Exhibitor participation in ATM 2023 has risen by 27 pc compared to last year’s event
Government officials and industry leaders from the Middle East and beyond to gather at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from this morning for the 30th edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023.
The milestone event, which will run from upto May 4 and will see global travel, tourism, and hospitality experts come together to explore how their industry is ‘Working Towards Net Zero’.
According to a press statement, for ATM 2023’s opening session, a selection of regional policymakers will take to the ATM Global Stage at 11:30 am to explore the sector’s role in addressing climate change. The Ministerial Debate: How Should Travel Tackle the Climate Crisis will feature insights from Sujit Mohanty, Chief of the UNDRR Regional Office for Arab States, UAE Minister of Economy Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Managing Director of Jordan Tourism Board Abed Al Razzaq Arabiyat and Lebanese Minister of Tourism Walid Nassar.
This will be followed by an indepth interview with Claire Bennett, Global Chief Customer Officer of IHG Hotels & Resorts. Another highlight of the day ATM’s brand-new Sustainability Hub that will host the Sustainability in the Air – Live Podcast Sessions that will see Shashank Nigam, Founder & CEO of SimpliFlying, engage in conversation with Shaenaz Voss, CCO of Fiji Airways and CEO of Fiji Link.
“My colleagues and I cannot wait to welcome participants to the 30th edition of ATM, which will see our industry come together in Dubai to explore this year’s theme, ‘Working Towards Net Zero’. Tomorrow’s programme features a diverse selection of interviews and panel discussions, which will provide valuable insights to attendees as we work to build a sustainable travel industry for future generations,” says Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market.
Other day-one highlights will include Hospitality Debate: What More Can Big Data Unlock which will see representatives from the Global Hotel Alliance, General Hotel Management, Marriott, and Hotelbeds take to the ATM Travel Tech Stage to discuss how technological advances are facilitating a better understanding of guest behaviours. Meanwhile, at the Sustainability Hub, senior figures from Weeva, the Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (SHA), My Green Butler, Tourism Seychelles, Radisson RED and RHG will explore sustainable transformation as part of the session, Responsible Hospitality for a Better World.
The statement adds that exhibitor participation in ATM 2023 has risen by 27 pc compared to last year’s event, with growth registered across all show sectors. To mark its 30th edition, ATM will be unveiling a dedicated sustainability pledge designed to reinforce RX’s commitment to delivering sustainable events through the use of environmentally friendly materials, the elimination of single-use plastics and other forward-thinking initiatives. This year’s show will also feature the inaugural ‘ATM Sustainable Stand Award’, the results of which will be announced as part of the ATM 2023 Best Stand Awards, says the statement.
In addition to the ATM Global Stage, the ATM Travel Tech Stage and the brand-new Sustainability Hub, this year’s show will see the return of the International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) Arabia, which will explore trends and opportunities within the burgeoning field of high-end tourism. There will also be sessions from the International Tourism & Investment Conference (ITIC), the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA).
