyalty programmes will play a key role in the recovery of travel and tourism in the postCOVID-19 era. He said: “Beyond rewards and benefits, our loyalty programme, GHA Discovery, better leverages the emerging role of hotels and resorts as community and lifestyle hubs, tapping into consumer appetite for connecting to people and places and encouraging them to spend more, also without an overnight stay, giving a much-needed boost to the hospitality sector and local economies.

“Ultimately, the new GHA Discovery programme will help the revival of popular international destinations while building local travel communities.”

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BUSINESS AS USUAL

BUSINESS TRAVEL

The global business travel sector has been navigating through several challenges brought about by the pandemic. As the sector learns to adapt to these new trends, it is well poised for recovery

Virtual meetings have fundamentally altered the way people do business.

Although the ability to connect with each other virtually across the globe in a matter of minutes meant that businesses in the COVID-19 age could operate with some relief, this resulted in the corporate travel sector taking a severe hit. Even with restrictions lifting globally, companies are still expected to keep a tight rein on their budgets, further shadowing business trips in the coming months.

Yet, there are a few positive indications that signal the return of business travel.

Spotlighting the future of the industry, ATM 2022 will host two sessions

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organised by the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), offering insights into the dynamic nature of business travel. Ahead of the session, we spoke to Catherine Logan, Regional Vice President – EMEA, GBTA, and Chris Pouney, Associate, GoldSpring Consulting, who highlight what attendees can expect.

POSITIVE FORECASTS According to the GBTA Business Travel Index – the BTI™ Outlook – global business travel is forecast to have made a full recovery by 2024. The report, which provides a detailed analysis of

Catherine Logan

S L? business travel in 2021, with projections for 2022 and beyond, including postCOVID-19 recovery forecasts, states that the year is likely to end at US$1.48 trillion, just above the 2019 prepandemic spend of US$1.4 trillion.

“Global business travel activity has begun its rebound from the sharp downturn brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Catherine Logan.

After declining 53.8 percent in 2020 to US$661 billion, global expenditures are expected to have rebounded 14 percent in 2021 to US$754 billion.

The report further states that despite recovery setbacks in 2021,

BUSINESS TRAVEL

a year-over-year surge of 38 percent is expected in 2022 as recovery and pent-up demand kicks into a higher gear, bringing global business travel spending back to over US$1 trillion.

Recovery will continue into 2023, with global spending rising 23 percent year-over-year as even more international and group travel comes back on track.

In 2025, global business travel growth is forecast to slow to 4.3 percent – just below the 10-year average growth rate of 5.1 percent coming into 2020 – ending the year at a forecasted US$1.5 trillion.

Logan explained: “There are many positive indications that business travel is returning, especially over the last couple of months as global travel restrictions have loosened. Business travel bookings continue to build momentum with month-on-month increases, while businesses report an increase in employees’ willingness to travel and to blend business travel with leisure time.

“On average, travel buyers say that their company’s business travel bookings are at 33 percent of their pre-pandemic level, while travel suppliers report their business travel bookings are back to 42 percent compared to pre-pandemic levels.”

According to a recent survey of GBTA members, it was revealed that three in four (78 percent) supplier and travel management company professionals currently feel optimistic about the business travel industry’s path to recovery, up from 54 percent who reported being optimistic in the January poll.

Now that more business travel is permitted, the percentage of respondents who reported that non-essential domestic business travel is sometimes or usually allowed increased to 73 percent in February, compared to 66 percent in January. In addition, four in five (82 percent) poll respondents felt that their employees were “willing” or “very willing” to travel for business in the current environment, compared to 64 percent in the January poll.

NEW TRENDS While things are definitely looking up for the sector, there are several new trends that have begun to impact the industry as a result of the pandemic.

Logan explained: “During the pandemic, the way in which we live, work, travel and think about how we treat our planet and people has changed irreversibly; new trends have emerged creating new opportunities.”

Logan further identifies five key trends that have taken shape in the sphere of business travel:

¥ New opportunities for business travel

“The pandemic has redefined business travel as we once knew it. Travel for business could now include ‘travel for work’ as remote and hybrid working models become the norm and corporates look for ways to bring dispersed teams together. This new way of living and working brings opportunities for business travel.

Commuting for many is now a ‘new kind of business trip’ as digital nomad lifestyles have become a perk some workers seek. A ‘return to base’ is a necessity for collaboration, team planning and instilling a company culture. There is certainly a direct correlation between a return to the office and a return to business travel, but the rules have changed.”

¥ People first

“The pandemic put the duty of care at the forefront of any employee policy.

The health, safety and wellness of all employees, especially travellers, matters now more than ever. Corporates recognise the need for diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace when employees are travelling, attending meetings or handling travel arrangements,” explained Logan.

“Travel policy and procedures have changed from a focus on productivity and savings in 2019 to a focus on minimising risk. Special health considerations of travellers – and their families by extension – have now become part of the consideration of the human logistics ecosystem.”

¥ Sustainable choices

“What was once just recycling in the office has accelerated rapidly over the last two years. Sustainability is now a firm fixture on the corporate agenda, contributing to company objectives and it is at the core of every corporate business plan and responsible travel policy. As business travel returns, there is a much

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greater appreciation of its impact on the environment. There is an urgency towards carbon neutrality and the need to make responsible choices that weigh up the ROI of a business meeting with the cost, time and environmental impact.”

¥ Self-service

“The pandemic has accelerated the desire to DIY everything – all in the name of efficient and contactless travel and hospitality. DIY personalisation helps a traveller’s preferences become first choices, from the way we check in, often aided by biometrics, to the way we interact with customer services.”

¥ Digitisation

“Remote working has fuelled digital innovation and it continues to accelerate within the end-to-end business travel experience – booking, travel, expense, payments and reconciliation. Mobile device proliferation is part of this

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trend while numerous apps and AI advancements enable everything, from pricing to booking and servicing automation options, to increase accuracy and, of course, speed to resolution.”

ADAPTING TO A CHANGING LANDSCAPE “The pandemic brought a seismic shift in the way companies and individuals feel about travel, both for leisure and business,” said Chris Pouney.

“Companies have disappeared, some have merged and infrastructure has been removed and right-sized. Also, it has been proved that companies can survive to a point without most travel while life can exist on Microsoft Teams and Zoom.

“Although, it is well researched that humans require interaction, and growing international partnerships requires the kind of interaction that only jumping on a plane will achieve.”

BUSINESS TRAVEL

GROWING INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS REQUIRES THE KIND OF INTERACTION THAT ONLY JUMPING ON A PLANE WILL ACHIEVE Pouney stated that while some will be comfortable travelling less, others are desperate to get on a plane again and restart relationships that have stalled for the last two years.

With corporate travel now showing green shoots, travel industry businesses are strategising to balance their operations to accommodate for this gradual recovery process.

Citing an example from the aviation industry, Pouney said: “From retiring older aircraft in fleets to enhancing, expanding or, in some cases, simply introducing premium economy cabins, airlines have readied themselves for the changing needs of travellers, particularly those travelling on business.”

He added: “Travel management companies have needed to enhance their offering, ensuring that their business model can cope with vast and unexpected reductions in transactions, plus realign their service to help support companies with a myriad of administrative tasks that post-COVID-19 travel requires.

“Business travel will change – travellers will likely travel less, but travel more meaningfully. They might choose to stay in the destination for longer periods; transient individual

Chris Pouney

business meetings will likely reduce, but exhibitions, events and conventions, which bring the opportunity to meet multiple people in one go, will flourish.”

RELEVANT ATM SESSIONS: The Future of Business Travel  ATM Global Stage  Wednesday, 11th May  15:00 - 16:00 Building a Sustainable Business Travel Programme  ATM Global Stage  Wednesday, 11th May  16:15 - 17:00

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INFLUENCER MARKETING

A SOCIAL CONNECTION Influencer marketing has proved to be a successful model for travel and tourism businesses. At ATM 2022, the sector comes under the spotlight, offering winning strategies to work with influencers in today’s climate Matt Gibson

With the tremendous growth of social media platforms over the last decade, the influencer marketing industry has considerably matured, growing to a market size of US$13.8 billion in 2021. In 2022, a further jump of 19 percent (US$16.4 billion) has been projected, with the sector showing no signs of slowing down.

Yet, it’s important to note that one particular sector of the influencer industry that was hard hit by the pandemic was travel and tourism. With countries going into lockdown in 2020, travel influencers were cut off at the source as they were rendered unable to create

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INFLUENCER MARKETING

their trademark content. At a time when the global population spent more time online than ever before, following stay-at-home orders, travel restrictions prevented this segment of influencers from cashing in on the opportunity.

And with flights getting grounded and hotel staff being made redundant, traditional partnerships and sponsorship deals with influencers dried up.

“The pandemic permanently changed the travel influencer and content creator landscape,” said Matt Gibson, CEO, UpThink Ltd., while discussing the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on the travel influencer landscape.

“Within the space of about two weeks in the first quarter of 2020, most travel influencers saw their income drop to zero. Nearly all promotional content creation projects were suspended due to travel restrictions. Travel-related affiliate programs were also suspended.

“The few content creators that still earned money did so through nontravel affiliates, website display ads and website traffic related to the small amounts of domestic and local travel that were still happening. Many others had to abandon their travel work to find other income. Only the creators with the deepest pockets and most diversified revenue streams continued working on travel content full-time.”

SHIFTING PERSPECTIVES When in-country restrictions first began to lift, domestic travel unsurprisingly soared. Leveraging this opportunity, the influencers that battled the first wave of the pandemic either turned their focus or expanded their interests.

Gibson explained: “Most changed their focus from being primarily centred on international travel to focussing on local and domestic travel (often by starting a destination-focused blog) or by expanding their focus to include other related topics, such as lifestyle or food.”

EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES After a tumultuous two years, people are now travelling more, for both personal and business interests. And as airline and hotel bookings rise, influencers have led the way, opening the doors to new adventures and spreading their wings to safely seek out new avenues for travel.

As such, influencers can provide powerful storytelling and a unique narrative, which tourism and hospitality

INFLUENCERS CAN PROVIDE POWERFUL STORYTELLING AND A UNIQUE NARRATIVE businesses can make the most of in order to drive awareness and reengagement in today’s climate.

“In one sense, the pandemic has made working with travel influencers easier as only the savviest and professional influencers were able to work through the crisis. So, vetting travel influencers will be easier than pre-COVID.” However, Gibson also notes that: “The most effective ways to work with influencers post-COVID-19 are the same as they always were.”

He explained: “Hiring influencers to create content for your brand while simultaneously promoting your business is a great way to get the most value out of a limited budget. As travel restrictions continue to shape regional travel patterns, creating ongoing partnerships with influencers in key source markets will also be an excellent way to adjust to the new normal of travel.”

It is clear that, in the current climate, influencer marketing can be considered a valuable tool for travel industry businesses to promote their destinations and products.

Gibson said: “The value of good travel influencers and content creators

post-COVID-19 is arguably greater than it was pre-pandemic because the supply is now much smaller.

“Working with influencers and creators is also an exceptional way to stretch a lean digital marketing budget by hiring them to create content for the company’s social media channels and SEO-friendly articles for the company’s blogs while simultaneously promoting your product directly to their audience.”

For travel businesses seeking creative ways to boost their marketing efforts and attract more consumers via collaborations with influencers, Arabian Travel Market 2022 will host a networking event at this year’s show, where businesses can meet and network with up to 50 influencers from across the region and discuss ways in which to work together.

RELEVANT ATM SESSIONS: How to work with Influencers Post-Covid  ATM Travel Tech Stage  Wednesday, 11th May  16:15 – 17:00 Influencer Networking Event  ATM Travel Tech Stage  Wednesday, 11th May  17:00 – 18:00

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RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

TAKING RESPONSI Industry experts offer insight into strategies adopted by travel and tourism businesses to be more responsible and how modern technologies are helping the industry achieve sustainability Responsible tourism is about “making better places for people to live in and better places for people to visit.” It requires operators, hoteliers, governments locals and tourists to take responsibility and take action to make tourism more sustainable. Slightly different from sustainable tourism, responsible tourism focuses on what people, businesses and governments can do to achieve sustainability.

In today’s climate, taking responsibility could mean minimising negative economic, environmental and social impacts. Taking the right steps towards responsible tourism generates greater economic benefits for host communities and also makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage and to the maintenance of the world’s diversity.

Harold Goodwin, WTM Responsible Tourism Advisor, said: “Despite the

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2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), during the COVID-19 pandemic, attention shifted away from the threats posed by climate change. However, the recent invasion of Ukraine demonstrated the consequences of rising fuel prices to the travel industry and our societies.

Decarbonisation and reductions in water consumption and plastic waste are now urgent priorities for our sector.”

RESPONSIBLE HOSPITALITY Many travel and tourism industry businesses are already doing their part, with hotels, in particular, revamping their operations as part of their commitment to a greener future for the industry.

Walter Knight, Director of Hospitality, Farnek Services LLC, said: “Hotels fully understand the benefits of embracing sustainability and, therefore, are actively

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

IBILITY Walter Knight

Harold Goodwin

Keith Bradley

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looking at ways to reduce their impact on the environment. One option is providing filtered water from their taps. There are companies that provide hotels with glass water bottles and a bottle cleaning washer. This will enable hotels to move away from providing plastic water bottles.

“Waste management is also very important. In many hotels today, wet waste is converted into compost, where companies are willing to procure the compost from hotels.

Hotels can start to create their own vegetable gardens, providing organic homegrown vegetables, which many guests appreciate and support “These are all positive steps, but to make a real difference, hotels need to put a long-term environmental strategy in place. As the old adage goes, you can’t manage what you can’t measure, and employing an expert consultancy to measure and benchmark energy and water consumption and a property’s carbon emissions is absolutely essential.”

The role of new technologies in helping travel and tourism businesses become more responsible is evident, with more and more players employing new innovations to transform their operations.

Knight said: “At present, there are many solutions in the marketplace that hotels can employ to lower their carbon footprint.

“For example, plastic room keys can easily become a thing of the past.

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Hotels can ensure that their locks have BLE technology, which allows the hotel to send guests an electronic key.

“Certification is the next stage, through international organisations such as Green Globe, this is now critical. Last year Google introduced a new ‘green leaf’ feature that allows hotels and resorts to promote their sustainability certifications by highlighting these achievements in their search engine.

This enables travellers to differentiate hotels and resorts that are genuinely eco-friendly and have audited sustainable practices. Booking.com has a similar Travel Sustainable Badge initiative.”

SUSTAINABILITY SIMPLIFIED Although a host of new technologies have been recently introduced, businesses are still experimenting with and researching new solutions in order to adopt options that could positively impact the way people travel, without compromising on their responsibility to the planet.

Keith Bradley, Managing Partner, Globally, argued: “Technology has not yet transformed the way we travel. On the contrary, the travel industry has been slow to innovate, partly because of the difficulties involved in, for example, making transportation more sustainable, and partly because budgets are constrained and habits, both of staff and customers, change slowly.

THE PANDEMIC HAS INCREASE IN CONSU SUSTAINABLE LIVING AND BARRIERS IN THE WAY OF

S LED TO A SIGNIFICANT UMER INTEREST IN MORE D HAS ALSO PUT A LOT OF PEOPLE TRAVELLING

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

“That said, the last decade has seen technological revolutions in energy management, renewable energy and water treatment and reuse. These three areas offer significant opportunities for most hospitality venues to reduce resource consumption and hence costs with a two-to-six year ROI.” Bradley, who will be moderating the session – Responsible Technology for Travel & Tourism – at ATM 2022 believes that the pandemic has had a mixed impact on the landscape of responsible tourism.

“Many hospitality venues have had to put on hold or reverse steps to reduce single-use plastic. Venues that had eliminated plastic water bottles have brought them back. Water refill stations, even where guests bring their own bottles, remain the exception rather than the rule. Which is one reason why Dubai has launched DubaiCan. Budgets have also inevitably been constrained, with delays in investments in energy and water conservation and renewable energy.

“On the other hand, the pandemic has seen rapid growth in technological innovations, including tech companies providing apps to allow online checkin and check-out. Some, such as the UAE-based IOL Pay, are going further and automating payment processing, so that paper is removed, not only from the front but also from the back office.

“The pandemic has led to a significant increase in consumer interest in more sustainable living and has also put a lot of barriers in the way of people travelling. The hospitality industry should

capitalise on these changes, first and foremost by creatively encouraging longer, less-frequent holidays. Brands could, for example, encourage travellers to book second and third hotels within a specific geographical area and offer complimentary transfers. This would increase overall brand revenue whilst encouraging customers to stay for longer (and potentially fly less often).”

Bradley further stated that technological innovators have been big indirect beneficiaries of the pandemic with far greater interest from investment funds in sustainable innovations. As a result, the opportunities open to hospitality providers to improve the guest experience and reduce resource consumption are growing exponentially.

“In many ways, there has never been a more opportune time for action; consumer concern is higher than ever and technology offers a greater array of solutions for all budgets.

“One small step any business can take is to register for a place on Living Business. This is a complimentary programme offered by Globally in partnership with HSBC. The programme team works with participant businesses on a one-on-one basis to identify simple steps and appropriate technologies, to make their operations more sustainable.”

RELEVANT ATM SESSION: Responsible Technology for Travel & Tourism  ATM Global Stage  Thursday, 12th May  11:45 - 12:30

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VOX POPS AKBAR AL BAKER Chairman, Qatar Tourism & Group CEO, Qatar Airways

“As the global tourism and travel industry works towards its recovery, we look forward to reconnecting with our peers and forging new partnerships at the region’s largest travel trade event.

Qatar Tourism works to empower its private and public sector stakeholders, attract investment, increase employment opportunities and deliver exceptional experiences rooted in service excellence and cultural authenticity. The journey to our destination may be new to some, but you are sure to experience a world beyond in Qatar.”

Visit stand: ME1210, ME1240

MAJED ALNEFAIE

President & CEO, Rotana Hotel Management Corporation

CEO, Seera Group

“The travel and tourism sector has seen tremendous growth this year and Arabian Travel Market continues to be a great platform for industry leaders to connect and forge stronger alliances, further reasserting the public’s confidence in the future of travel. We, at Rotana, look forward to participating in this year’s edition – which will spotlight the future of travel and tourism – and advancing the conversation on wider growth opportunities as well as introducing the upcoming expansion plans for Rotana in the region.”

“ATM is always an important event in our calendar. It is a great opportunity to meet with industry leaders to exchange ideas and insights on upcoming trends, share best practices and seek out business opportunities for what promises to be a stellar year for travel. It is important that we all work together to accelerate recovery for the industry and ATM provides us with a platform to do so. It is also a chance to connect with new and old faces and to share our latest news while also educating a wide audience on the vast opportunities in the kingdom.”

Visit stand: HC0720

SIMON CASSON

PHILLIP JONES

President, Hotel Operations – Europe, Middle East and Africa, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts

Chief Destination Marketing and Management Officer, Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU)

“I’m excited to reconnect with industry colleagues, both new and familiar, and celebrate the strength, resiliency and bright future of travel and hospitality at Arabian Travel Market taking place this year from May 9 to 12 at Dubai World Trade Centre. Most importantly, I look forward to sharing news of all that is to come for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts in the region. In the pipeline are new project openings and enhancements, upcoming stops aboard the Four Seasons Private Jet and so much more.”

“AlUla managed to create a notable buzz at last year’s ATM, and we were glad to see the high interest and demand from regional and global travel markets and the eagerness to know more about the destination. This year, we seek to further establish AlUla’s presence in the market and showcase all the new developments that have been made in the past year, in the hopes of increasing demand and visitation from the region, especially with AlUla welcoming visitors all year round and continuing this summer with its cultural and arts events.”

Visit stand: HC0470

VINCENT MICCOLIS Managing Director, The Ascott Limited – Middle East, Africa, Turkey and India “Arabian Travel Market, taking place in Dubai this May, is the region’s most promising platform that showcases the strength, versatility and optimism of the hospitality industry in the region, and we are honoured to be part of it. Voted, on a global level, as the leading international ‘Serviced Apartments Brand’, we, at The Ascott Limited, believe that our participation in an event of this regional calibre further cements the promise of our company’s growth together with our stakeholders, patrons, partners, guests and staff.”

Visit stand: HC0505

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GUY HUTCHINSON

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Visit stand: ME4410, ME4440

MARK KIRBY Head of Hospitality, Emaar Hospitality Group

“ATM is a leading platform that fosters business opportunities and relationships in the global travel industry. It provides leading insights on global markets and customer trends along with industry knowledge. Our participation last year was successful as we connected with industry professionals and leaders to explore new possibilities, predict trends and reimagine solutions that shaped travel and tourism in the region. We are pleased to be the official hotel partner again this year at ATM as this platform brings immense value to our industry.”

Visit stand: HC0220

Visit stand: ME5220

STEPHANE LAGUETTE Chief Commercial Officer, Atmosphere Hotels & Resorts “This year’s ATM is more about calling the world back to travel as they did pre-pandemic, but with a little more responsibility. We have decided to run our own booth – right next to the official Maldivian booth – to showcase our resorts and demonstrate the strong interest we have held in the region since we entered the market commercially only three years ago.

ATM is a cornerstone of our marketing strategies for the region and the panArab market, with more and more participants from Europe and India.”

Visit stand: AS2065

JAMES HEWITSON Cluster General Manager, Anantara The Palm Dubai & Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort “At ATM, we aim to discuss strategy, engage in healthy discussions with partners and promote overall tourism in Dubai. We are very excited to present Anantara World Islands Dubai Resort this year as it is a great opportunity to present a unique Maldivian style resort to the UAE. Anantara The Palm Dubai is also hoping to reengage with current and new partners as well as learn from our key source markets in order to become a more ecologically, financially and overall, more reputable resort on an international scale.”

Visit stand: ME2510, ME3110, ME3150

DISCOVER A WORLD OF LUXURY AT YOUR ADDRESS Address Hotels + Resorts is a refined hospitality brand redefining luxury accommodation. With properties situated in some of the most sought-after locations in the UAE, Bahrain, Turkey, Egypt and the KSA, Address Hotels + Resorts is recognised for its fusion of contemporary style with a touch of classic elegance, enriching the lives of its guests with intuitive experiences and superior customer service.

The first brand launched by Emaar Hospitality Group, Address Hotels + Resorts enjoys a global reputation for its award-winning hotels, residences, amenities, spas, and restaurants. In a perfectly balanced luxury experience combining unique locations, elegant architecture and exquisite interiors, every room, suite and residence offers stunning views of the surroundings, where guests can relax in a perfectly appointed sanctuary and relish every moment at Address Hotels + Resort, ‘Where Life Happens”.

Contact us on stay@addresshotels.com, T: +971 4 423 8888 to make your booking.

ADDRESSHOTELS.COM

Safe water changes lives Visit stand ME1408 or email alice.mellar@justadrop.org to find out how your business can have a real, tangible and global impact

Just a Drop is an international water charity that brings sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene projects to communities across Asia, Africa and Latin America; transforming lives.

Safe water changes everything. It improves health, education and women’s rights, and leads to secure food sources, community development, economic growth and brighter futures.

We are delighted to be the official charity of Arabian Travel Market.

Reshaping Travel Together

We can't wait to welcome you back again in November where the world of travel reunites again Register your interest now: wtm.com