Middle East Developing Long-term Strategy, Say AHIC Speakers

Dr Daniel Thorniley, senior vice president of Economist Intelligence Unit’s corporate network, said: “The Middle East has projected growth of more than 5 per cent per annum and this looks sustainable. While the oil booms of the 1970s and part of the 1980s were wasted, we are seeing regional reinvestment and a long-term strategy in the Middle East by both governments and corporations.”

Thorniley referred to the “opportunistic, quick profit, cash cow” Middle East of the 1970s, which has been replaced by better fiscal policies of today.

“Until two years ago, the Middle East was a relative backwater, with the exception of the oil and gas sector. Companies didn’t worry about brands and marketing, and the boom of 30 years ago didn’t do the Middle East any good.

“Today we have reinvestment, surging stock markets, a better market environment, massive liquidity, and spending.”

He predicted a growth in Arab intra-regional travel, with Egypt and Libra picking up, though the UAE will remain the “jewel in the Middle East crown”. Thorniley tipped Turkey as the next hot market after Dubai: “From 1938 to 2003, it was stagnant; now it has phenomenal potential.”

Conference organiser Jonathan Worsley opened proceedings in front of a record 800-strong audience of hotel and tourism leaders from across the Middle East and the rest of the world. The conference is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of Emirates Airline.

The Arabian Hotel Investment Conference will run until May 1, 2006 at Dubai’s Madinat Jumeirah conference centre. The conference is organised by Jonathan Worsley, managing director of International Hospitality Services and MEED Conferences. Details of AHIC can be found on .

The Arabian Hotel Investment Conference has conferred its 2006 Lifetime Achievement Award on His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE vice president and prime minister and ruler of Dubai, in recognition of the realisation of his vision for the emirate.

The award was received by His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chairman of Dubai's Technology and Media Free Zone Authority (TECOM), and was presented by the conference’s patron, His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of Emirates Airline.

Platinum sponsors at the 2006 event are: GuestInvest; Kingdom Hotel Investments; Nakheel Hotels & Resorts and Rezidor SAS Hospitality.

Gold sponsors are: Accor; ALDhiyafa Holdings Company; Arabian Travel Market; Armani Hotels & Resorts; Cendant Vacation Network Group; Deloitte; Emirates; Euro RSCG Furness; Fairmont Hotels & Resorts; Government of Tanzania; Group 32 Snow Dome; Gulf Air; Hamilton Hotel Partners; Hilton International; HVS International; IFA Hotels & Resorts; Integra TV; InterContinental Hotels & Resorts; Interval International; Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels; Jumeirah; Kempinski; Marriott International; Morgan Stanley; Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts; OBM International; Port Ghalib Egypt; Rotana Hotels; RSP Group; Shaza Hotels; Sidley Austin; Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide; TRI Hospitality Consulting Middle East, Turks & Caicos and UG Recker.

Media sponsors are: AME Info, CNBC Arabia, Global Hospitality Resources, Hotelier Middle East; HOTELS, Sleeper and TTN.

Supporters are: Dubai Convention Bureau, Emirates Academy of Hospitality; International Hotel & Restaurant Association; International Business Leaders Forum, Villeroy & Boch; the World Travel & Tourism Council and WOW Travels.

The Arabian Hotel Investment Conference will run from April 29 - May 1, 2006 on the eve of Arabian Travel Market. The conference is organised by Jonathan Worsley, Managing Director of International Hospitality Services and MEED, the Middle East business information group. Details of AHIC can be found on .

International Hospitality Services | Jonathan Worsley, Managing Director of International Hospitality Services, is a consultant to CB Richard Ellis Hotels and one of the organisers and founders of the International Hotel Investment Forum held each year in Berlin. In 2005, he was responsible for launching the successful Arabian Hotel Investment Conference with MEED Conferences. Worsley sits as an advisor to the World Travel & Tourism Council which represents many of the leading companies operating world-wide in the travel & tourism industry. He is also a partner and board member of The Bench () which provides online real time daily benchmarking data for the hotel industry in over 96 destinations worldwide. His view is that there is a need for more transparency in the industry to allow for greater liquidity in the marketplace.

Contact:
[email protected] on +44 1483 835794
[email protected] on +44 208 297 2053

MEED | MEED (Middle East Economic Digest) is internationally recognised as providing essential information for anyone doing business in, or with, the Middle East and North Africa. MEED now attracts over 70,000 individual readers each week, across 70 countries world-wide. MEED Conferences is part of the leading information brand in the Middle East working to provide delegates with the very latest business sensitive information. Over the past 10 years, MEED Conferences has organised events attended by senior government officials and thousands of international business people. The conference series is aimed at companies active or seeking business in the markets of the Middle East. MEED is well established as the source of strategic and accurate regional information placing it in a unique position to bring together high-calibre speakers.