Quality the key for The Hotel Show

Exhibitors were pleased with the outcome of this year’s Hotel Show despite a fall in visitor numbers.

The general consensus appeared to show exhibitor satisfaction with the quality of the exhibition’s visitors, with many claiming the show was focused rather than over-subscribed.

First-time exhibitors at The Hotel Show, Archetypal Imaginary enjoyed a “fabulous” show, according to chief executive Avedis Duvenjian. “The visitors to the show were totally focused, knew what questions to ask and there were certainly no time wasters,” he said.

Association of the German Home Textiles Industry head of economic affairs, Barbara Schmidt-Zock, added to Duvenjian’s sentiment. Schmidt-Zock stated: “It was a good show for the 30-plus companies we brought to Dubai. 

“There may have been fewer visitors than last year, but the quality was much better.”

With the drop in visitor figure evident, the majority of exhibitors used this factor to their advantage, with many citing the high standard of guests to Dubai World Trade Centre as leading to a more focused exhibition.

A. Ronai managing director Gavin Dodd noted: “As always, the quality of visitors was very high and that the middle day of the show was the best day A. Ronai had ever had at any exhibition in the Middle East.”

Despite bringing 35 companies under the same umbrella, Thai Trade Center department of export promotion’s Vutthisak Kanchanaporn claimed it would be expanding its presence at next year’s edition.

“It was our largest number of exhibitors under one umbrella and we will look to increase our presence in 2010,” noted Kanchanaporn.

“Each of the 35 companies had some success with particular interest shown in our carpets and interior décor.”

Commenting on the positive reaction from this year’s exhibitors, exhibition director Maggie Moore rated the show “five-star”.

“It was only natural, given the current economic climate, that numbers of international visitors would be lower than last year; however, it was gratifying to witness the positive reaction from the exhibitors,” concluded Moore.

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