Dubai, UAE, 28thSeptember 2015

The Hotel Show and The Leisure Show Dubai, the leading events for the hospitality and leisure industry in the Middle East and Africa, were opened this morning for their 2015 editions by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Department of Civil Aviation, CEO and Chairman of The Emirates Group and Chairman of Dubai World.

Issam Kazim, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM), provided the keynote speech opening The Hotel Show's Vision Conference for 2015. He said: "The Hotel Show is one of the most important annual events in our calendar at Dubai Tourism and has played a significant part in driving the hospitality sector by bringing hoteliers together, facilitating partnerships, improving market analysis and understanding, and ensuring alignment with Dubai's overall tourism vision. The hotel sector in general is the backbone of Dubai's tourism industry, and it is the calibre of the emirate's accommodation offerings that has helped shape the high standards and reputation that Dubai enjoys and is known for. Hotels and hospitality have a great part to play in realising Dubai's Tourism Vision for 2020, which aims to welcome 20 million visitors per year by the start of the next decade. Dubai welcomed 13.2 million international overnight visitors in 2014, so while much progress has already been made, there is still much to achieve. Together, facilitated by the Hotel Show, we can reach and exceed our goals, and drive success and prosperity within the tourism industry as whole."

Speaking on The Leisure Show, co-located with The Hotel Show, he continued: "With ambitious targets for 2020, an increasingly competitive marketplace targeting the global traveller and challenges to the international travel industry posed by currency devaluations in Asia and Europe, now more than ever we need to ensure we are focused on providing a compelling and always evolving destination offer. The leisure industry has a sizeable role to play and as we look towards next year when our offering will be significantly enhanced by the opening of a number of theme parks, it's crucial that these big projects are complimented by continuous additions in other areas, always ensuring that there are more and more reasons to visit Dubai."

Christine Davidson, Group event director of the dmg events hospitality portfolio including The Hotel Show and The Leisure Show said: "There is much anticipation and excitement around the future of hospitality, leisure and tourism in the Middle East and Africa. There is evidence of unprecedented growth in the region, with a total 872 projects and 243,466 rooms in the pipeline as of September 2015. Given that Dubai continues to be the leading city in the region with 119 projects currently underway, The Hotel Show and The Leisure Show provide local and international suppliers and owners of hotels and leisure facilities with the unique opportunity to do business in a world class destination that is investing heavily in the future of hospitality."

The events will run for three days, 28-30 September at the Dubai World Trade Centre, expected to welcome over 18,000 professionals from the hospitality and leisure industry to a showcase of 1000's of global brands providing everything needed to build, operate and maintain hotels and leisure facilities.

An extensive content programme also runs throughout the events with live demonstrations, awards (The Middle East Pool & Spa Awards 2015), workshops and presentations featuring over 100 expert speakers from Dubai Tourism, Dubai Sports Council, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, Nakheel, Google, NEC, Cisco, Melia Hotels International, Paramount Hotels & Resorts, Yas Waterworld, Deloitte, PwC, and more.

To find out more and register to attend for free, access www.thehotelshow.com and www.thelesiureshow.com

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For more information and / or images, please contact Heather Macpherson, PR Manager, dmg events hospitality portfolio on +971(0)56 112 8606 or heathermacpherson@dmgeventsme.com


The Hotel Show is organised by dmg events and belongs to the dmg hospitality portfolio comprising of The Hotel Show Dubai, The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia, The Leisure Show, The Vision Conference, The Middle East Hotel Awards, and The Middle East Pool & Spa Awards.

The Hotel Show Dubai is an important business forum for the hospitality industry in the Middle East and Africa, expecting to welcome over 18,000 attendees from the global hospitality industry this year. Working with Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, industry associations, and partners, the Show includes visionary features, extensive educational content (through the 3rd annual Vision Conference, and new for 2015 TecSec Technology Summit and Design Theatre) and other knowledge sharing platforms together with senior level networking. Sponsoring elements of the content-driven Show and exhibiting this year include Cannon Middle East, S&T, WT Project, Fairpoint, Guestotel, Mouhajer International Design, Bang & Olufsen, and Crestron. Find out more or register to attend FREE at www.thehotelshow.com

About dmg events Middle East & Asia
An international exhibitions and publishing company, dmg events Middle East and Asia has operated in the Middle East since 1995. With than 40 market-leading exhibitions for the global energy, construction, coatings, hospitality and interior design industries, dmg events organise many of the world's most important events including ADIPEC (global energy industry), The Big 5 (construction industry), INDEX (interior design industry) and The Hotel Show (the hospitality industry).

Spanning the globe's emerging markets, dmg events organise events across the Middle East, North & East Africa, South East Asia and South America. The events attract more than 250,000 customers every year and provide opportunities for trade professional to do business, network and learn. For more information visit www.dmgeventsme.com

dmg events is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust plc (DMGT www.dmgt.com), an international portfolio of digital, information, media and events businesses listed on the London stock exchange.

About Nakheel - The Hotel Show Dubai's Retail and Hospitality Partner 2015
Nakheel is one of the world's leading developers and a major contributor to realising the vision of Dubai for the 21st century: creating a world class destination for living, business and tourism. Nakheel continues to deliver and enhance an iconic portfolio of innovative landmark projects in Dubai across the residential, retail, hospitality and leisure sectors. Nakheel's master developments in Dubai include Palm Jumeirah, The World, Deira Islands, Jumeirah Islands, Jumeirah Village, Jumeirah Park, Jumeirah Heights, The Gardens, Discovery Gardens, Al Furjan, Warsan Village, Dragon City, International City, Dragon City, Jebel Ali Gardens and Nad Al Sheba Community. Together, these span more than 15,000 hectares and currently provide homes for over 200,000 people. Nakheel has nearly 21,000 residential units under construction or in the pipeline.

Nakheel's growing retail project portfolio comprises large-scale destination developments at various locations in Dubai, including Nakheel Mall, Deira Mall, Deira Islands Night Souk, Warsan Souk, Al Khail Avenue, The Circle Mall and The Pointe at Palm Jumeirah; major extensions to Dragon Mart (renamed Dragon City) and Ibn Battuta Mall; and several neighbourhood community centres. Our existing and pipeline retail projects cover more than 13 million square feet of leasable space. Nakheel is also developing hotels at various locations in Dubai, including Palm Jumeirah, Deira Islands, Ibn Battuta Mall and Dragon City.

Media contact: Rebecca Rees on +971 4 375 9702 or Rebecca.rees@nakheel.com

© Press Release 2015