Dubai launches new mega hospitality industry event
Dubai has announced plans to bring six events together under one roof to create Dubai International Hospitality Week (DIHW).
This new mega event will take place from September 18-20 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and will include GulfHost, The Hotel Show and The Leisure Show, The Speciality Food Festival, SEAFEX Middle East, and yummex ME.
Endorsed by Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), the event will be the largest hotel and foodservice expo in the Middle East, according to state news agency WAM.
DIHW is expected to bring together more than 2,000 of the world’s top hospitality brands from across the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
More than 50,000 visitors, including buyers from top groups that include Crowne Plaza, Dubai Duty Free, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, IHG, Marriott and Spinneys, will be making key purchasing decisions during the show, ahead of the sector’s high season, WAM said.
“The hospitality sector has long been a key pillar of Dubai’s tourism industry and the emirate’s wider economy,” said Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM).
“The dramatic growth we’ve seen in the sector over the years is testament to the attractiveness of Dubai as an investment prospect and a destination that prides itself in offering an environment that facilitates and supports business success.
“We are therefore very pleased to launch Dubai International Hospitality Week as a platform enabling the region’s hospitality players to come together, exchange knowledge and learnings, and create valuable opportunities for future growth.”
The GCC’s tourism and hospitality industry is set to be worth US$36.7 billion by 2020, according to Euromonitor International.
The sector’s enormous growth potential has led Dubai, the most prominent tourism destination in the Gulf, to establish DIHW.
Several scheduled global events, including Expo 2020 Dubai, which is expected to attract 25 million visitors, will make a strong contribution to the sector’s growth, Euromonitor added.