The Hotel Show to have technology focus

Sunday, Sep 27, 2015

Dubai: The Hotel Show, a hospitality trade event, will focus on technology when it opens its doors at the Dubai World Trade Centre on Monday.

Over 600 exhibitors from 45 countries will attend the three-day event, now in its 16th edition, showcasing their products, services and solutions, according to the show’s organisers, DMG events. The exhibitors operate in sectors like technology and security, hotel services, interiors and design, and operating equipment and supplies, among others.

More than 120 tech brands are set to exhibit at the show. Products on display will include motorised luggage trolleys, hidden LED HDTV’s in mirrors, multi-room surround-sound music, and 3D cinema rooms, among other solutions.

In terms of conferences, there will be a new Technology and Security Summit, TecSec, with a keynote by NEC Global and talks from other major tech brands like Google, Cisco, and Sabre.

The Vision Conference, meanwhile, will attract more than 80 international speakers, and offer insights and trends in hospitality. It will run throughout the duration of the show, and will start with a keynote from Issam Kazim, chief executive of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM). There will also be a Design Theatre, which is new to this year’s edition of the show. At the theatre, architects and designers will share their insights with hospitality professionals from across the region.

Revenues

The UAE’s hospitality sector is growing. Annual revenues of UAE hotels are forecast to rise to $10.9 billion (Dh40 billion) in 2019, nearly doubling from 2013’s $5.9 billion, the organisers said, citing data from consultancy Euromonitor International. This year, hotel revenues are expected to reach $7.3 billion.

Visitor attraction revenues are also forecast to double from $521 million in 2013 to over $1.2 billion by 2019. It is estimated to touch $638 million in the current year.

“Euromonitor International’s new report reveals that the UAE is leading the Middle East and North Africa for hotel room revenues, with over three times the amount recorded and forecast for Saudi Arabia and Egypt who follow,” said Christine Davidson, Group Event Director at DMG events, in a statement.

“The UAE also currently leads the region for hotel construction to meet demand,” she added.

Dubai is seeing an increase in hotel room supply. It is expected to see 28,000 hotel rooms by 2018, according to a statement from the organisers, citing data from real estate consultancy JLL.

According to the latest data from consultancy STR Global, hotels in the Middle East and Africa region did not perform well in August. Occupancy was down 1 per cent to 62.9 per cent year-on-year, average daily rate declined 1.6 per cent to $134.53, resulting in revenue per available room to edge down 2.7 per cent to $84.57.

Staff Report