Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum opens Hotel Show in Dubai

The leading events for the hospitality and leisure industry in the Middle East and Africa, The Hotel Show Dubai and The Leisure Show Dubai, were opened this morning by H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group.

Running until Wednesday, 20th September, at the Dubai World Trade Centre, DWTC, the co-located events will showcase the latest innovations set to impact the region’s growing hospitality and leisure industries, with more than 700 local and international suppliers from 44 different countries taking part.

At The Hotel Show, now in its 18th year, everything needed to build, develop or maintain a hotel or restaurant in the region will be represented, from decor to in-room technologies.

Dubai SME, the agency of Dubai Economy mandated to develop the small and medium enterprise sector, is bringing a total of 28 small and medium-sized businesses to The Hotel Show this year, representing a range of new products and services for the Middle East market covering interior design, security, hotel supplies, IT services, among others.

Saeed Matar Al Marri, Deputy CEO, Dubai SME, said, "Dubai SME is proud to bring 28 of its members to The Hotel Show, which continues to evolve as a meeting point for the global hospitality industry. The Hotel Show provides a valuable opportunity to achieve our strategic objective of providing a global window to the SME capabilities we have developed locally in sync with the phenomenal growth happening in the emirate’s hospitality sector."

One of the most anticipated products coming to the show with Dubai SME for the first time this year is SkyRiver, a new technology set to transform the hospitality industry in the region, which allows the humidity in the air to be converted into water, producing up to 10,000 liters of pure water from thin air each day.

The Hotel Show’s new conference platform for 2017, The Middle East Hospitality Leadership Programme, will launch with a keynote speech from Issam Kazim, CEO, Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing, DCTCM, entitled, ‘Hospitality and Tourism Market Development: The Government Perspective’.

Continuing across the three days of the event, speakers set to take the stage represent some of the world’s leading hotel brands, including Marriott, Fairmont, Jumeirah, Movenpick, Four Seasons, Nikki Beach, and Waldorf Astoria, discussing a range of topics from ‘F&B Strategy’, to ‘Women in Leadership’.

Other features taking place throughout the event include ‘The Middle East Housekeepers League of Champions’, sponsored by Restonic and Diversey, a first of its kind for the region, and a catwalk event, ‘The Runway’, showcasing the latest trends in hospitality fashions by leading designers, A. Ronai.

Running concurrently, the only event dedicated to the leisure industry in the Middle East and Africa, The Leisure Show Dubai, now in its 5th edition, provides a unique opportunity for the growing number of operators of hotels, resorts, gyms, pools, spas and other leisure facilities in the region to do business, network, and learn about current trends.

The sports and fitness sector looks set to dominate the show floor for 2017 with industry giants showcasing the latest products and innovations set to make waves in the fitness industry, from electricity-generating treadmills to the latest in virtual reality, VR, fitness.

Fitness giant and show sponsor, Johnson Health Tech, has one of the biggest stands at the event to showcase its new products, while for the growing pool and spa industry, the latest in design, maintenance and more will be represented by some of its biggest names.

Finally, The Fit Hub will be returning for 2017, providing a series of business development seminars, live demonstrations, and continued development workshops for fitness professionals. Joining The Leisure Show for the first time this year, Les Mills, the largest international provider of group fitness workouts, will be taking over an entire day of the programme to showcase the latest moves in their world-renowned classes.

The Hotel Show and The Leisure Show are taking place at the Dubai World Trade Centre Halls 1-8 as part of Dubai International Hospitality Week, DIHW. The Dubai Tourism endorsed event, organised by dmg events and the DWTC, is expected to attract more than 50,000 visitors.