It’s that time of year again when the region’s hospitality professionals descend on Dubai for one of the biggest travel and tourism shows in the Middle East: Arabian Travel Market (ATM).
Running from May 5-8, the show means hours of hard graft for all involved.
But it is not all work and no play — the week traditionally sees several leading Dubai hotels hosting ATM parties, which have become a key socialising and networking opportunity for the show’s attendees.
One&Only Royal Mirage general manager Olivier Louis said the hotel had been holding an “informal yet elegant” ATM party every year since 2000.
“This year will be our 10th party,” he noted. “The invitation-only event is for our industry colleagues, be they travel agents, airline representatives, hoteliers or media, who have often travelled from afar and have been working long hours in what is traditionally a very busy and stressful week.
“They were often the forgotten ones when it came to finding a place to go in the evening and thus our initiative was to look after them while in Dubai.
“We have been their rendezvous for the last ten years and our party has welcomed an average of 800 to 1000 guests each time,” he explained.
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This year will also see a new host join the ATM party circuit, with The Address, Downtown Burj Dubai holding its first ATM gathering.
Alma Au Yeung, the property’s director of catering and conference services, explained: “We are planning to create a vibrant experience for our visitors, showcasing the wonderful setting of the hotel and the newest happening area of the city, Downtown Burj Dubai.
“We are expecting over 1200 guests and our pool area and gardens, along with our F&B outlets Calabar, Fazaris and Zeta, will be transformed into an open-house style party venue.”
Hilton Hotels, on the other hand, is a veteran host, having held ATM events for several years.
However this year the international hotel group is taking a different approach, according to Hilton Hotels’ regional director of sales and marketing for the Arabian Peninsula and Indian Ocean, Guy Epsom.
“For ATM this year we have decided to change the format of our entertainment in order to concentrate our efforts in two main areas,” he revealed.
“For incoming business we will be running a special dinner at Verre at the Hilton Dubai, while for our local supporters we will hold an event at the Sky Bar at Hilton Dubai Jumeirah outside of ATM.”
Any properties putting on an event this year will have their work cut out, following the success of various impressive parties that rocked Dubai during ATM 2008.
Commenting on One&Only’s party last year, hotel GM Louis said: “Every year we are blessed with a great ambience created by our friends and colleagues and last year was no exception.
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