in association with


Contents


INSIDE News


Abta reveals booking trends; travel apprenticeship board on way; Louvre in Abu Dhabi to open in 2017; firms told to segment ‘silver’ sector; Travel 2 boosts cruise programme; Travel 2 and Gold Medal to host joint mega-fam; major revamp for Black Watch; Viceroy Palm Jumeirah Dubai opens for bookings; Trafalgar to unveil new brand message


Destination Report


How the emirate has grown from a small town to a global city in 50 years


Abu Dhabi Guide


Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority outlines the destination’s must-sees


Tuesday Preview


Your guide to what’s happening on the first day of sessions


Etihad Airways


Everything you need to know about the award-winning airline


Wednesday Preview


A talk by an ex-Formula One mechanic is among the final day’s highlights


Special Report


As robots enter the hospitality sector, are we on the brink of a machine age?


Viceroy Hotels & Resorts


Group’s US hotels offer everything from creative innovation to urban exhilaration


About Us


Meet the members of the Travel Weekly team waiting to meet you in Abu Dhabi


Kuoni Competition Win three nights in Abu Dhabi 24 22 21 18 16 14 12 10 09 04


A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR Welcome to the main event W


hen I attended my first Abta Convention in Lisbon in 2001, it was the undisputed


must-attend conference in the travel calendar. Wind the clock forward 15 years, as we gather for the first Travel Convention to be held in the heart of the Middle East, and the sheer number of delegates in attendance demonstrates the ongoing relevance of the event. As you read this, many of you will no doubt be needing a little stimulation, after the traditional packed opening day of physical activity and social celebrations.


But with some compelling content coming up both on the main stage and in the break-out sessions, it shouldn’t be hard to keep yourself going. For the Travel Weekly team, it is fantastic to once again be here as the official trade media partner of the Travel Convention, and it has been great to work with Abta in the run-up to the event to interview some of the keynote speakers you’ll be hearing from over the next two days. If you’ve missed any of our convention previews,


you can read about what’s in store in this special Travel Convention edition of Travel Weekly. You can also read exclusive news and updates from some of the suppliers who have scheduled this week to unveil new research and products. We’ve got some expert advice about how to see the best of this fascinating and ever-evolving host city – and you can even win the chance to return at your leisure, courtesy of Kuoni (back page). I am very grateful to the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, Etihad Airways and Viceroy Hotels & Resorts for supporting this special edition, and for hosting us this week. Along with the rest of the Travel Weekly


team in Abu Dhabi, I look forward to catching up with as many of you as possible over the next few days. Please turn to page 23 to see which members of the team are here, and get in touch.


Lucy Huxley Editor-in-chief @Lucy_Huxley


Travel Convention 2016 travelweekly.co.uk 3


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