• ATM 2022 will highlight “The future of international travel and tourism”

• Arab Travel Week events include ATM, ITIC, ARRIVAL Dubai and ILTM Arabia

• ATM Draper-Aladdin Start-up Competition will see start-ups pitch for the US$500,000
• ATM 2022 showroom will be more than 85% larger than last year’s edition

Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2022 is ready to welcome the world to the United Arab Emirates from Monday May 9 to Thursday May 12, welcoming 1,500 exhibitors, representatives from 112 global destinations and an expected 20,000 attendees. The live broadcast will be followed by ATM Virtual, which will run from Tuesday May 17 to Wednesday May 18.

Taking place at the Dubai World Trade Center (DWTC) in conjunction with Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the 29th edition of ATM will be a staple of the annual UAE Arab Travel Week.

In line with this year’s theme “The Future of International Travel and Tourism”, ATM 2022 will feature a wide selection of sessions and events, allowing industry professionals from around the world to discuss current trends and explore long-term opportunities in travel, transportation, tourism, hospitality, events, attractions and more.

Kerry Prince, Chief Growth Officer, RX, said: “Business travel spending in the Middle East is expected to grow 32% this year, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and these figures underscore the positive sentiment. that we experienced throughout the region.

“This naturally bodes well for another successful edition of ATM, providing a catalyst to put our industry firmly on the path to a robust and sustainable recovery, alongside our partners the DET and of course the DWTC.”

The showroom for this year’s edition will be more than 85% larger than a 2021 ATM. This growth is due to the expansion of several industry and region-specific areas, including Travel Tech ( 380%); hotels (71%); the Middle East (57%); Africa (56%); Asia (50%); and Europe (49%).

Issam Kazim, Managing Director of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism) commented: “Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism is pleased to be part of this important event in the global tourism calendar and looks forward to discussing and exploring opportunities for sustainable growth, in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai to make Dubai the most visited destination and the best city in the world to live and work in. Since reopening to the global market in July 2020, Dubai has never looked back. We have been able to build on this momentum year after year, leading to a hugely successful Dubai Expo 2020. And ATM comes at a time when the rest of the world wants to be part of this remarkable journey. with Dubai.As the host city, we welcome our industry partners and travel and tourism professionals to this dynamic networking environment to share experiences, ideas and best practices to reinvigorate tourism growth in a post-pandemic world. As Dubai continues to lead the recovery of the international business events sector, it is also important that we acknowledge the unwavering support of all our stakeholders and partners, which has helped to further strengthen the trust that international travelers have placed in the city as a global destination. open, safe and accessible.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME – Arabian Travel Market, said: “ATM 2022 will see a wide range of industry leaders take to the stage, offering expert insights into trends, challenges and opportunities for our entire industry.

“Our opening session, for example, which will be moderated by CNN’s Eleni Giokos, will feature Issam Kazim, Managing Director of the Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing; Scott Livermore, chief economist at Oxford Economics; and Jochem-Jan Sleiffer, President – Middle East, Africa and Turkey at Hilton.

One of the many highlights of the show, the revamped and renamed ATM Travel Tech event, formerly known as Travel Forward, has seen a year-over-year expansion of nearly 400%. In addition to the latest travel technology products and services, the ATM Travel Tech Stage will host a series of seminars, panel discussions and presentations focused on the long-term trajectory of tourism in the Middle East.

The first Draper-Aladdin ATM Startup Contest, meanwhile, has generated significant excitement since its launch earlier this year. Organized in collaboration with AladdinB2B and Draper Associates, the initiative will see 15 travel, tourism and hospitality start-ups pitch $500,000 in funding – not to mention the chance to compete for an additional $500,000 investment. as part of a hit television series. show, Meet the Clothiers.

“As a globally recognized technology hub, Dubai offers an unparalleled environment for entrepreneurs and start-ups working to advance travel, tourism and hospitality,” said Curtis. “Indeed, the effective development and implementation of technology is critical to the day-to-day operations of our industry as well as to its long-term sustainability and success.

“That’s why ATM 2022 is partnering with AladdinB2B and Draper Associates. Together, we aim to help incubate a new generation of industrial innovations,” she continued. “By capitalizing on the status of the Middle East as an innovation hub and leveraging the ongoing startup phenomenon in the region, we believe ATM 2022 will act as a much-needed incubator for future technologies and innovation. .”

After joining ATM Virtual 2021, the [email protected] forum and the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) will participate live in Dubai for the first time this year. Focusing on current and future trends for tour operators and attractions, [email protected] will provide expert advice on growing business through marketing, technology, distribution, thought leadership and relationships at management level. GBTA, meanwhile, will provide the latest business travel content, research and training to help drive the industry’s continued recovery and support the longer-term growth of business travel.

ATM 2022 will feature in-depth buyer forums dedicated to India and Saudi Arabia, allowing attendees to explore trends and potential opportunities in the two key markets. The showroom will also feature live interviews with aviation and hospitality experts; debates on the future of sports, urban and responsible tourism; digital influencer networking; best stand award; and the return of ILTM Arabia, which focuses on the lucrative luxury travel market.

Capitalizing on the upward trajectory of regional tourism investment, the ITIC-ATM Middle East Summit – jointly organized by ATM and the International Tourism Investment Conference (ITIC) – will highlight access to project finance in the Middle East. post-Covid era. With speakers including Gerald Lawless, ITIC Director and WTTC Ambassador; Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Jamaican Minister of Tourism; and Dr. Taleb Rifai, President of ITIC and former Secretary General of UNWTO, this event will provide a timely opportunity for travel and tourism professionals to explore investment opportunities, discover new modes of financing and network with peers around the world.

“We also look forward to hosting speakers from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), the Saudi Ministry of Tourism and Qatar Tourism, not to mention a wide selection of regional and international brands,” said Curtis. “This year’s edition will feature representatives from Etihad, SAUDIA, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, Boeing, Emaar Hospitality Group, Radisson Hotel Group and many more.”

Building on the success of ATM’s hybrid approach during the global pandemic, this year’s in-person event will be followed by the third installment of ATM Virtual, which will take place from Tuesday May 17 to Wednesday May 18, 2022. This strand will offer industry professionals the opportunity to showcase their destinations to a global audience of travel buyers and provide a platform for travel professionals to pursue their all-important one-on-one meetings and see on-demand sessions conducted during the show in person from the comfort of their homes and offices.

The next edition of ATM will coincide with Arabian Travel Week, a festival of events dedicated to enabling travel professionals around the world to collaborate and shape the recovery of the travel industry in the Middle East through exhibitions, conferences, information breakfasts, awards and product launches. and networking events.

In addition to ATM 2022, the Draper-Aladdin ATM Startup Contest; ATM travel technology; virtual ATM; ILTM Arabia; ARRIVAL Dubai; ITIC; GBTA business travel forums; speed networking events for buyers and networking of influencers; the 2022 Hotel Trophies; and the 2022 Business Traveler Awards will all take place under the auspices of Arabian Travel Week 2022, which runs from Monday May 9 to Thursday May 19 in Dubai.

The UAE remains one of the most Covid-secure countries on the planet, with consistently low case rates and robust measures to keep tourists safe at every stage of their visit. Like its neighboring emirates, Dubai is committed to maintaining the highest health and safety standards.

Strategic partners for ATM 2022 include Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) as Destination Partner, Emirates as Official Airline Partner and Emaar Hospitality Group as Official Hotel Partner.

Commenting on the Hybrid ATM 2022 event, the show’s strategic partners said:

Adnan Kazim, Chief Commercial Officer of Emirates, said: “As long-time partners of this event, we’re thrilled to be back at ATM, in its biggest post-pandemic edition, and we’re proud that it’s back even better this year as the industry is coming together again, reinforcing all the signs of a positive attitude. We stand ready to engage with the travel industry with our latest and greatest products as we progress through the recovery, and we are all collectively preparing to meet pent-up travel demand. At Emirates, we remain focused on recovery – rebuilding our network and capacity to pre-pandemic levels; helping the industry recover through close cooperation and meaningful partnerships, and investing for the future to position ourselves on an even stronger footing.

Mark Kirby, Group Head of Emaar Hospitality, added: “Dubai has retained its iconic tourist appeal through a strategic, forward-thinking approach and through collaborative platforms like the Arabian Travel Market, we can honor the true potential of our region. We are delighted to be the Official Hotel Partner again, as it brings immense value in terms of building long-term relationships as we work alongside key stakeholders to reshape the landscape of the industry. This year has seen a remarkable recovery in our industry, and we look forward to accelerating our success in responding to new hospitality trends and demands in this new era of hospitality and travel.

If you plan to visit the ATM in person, feel free to post using the hashtags #ATMDubai and #IamgoingtoATM.