Tent demand is on the rise Tipis gain popularity for corporate gatherings and gala dinners
private gatherings, such as wed- dings and corporate hospital- ity programmes, or large public events like concerts. “Clients in the region are
always on the lookout for new and interesting aspects for their events. While tipis may be a bit unusual, especially when sur- rounded by Dubai skyscrapers, they offer a kind of contrast that makes them a hit in the Middle East,” said Bentley. In the Middle East, Canvas
A growing trend towards unu- sual outdoor corporate event spaces has been fueling demand in the Middle East for canvas tents, some of which can com- fortably accommodate up to 100 guests, banquet-style. Aron Bentley, Account Director
at Dubai-based Canvas & Wood, said that since launching the
product to the region in November 2011, it has received an average of five confirmed bookings per month. Most enquiries come from major international banks and advertising agencies looking to rent tents for gala dinners or sponsor- ship-activation events. Bookings received for the
September to December period
have increased by a dramatic 250 percent when compared to those handled in the first four months of 2012. According to Bentley, they expect this figure to rise as interest grows. Also known as tipis, these
flame-resistant tents are imported from Sweden and can be adapted to accommodate cosy
& Wood’s main source markets include the UAE, Kuwait and Qatar, where tipis are used as maj- lis and marquees, popular during the cooler months when outdoor corporate activities are common. However, during warmer months, air-conditioning facilities can be provided as the Swedish tipis also work as Ramadan tents that can host iftar feasts.
Giant tipis with a height of
over 26 feet (eight metres) can be hired at AED15,000 (US$4,000). Furniture and décor, including lighting and sound equipment, can also be arranged separately.
Business travel taps tourism source
The corporate meeting and incen- tive travel sector in the UAE has been receiving a healthy boost from the Chinese and European source markets, according to industry sources. Destination management com-
panies such as Planet Travel & Tours and Arabian Incentive say outlook for the remainder of 2012 and the first half of 2013 remains promising, particularly as book- ings come in time for UAE’s peak tourism season. Werner Brosse, Deputy General
Manager Inbound Tourism at Planet Travel & Tours, explains that China is currently the
fastest-growing source market for group bookings related to the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions segment. Having an office in Shanghai has also helped the company reach out to Chinese travellers, who often tend to book stays in ultra-luxury accommoda- tions such as The Meydan Hotel, Armani Hotel, Burj Al Arab and Atlantis The Palm, Dubai. “Additionally, since we
appointed a representative office in Paris, the French market has become important to us, with a clear trend towards combina- tion programmes, such as stays
and tours in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi,” he said, adding that unlike the Chinese, French visitors do not put prime focus on accommo- dations, but on teambuilding activ- ities such as sand skiing, water adventure and outdoor dining. Despite the economic slow-
down in the Eurozone, Emanuela Petrelli, Executive Manager of Arabian Incentive, said the com- pany has noted a surprising increase in incentive requests from European clients this year. “The new season is just
approaching and it is looking very positive as we are receiving a high number of requests from
the European market over the past months. We have also witnessed a good conversion rate on the leads that are coming in,” she said. While group sizes varied during the last season, Petrelli said they have noticed a significant incr- ease in the number of small VIP groups, ranging between seven to 15 visitors, booking incentive pack- ages to the UAE. According to Business
Monitor International, the UAE will likely see eight per- cent growth in European visi- tor arrivals in 2012. This forecast is expected to increase to more than 12 percent next year.
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