(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) Arabian Hotel Investment Conference opens focuses on 'tomorrow's traveller'.
Arne Sorenson and Christoph Harle speaking at a panel discussion during the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference at Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai on Wednesday.
The UAE is expected to retain its status as the main tourist hub in the Middle East and Africa and the region will continue to witness solid hotel development activity and destination building in coming few years experts say.
Addressing the participants of Arabian Hotel Investment Conference or Ahic which opened on a high note with over 600 attendees industry specialists discussed various topics on the hospitality sector.
They also talked about in detail the conference theme “Hotel development for tomorrow’s traveller” and said emerging markets will hold the success key on tourism front in the near future.
In his presentation to the Ahic audience renowned South African political analyst Daniel Silke said 88 per cent of the world’s population will live in emerging markets by 2016 and approximately 75 per cent of global GDP growth will be generated by emerging nations due to a strong middle-class base.
He attributed the strong growth in the Middle East’s hospitality and tourism sector to the massive expansions of Gulf airlines namely Emirates Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways.
“By 2025 the world will welcome nearly 1.8 billion visitors per year a 58 per cent increase from the 1.1 billion international visitor arrivals who crossed borders in 2014” Silke said.
Elizabeth Winkle managing director of STR Global said Dubai is on track to receive 15 million visitors in 2015 as the consultancy forecasted in its report in 2008.
Chiheb Ben-Mahmoud executive vice-president and head of hotels and hospitality group in the Middle East and Africa at JLL said Dubai continues to strengthen its position as a leading tourism destination in the Middle East due to its ease of access quality branded hospitality offering modern infrastructure leisure and entertainment options and safe environment.
“While Dubai hotels ADRs [average daily rates] and occupancy rates have been declining their levels remain strong and healthy and can be expected to improve the competitive position of the city compared to other competing and established destinations in Europe and Asia.”
Filippo Sona head of hotels at Colliers International in the Mena region explored the dynamics driving current performance and future expectations across the region. highlighted the key opportunities and challenges that the industry will face over the next 12 months with Dubai Abu Dhabi and a resurgent Egypt highlighted as key markets to watch.
“There are a number of powerful factors currently shaping the Mena hospitality market” he said.
About Dubai’s outlook Sona said despite the fact that the emirate’s hotel market is going through a period of adjustment it still retains its position as one of the world’s leading tourism destinations and occupancy and average daily rates remain at a strong level.
“With a number of major tourism and leisure projects due to be released in the coming year such as Dubai Parks a readjustment in the market and double-digit growth is expected to return in the near future.”
Earlier Bench events chairman Jonathan Worsley delivered the welcome address while Arne Sorenson Marriott International president and chief executive and Christoph Harle chief executive of JLL Hotels and Hospitality Group for Europe the Middle East and Africa discussed the hospitality future and challenges for the industry.
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