Arabian Travel Market 2021, biggest stories from Jumeirah's Oman debut to the future of Neom

This year's Arabian Travel Market 2021 has now concluded, bringing to an end the first large-scale in-person travel and tourism trade show in the Covid-19 era. It ran from Sunday May 16 to Wednesday May 19 at Dubai World Trade Centre, bringing together exhibitors from 62 countries. 

From tourism professionals to travel tech firms and from destinations to hotel groups, the event was a huge signal that Dubai is a safe place to do business and travel to. There were huge stories coming out of the event on each of its four days, from new hotels being announced to further details on mega-proejcts already underway. Read on to find out what hit the headlines. 

How The Maldives showed tourism is possible

On the first day of the event, our deputy editor Kohinoor Sahota tuned in to a panel featuring Thoyyib Mohamed, managing director at Maldives Tourism Board, who went into detail on the future of tourism on the island archpelago. Mohamed had many insightful things to say on how to resume tourism, but stressed above all else the importance of vaccinations in bringing back the industry from the brink. 

A new look and huge projects for Ras Al Khaimah

Here in the UAE, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) unveiled its new offerings at ATM.The Northern Emirate aims to focus on sustainability, wellness and adventure. Over the next year the Emirate will expand its 6,700 keys, adding 2,000 more, including 100 on Jabal Bil Ays mountain. 

From camping to corridors, Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort GM spoke to us about how hotels in the region should look to domestic travellers to replace the UK market right now. 

Massive projects in Saudi Arabia

Taking a leap into the future, we run through one of Saudi Arabia's largest giga-projects - Neom. Once complete it will be a half a trillion dollar super city with no cars or traffic, and everything within five minutes reach.

Anoter Saudi giga-project that took centre stage at ATM was The Red Sea Project, a rejenative tourism hub pegged for a 2030 opening. Also revealed was how The Red Sea Project will limit the number of annual visitors to the huge giga-project to one million in what CEO Jean Pagano revealed was a conscious move away from the pre-Covid trend of “over-tourism”.

Saudi Arabia was one of the biggest markets at ATM this year, and one of the most hopeful, with Kingdom officials confident KSA is still on track for 100 million visitors by 2030. During the event's Saudi Arabia Tourism Summit, leaders from across the Kingdom convened, with Dr Afnan Alshuaiby in particular highlighting the bright future for Saudi women. She went on to say that the sky is the limit for Saudi women within tourism. 

Focusing on hotel openings, IHG Hotels and Resorts revealed at ATM it would be opening at least seven "best in class" hotels in the Kingdom over the next five years.

With such a focus on Saudi's leisure market, we were still keen to hear about the state of religious tourism, which Millennium Hotels said is set to recover faster than any other segment. 

New hotels and success stories in the UAE

From the future to the past, we spoke to Thomas Grundner, vice president sales and marketing at JA Resorts and Hotels on how the brand is still going strong after 40 years.

Millennium Hotels and Resorts announced that its Mirdif Hills hotel is on track to open this year. The the property will bring hotel rooms and apartments to the residential area near Dubai International Airport. Millennium Place Mirdif Hills first hoped to open in 2018. It makes up part of the wider AED3 billion Mirdif Hills project in Dubai which is building up the area as a hub for retail, hospitality and dining.

On the topic of data and personalisation - just gathering customers’ data is no longer enough for hotel groups. Now they must personalise it to their guests’ specific needs and wants to take advantage of it. 

An Abu Dhabi hospitality icon has been completely revamped, with the Armed Forces Officers Club being turned into Erth, an Emrati and family-friendly driven concept. We chat to COO Amit Arora about the future of the concept. 

Regardless of Covid measures, guests need to feel at home, said Cove Rotana general manager.

Promise in the Bahrain market

Laurent A. Voivenel, senior vice president – operations & development, EMEA & India; senior vice president – group human resources & talent development, Swiss-Belhotel International, had a lot to say at this year's ATM. 

Jumeirah enters Oman 

The former general manager of Zabeel House by Jumeirah, The Greens, Luke James, has said he has every intention to foster a similar community spirit at his new property in Muscat. James was named the general manager of Jumeirah Muscat Bay in April. When it opens later this year, it will be the group’s debut in Oman, including 206 keys spread across rooms, suites and villas with their own private pools.