Mövenpick expects online growth
Stand HC3840
Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts is expecting greater participation of online and digital companies at ATM this year. The company will also be using the show to hammer out summer packages with various tour operators.
“Our stand will be a convenient scenario for travel agents to build new relationships and discuss business opportunities, as this year we will have over 25 hotels and resorts represented in our stand from our core markets: Europe, Africa, Asia and the Middle East,” Toufic Tamim, vice president sales & marketing – Middle East for Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, told Hotelier.
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“We would expect this show to allow our hotels to capitalise on summer business and for the tour operators to negotiate summer packages for the intra-regional and outbound business,” he explained.
“Expectations this year are a growth in the online travel agencies participation and other digital solution providers, and we also expect a strong demand this summer for European destinations from the Middle East leisure travellers, mainly due to the favourable exchange rate of the Euro versus GCC currencies.”
Accor to focus on non-regional markets
Stand HC3625
Accor Middle East will continue targeting markets outside of the region at ATM, such as China and India, according to managing director, Christophe Landais.
“We have recorded a rise in visitors from South America, specifically Brazil. We are also seeing a higher number of visitors from Australia, as they stop over in Dubai before continuing to Europe,” he added.
Landais said 2012 had followed 2011, with strong demand and the UAE remaining a top destination.
“With the regional unrest, the UAE has been perceived as safe and conducive to both business and leisure guests,” he explained.
“We are expecting strong growth in both occupancy and average room rates. The main question is whether the new addition of hotels by the end of the year, particularly in Abu Dhabi, will manage to compensate the demand versus the openings of new hotels.”
Despite this, Landais said the inventory growth in Dubai and Abu Dhabi was “worrisome”.
“It may result again in a rate war among hotels,” he asserted, adding “it has started in Abu Dhabi... nevertheless, forecasts are optimistic.”
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