18


NEWS


EXPERTS DEBATE GULF'S GREEN CREDENTIALS


CHANGING NATURE OF THE EVENTS MARKET


How have the dynamics changed within the events industry since the boom times of 2008? Such was the topic of a key seminar on the third day of the Arabian Travel Market. Moderated by Rob Nicholas, Managing Director, Nicholas Publishing International, the seminar was designed to offer three different perspectives. On the panel was Hennie Strass, senior Vice President, regional head, Citibank Services; Cathy Mead, Vice President business development, Atlantis, The Palm; and Fiona Swaffield, event direc- tor, siren events Ð representing the client, venue and event supplier viewpoints respectively.


The downturn has presented its own challenges, as well as providing some distinct opportu- nities for the events sector. Mead remarked: "We haven't seen a downward turn in the number of events being held Ð our challenge is more in terms of the the supply/ demand of rooms. We're certaint- ly being asked what we can do add value. This might involve facilities such as free internet access, which the clients perceive as high value but that don't burn a hole in hotel revenues." Swaffield commented that five-star properties had become more accessible to clients that previously may not have had the budgets. Yet a primary


focus remains on managing expectations Ð balancing client budgets between hotel costs and adding special touches to an event. Clients have also become much more accountable to their stakeholders on where budgets are being spent. "Demand for events planners has definitely increased," she remarked. Strauss, who oversees the travel product for Citibank in the region, commented that 2010 saw the volume of trips reduce by as much as 40 percent and that clients were more wary of budgets. Yet the primary concern was in building long-term rela- tionships between all parties to benefit the whole industry.


AIRLINES DISCUSS CHALLENGES


The two main challenges facing the Middle East aviation segment are high oil prices and regional instability. That is according to a panel of airline professionals speaking at the


Arabian Travel Market seminar, 'Airlines in the Gulf Ð succeed- ing in troubled times'. On the panel were Adel Ali, CEO, Air Arabia; Phillipe Georgiou, COO corporate affairs, Oman


Air; Dr Fariba Alamdaris, Vice President marketing and value analysis, Boeing Commercial Planes; and Andrew Parker, senior Vice President, public affairs, international affairs, industry affairs and the envi- ronment, Emirates Airline. For Parker, oil prices rema- ined the biggest concern. Dr Fariba concurred that oil will remain a challenge, with Boeing Commercial Planes basing their forecasts on US$100 a barrel as a barometer. "We expect long- term average growth to continue at around five percent, based on past figures," she commented.


GCC STAKES SPORTS HUB CLAIM EMBRACING SOCIAL MEDIA


At a seminar on Wednesday at the Arabian Travel Market enti- tled 'The importance of social media', the overriding message was simple: User-generated content has become an integral part of life Ð both socially and within business.


Looking both from the perspective of engaging with consumers and B2B businesses, the panel of speakers comprised Timothy O'Neil Dunne, managing


It is hard to ignore the increas- ing profile of the GCC within the international sports arena. Qatar's successful FIFA World Cup bid, the Abu Dhabi Formula 1 Grand Prix and the Dubai Desert Classic are some of the events that come to mind. Chris May, General Manger of Dubai Golf, said at Wednesday's showseminar, 'Is the Middle East the world's future sports hub: "Since Emirates golf Club was opened in Dubai in 1987, Golf has been at the forefront of pioneering sports in the region."


partner, T2Impact Ltd; Karen Plumb, commercial director, EMEA, Trip Advisor; and Jason Hancock, senior director business development, Travelport GDS. Research suggests that 40 percent of people on Facebook are connecting with a brand. Equally, 81 percent of compa- nies use social networks, while 49 percent manage a communi- ty dedicated to customers."Your customers are talking about


Maqbul Dudhia, head of sports business, Dubai Sports City, was keen to emphasise the high-profile teams that have already used the venue's cricket stadium and the multi-function- al aspect of the venue. "I think Dubai Sports City will be one of the major landmarks in the region, not only for sport but also other events," Dudhia commented. Hassan Abdulla Al-Mohamedi, head of media for the Qatar Olympic Commit- tee also remarked that every year Qatar hosts 40 to 50 sports


your products and your brands. If you're not listening, how do you know what they're saying?" asked Hancock.


Travel review sites are a major influence when look- ing for a hotel to book, added Plumb."Eighty-one percent of respondents in one study said that such sites are hugely important and 49 percent won't book a holiday without looking at a review site," she revealed.


events, 50 percent of which are international.


Qatar Olympic Committee already has a strong rela- tionship with Qatar Tourism Authority, while Etihad Airways continues to play an integral role in the Abu Dhabi Formula 1. Yet, as pointed out, Bahrain was forced to suspend its Grand Prix event this year in the wake of unrest, while there have been questions on how well Qatar will be able to host the FIFA World Cup in the blistering summer heat.


Eco-tourism, or conducting tour- ism activities in a more sustain- able way, has become an increasing issue. The question of how green the GCC tourism industry is becoming was the topic of a seminar on the second


day of Arabian Travel Market. On the panel were repre- sentatives from the tourism authorities of Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Oman, all taking their own approaches to what is still a gradual process. Abu Dhabi continues to unveil some ambi- tious programmes to reduce its carbon footprint. Yet, accord- ing to Dr Shahrazad Roohi, environmental advisor, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, it also continues to have a premium price tag. "Luxury goes hand-in- hand with green," she stated. While agreeing this is still often the case, Wael Al Lawati, CEO of Omran, Oman's tourism development arm, believes that as eco technologies become more advanced and acces-


sible, green options should be available to a wider audience. "I think I'd be very worried if eco was only luxury," he commented. "I hope it becomes open to more affordable expe- riences. Green is not just for the elitist product anymore Ð it is becoming more affordable. Nature parks are becoming one of the top categories Ð I think this is very encouraging." In Dubai, the initiative for an award ceremony to recog- nise green achievements, first launched in 2009, has been a great driver for awareness, according to Shaikha Ebrahim Al Mutawa, director of busi- ness development and chair- person of the Dubai Tourism Award, Government of Dubai.


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