The Hotel Show Dubai 2015 took place from September 28-30, 2015, at the Dubai World Trade Centre, and was attended by thousands, and saw a record number of more than 600 suppliers to the industry showcasing their products.

Hotelier Middle East and sister title Caterer Middle East were the exclusive official publications for the event again this year, which saw features like The Vision Conference, Design Theatre, and TecSec Summit offering the opportunity for knowledge sharing and best practice.

Co-located with The Leisure Show Dubai, the two events were opened 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.

Story continues below
Advertisement

The keynote speech at The Vision Conference was given by Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DCTCM). 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.”

Deals and partnerships were announced full swing at the show. Omani company S&T Interiors and Contracting confirmed the formation of a joint venture company with Italian supply and fit-out company InteriorPlus. Speaking to Hotelier Middle East at the show, S&T vice-chairman, Waqas Al Adawi said that Interium has already received its first large order. Though he couldn’t confirm the details, he did reveal that it is in Kazakhstan.

Already operating in 10 countries worldwide, S&T has plans to expand into key countries across the globe, and Italian partner InteriorPlus is the perfect partner, said Al Adawi.

“We specialise in opulent, ornate Arabic and Oriental interiors and InteriorPlus focuses on Russian luxury interiors and is very popular in that market. Together, the JV’s plan is to take the luxury hotel interiors market by storm. The JV will be a 50:50 basis partnership to leverage the strength of the respective companies.

Speaking to Hotelier, Al Adawi said that the JV’s big offering to hospitality clients is the way JV companies manufacture and value engineer their offerings. “We are unusual in that we value engineer from design and manufacture stage. We have new materials, new ways of producing items with luxurious looks that cost a fraction of the price.”

In other news, Dubai-based fit-out contractors Midas Interiors LLC announced a major deal on the first day signing a US $ 2 million contract with Abu Dhabi-based Al Ahlia Group’s flagship F&B brand La Brioche. European flooring and garden decking manufacturer Timberwolf saw major business deals from all three days of the event. Timberwolf CEO Wolfgang Douglas said: “This year’s Hotel Show was by far the best exhibition of the year with confirmed orders and new projects to top over US $12 million of trade.”