Dubai’s newest five star hotel, the Al Murooj Rotana Hotel & Suites, has been named the official hosted buyer property for next year’s Arabian Travel Market, the Middle East’s premier travel and tourism exhibition. Al Murooj Rotana is due to open early next year and will have 253 luxurious rooms & suites and, 147 deluxe apartments just off the Sheikh Zayed Road adjacent to the Dubai International Financial Centre and close to the Dubai International Convention Centre.

It is the latest addition to Rotana Hotels established portfolio of 27 properties across the Middle East.

The hosted buyer programme will see the world’s leading Meetings, Incentive, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) buyers and top travel purchasers staying at this latest Dubai landmark during the Arabian Travel Market, which will run from May 3 - 6 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

“The Middle East travel industry is experiencing massive growth with more than 80 new hotels and leisure developments underway across the region. Staying at the new Al Murooj Rotana will give our MICE and travel buyers a flavour of the level of luxury provided in the newest properties in this growing market,” said Vicky Redwood, Marketing Manager Overseas Events at Reed Travel Exhibitions, which organises Arabian Travel Market.

Last year’s show was the biggest and best ever according to Redwood, but she is expecting ATM 2005 to be an even bigger success.

She said: “We had 1,400 exhibitors from 55 countries and occupied floor space was up by a massive 50 per cent while trade visitor numbers increased by 25 per cent to 8,606.

“That level of growth is unlikely this year but we are on course to increase floor space by 15 to 20 per cent with a number of countries, including India, Austria and Spain, already committed to larger pavilions for 2005.”

Completion of the Al Marooj Rotana Hotel & Suites will mean the chain has 18 hotels in the region including 13 in the UAE, three in Egypt and two in Lebanon with 9 new properties to open within 2 years.

Daniel Hajjar, Vice President Sales and Marketing at Rotana Hotels, said: “Hosting the buyers programme is the perfect opportunity to showcase our brand across the region through our newest luxury property.

“The region, and Dubai in particular, is increasingly becoming an international resort and conference centre and entertaining top international buyers at the Al Murooj Rotana Hotel & Suites gives us the edge on the competition.”

The number of overseas trade visitors to ATM 2004 was up by 47 per cent with buyers from 24 more countries taking part than the previous year as the region’s travel and tourism industry becomes increasingly global.

Redwood added: “New airlines are being launched in the region, existing carriers are opening up new routes and lots of new tourism and leisure projects are under construction so we expect that to be reflected in the size of Arabian Travel Market 2005.”
——-