DTCM TO HOST DUBAI SUMMER SURPRISES ROAD SHOW IN GCC STATES

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), in cooperation with the Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) Office, will host a series of workshops to promote the Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS-2009) in three GCC states of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar from June 1 to 10.

The workshops attracted 39 co-participants from Dubai’s hotels and tourism companies. The workshops will facilitate networking with the GCC travel trade industry and media and also allow them the opportunity to learn about various promotions and attractions planned for the summer holidays from June to August.

The workshop series will kick off in Kuwait on June 1 followed by Doha on June 3 and Jeddah on June 6. It will be held in Riyadh on June 8 and conclude on June 10 in Al Khobar.

The workshops will be attended by DTCM officials, including Mr. Saleh Al Geziry, Director Overseas Promotions, Mr. Talal Al Suwaidi, Head of India, Middle East and North Africa Region, Overseas Promotions Department, and Mr. Nayef Ibrahim, Head of Australia and Asia, Overseas Promotions Department.

The department organized a pre-event meeting for the co-participants of the road shows to brief them about its efforts to boost hotel occupancies and visitors’ numbers to the emirate during the summer season.

The department will also organize Press conferences in the three GCC countries along side the workshops to create awareness about the DSS and other summer season-linked promotions and initiatives.

DSS, the region’s biggest and most awaited summer shopping and entertainment event, unveiled a series of exciting activities for the twelfth edition, under the slogan ‘Surprising Dubai’. The DSS Office announced 13 key sponsors for the DSS-2009. With a budget of AED70m, DSS 2009 will go on for 65 days, from June 11 till August 14 under the slogan 'Surprising Dubai'.

DTCM, TOURISM INDUSTRY PLAYERS REVIEW SUMMER PROMOTION

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) organized a meeting with senior representatives of hotels, hotel apartments and tour operators at the One and Only Royal Mirage to review the summer promotional campaign to boost number of visitors to the emirate and hotel occupancy levels.



The meeting was attended among others by Mr. Eyad Ali Abdul Rahman, DTCM Executive Director Media Relations and Business Development, and Mr. Ahmed Mohammed Hassan, DTCM Deputy Director Visitors Information Bureaus.



Mr. Eyad outlined various initiatives launched by the DTCM to increase hotel occupancies and attract more visitors to the emirate during the summer months and the remainder of the year.



He said the department was working on a promotional campaign for the summer targeting visitors from Europe and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states under the titled ‘Visit Dubai During Summer’.



The meeting also discussed a marketing plan for the UK, one of the top source markets for Dubai’s tourism industry.



Earlier last year, the department created a task force with experts and representatives of Dubai tourism industry players, to review the tourism market landscape and take appropriate measures.



Based on the inputs provided by the industry players and experts, the department took measures which reflected in hotel occupancies getting a boost even in the first quarter of 2009.

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DTCM REVIEW SUMMER PROMOTION WITH DUBAI TOURISM INDUSTRY PLAYERS

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) organized a meeting with senior representatives of hotels, hotel apartments and tourism companies to review the summer promotional campaign to boost number of visitors to the emirate.



The meeting was chaired by Mr. Eyad Ali Abdul Rahman, DTCM Executive Director Media Relations and Business Development. Also present was Arwa Al Ghammai, DTCM Director of Operations and Liaison at Operations and Marketing Division.



He outlined various initiatives launched by the DTCM to increase hotel occupancies and attract more visitors to the emirate during the summer months and the Holy Month of Ramadan and the remainder of the year.



He said Dubai’s expanding hospitality industry has been extending support to these initiatives.



One of the key initiatives is Keep Discovering Dubai, a three-month familiarization programme for travel trade and media representatives launched in March. The programme, conducted in coordination with Emirates Airlines and select Dubai hotels and DMCs, is designed to bring 2000 travel agents, journalists and broadcast reporters from over 60 countries to get acquainted with Dubai and its tourism and business landscape.



Earlier last year, the department created a task force with experts and representatives of Dubai tourism industry players, to review the tourism market landscape and take appropriate measures.



Based on the inputs provided by the industry players and experts, the department took measures which reflected in hotel occupancies getting a boost even in the first quarter of 2009.



A total of 1.89 million guests stayed in Dubai hotels in the first quarter of 2009, a five per cent increase compared with 2008 period The number of operating hotels and hotel apartments rose to 519 in the first quarter of 2009, up from 475 during the corresponding period in 2008. The total hotel rooms available touched 40,864 in the first quarter of 2009, up by 17 per cent from the same period in 2008.



The number of hotel apartments rose to 46,355 in January-March 2009 period, an increase of 30 per cent compared with the corresponding period in 2008. The first quarter of 2009 recorded 5.34 million guest nights.

Lootah calls for local departments'partnership to support Dubai's tourism sector

Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality has underlined the importance of collaboration between the Municipality and the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) to achieve an ideal environment that supports Dubai's thriving tourism sector through an excellent partnership that contributes to achieving leadership in this vital sector of Dubai's economy.

He was speaking while receiving a delegation from the DTCM led by its Director General, Khalid Bin Sulayem.

Eng. Lootah welcomed new ideas and suggestions that will bring in more prosperity for Dubai's tourism sector, stressing the support of the Municipality for everything that contributes to fulfilling this shared vision.

The DTCM delegation was briefed on the Municipality's efforts in supporting tourism sector through its various services and facilities.

In his brief on Municipality's ongoing food control measures, Khalid Shareef, Director of Food Control Department spoke about the Municipality's efforts in food control at hotels that are the premier tourist destinations in Dubai as well as creating a food database and volume of food exports to Dubai.

He also gave a glimpse on Dubai's food control measures and the comprehensive food inspection system, the data registration of foodstuff importers, classification of food items based on the risk level, inspection of foodstuff imported through the emirate's various ports, the role of Food Control Department and the Dubai Central Laboratory on regulating foodstuff companies through food inspection system, the issuance of health certificates electronically and increasing the consumer awareness.

He also spoke about the role of Food Control Department in promoting tourism in Dubai, stressing that it would contribute in streamlining the food trade and linking the Department with all the strategic partners.

Shareef said effective control measures are taken through a system of electronic programming on hotels and food companies enhancing tourist confidence in the quality of food, rarity of food poisoning and rating Dubai among the best nations in food hygiene.

He also said that Dubai International Food Safety Conference is an attraction to tourists while the participation of Food Control Department in exhibitions and international conferences would enhance Dubai's image as its food control system continues to set an example to follow at local, regional and international levels.

The meeting also discussed appropriate steps to foster cooperation between the Municipality and DTCM through electronically linking both departments to simplify classification of hotels, issuance of new licenses for tourism activities, coordinating the tourism activities, developing an appropriate mechanism in inspection of food catering establishments, camps and desert trip locations, conducting a periodic inspection programme on cruise ships and establishing a mechanism to take proper action.

DTCM ORGANISE PROGRAMMES TO CELEBRATE WORLD HERITAGE DAY

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has organized a number of programmes at its heritage sites in Al Shindagha from April 18 to 20 to mark the World Heritage Day.

The programmes include performances of traditional dances like Al Ayala, Al Youla and Al Rezfa. Traditional kitchens were also organized to offer insights into the Emirati cuisine.

A workshop on heritage was also held for the school children. A traditional souq was another highlight of the programmes in addition to a henna corner and performance by Dubai police band. A traditional theatre show was also organized.

The venue attracted a number of visitors hailing from various nationalities.

The heritage sites in the emirate attracted 16 per cent more visitors in 2008 compared with the previous year.

The heritage sites operated by the DTCM received 1,009,848 visitors last year, up from 873,831 recorded in the year 2007.

The heritage sites under DTCM’s supervision are Sheikh Saeed Al Maktoum House, Dubai Museum, Al Ahmadiah School, Heritage House, Heritage Village, Diving Village, Umm Al Shief Majlis, Naif Museum and Hatta Heritage Village.

DTCM DISCUSS NEW MARKETING INITIATIVES WITH HOTEL AND HOTEL APARTMENT GROUP

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) organized a meeting, under the chairmanship of Director General Mr. Khalid A bin Sulayem, with the members of the Hotel and Hotel Apartment Group to discuss its new initiatives to give a big push to promotional and marketing of Dubai as a leisure and business tourism hub.

The meeting was briefed about a raft of initiatives and programmes that DTCM has planned to conduct during the summer months and the Holy Month of Ramadan, as part of the measures to boost hotel occupancies and increase number of visitors to the emirate during the current year.

Mr. bin Sulayem informed the group members about the steps that DTCM has taken to encourage tourism industry players take up enlarged role in the efforts underway to create awareness about the destination.

Mr. Aly El Zayat, Director of DTCM’s Representative Office in Saudi Arabia, briefed the meeting about the Dubai promotion in Saudi Arabia. The promotion will run through the summer months until the Eid Al Fitr. Under the programme, visitors get one extra night stay for every two night’s hotel booking in addition to airport transfers, two children per room and second room at 50 per cent. DTCM has published 60,000 booklets for the promotion and promotion is bookable only through travel agents.

The group members were informed about the progress and outcome of the ‘Keep discovering Dubai’ programme that DTCM launched last month in cooperation with the Emirates Airlines and select DMCs and hotels. Under the three-month-long campaign, about 2000 tour operators, MICE agents and media representatives from more than 60 countries will be taking up familiarization tours of Dubai.

The meeting, held at Shangri-La Hotel on Tuesday, was attended by Mr. Eyad Ali Abdul Rahman, DTCM Executive Director Media Relations Division and Acting Director Business Development, Mr. Khalid bin Touq, DTCM Executive Director Licensing and Classification Division, and Mr. Hamad bin Mejren, DTCM Executive Director Business Tourism.

DTCM OFFICIALS DISCUSS NEW MARKETING INITIATIVES WITH DUBAI STAND CO-PARTICIPANTS AT GIBTM-2009

Mr. Khalid A bin Sulayem, Director General of Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), held a meeting with the co-participants of Dubai Stand on the second day of Gulf Incentives, Business Travel and Meetings (GIBTM) exhibition at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) and discussed the new marketing and promotional initiatives designed to boost hotel occupancies and attract more visitors from across the world during this year.

Also present at the meeting were Mr. Mohammed Khamis bin Hareb, DTCM Executive Director Operations and Marketing, and Mr. Eyad Ali Abdul Rahman, DTCM Executive Director Media Relations and Acting Director Business Development.

Dubai Stand measures 406 square metres and has 57 co-participants representing a broad spectrum of hotels, hotel apartments, DMCs and other public and private sector organizations keen to tap the MICE industry potential.

The new initiatives are part of DTCM’s continued efforts to market Dubai as a leading leisure and business destination and maintain tourism industry’s market competitiveness.

The participants reviewed the global tourism industry market trends and a number of new initiatives aimed at attracting more visitors to Dubai from across the world, especially the Arabian Gulf Cooperation Council (AGCC) states, and boosting hotel occupancies which remained high during the months of January and February this year.

He said the department, in cooperation with the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) and Dubai Summer Surprises (DSS) Office, will hold workshops and Press conferences in the AGCC states soon to promote Dubai during the summer holidays and the Holy Month of Ramadan. Details of the initiatives will be announced shortly.

Mr. bin Sulayem said the new initiatives over the remainder of the year will help generate even better levels of hotel occupancies and help draw more tourists from different parts of the world.

During the meeting, it was agreed that the hoteliers will offer best rates and holiday packages to the visitors, especially during the summer months.

Dubai retained its strong position with its hotels posting all-time high record revenues of AED15.25 billion and a double-digit increase in room inventory in 2008.Dubai hotel establishments played a host to 6,996,449 guests in 2008, up from 6,951,798 visitors in the previous year.

The slight increase in guest numbers enabled Dubai hotels and hotel apartment posting AED15.25 billion in revenues, an impressive increase of 15 per cent over the previous year. A 15.9 per cent increase was also recorded in the number of hotel rooms and hotel apartments, which stood at 49,598

A three-month familiarization programme –Keep Discovering Dubai- targeting 2000 tour operators, MICE agents and Media representatives had been launched by DTCM in cooperation with Emirates Airlines and other key players of Dubai’s tourism industry to provide them a hands-on experience of Dubai.