TravTalk Middle East Online Magazine
It was two days of non-stop meetings, extensive networking and understanding industry trends at the first-ever virtual Gulf Travel Show 2020. The event concluded with 6,000 one-on-one business meetings and 2,000 buyers from across the globe. Exhibitors, buyers and industry leaders share their views.
HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, SCTDA
The Gulf Travel Show has been a crucial and inspiring event indicative of the tourism industry’s ability to adapt, recover and move forward in these challenging times. It was avaluable platform to participate in, allowing us to reconnect with many of our stakeholders and to exchange information about the most up-to-date technologies driving the digital transformation and innovative solutions that are re-energising the industry while showcasing Sharjah’s ever-evolving portfolio and new projects that are cementing the emirate’s position as a global destination with a solid reputation for safety and security.
Gerald Lawless, Former CEO Jumeirah Group and WTTC Ambassador
Congratulations on the recent Gulf Travel Show. It was a pleasure to have participated. I would also like to compliment the Gulf Travel Show team on the virtual platform you have used. It was by far the best I have seen of all the webinars I have linked in to over the last ten months. Well done! The Gulf Travel Show provided a platform for the travel trade fraternity to virtually connect with each other especially at this point of time when borders are yet to be opened.
Kathryn Wallington, Head of Middle East and Africa, Travelport
Travel is all about building connections and being exposed to new things, and the Gulf Travel Show did a fantastic job of helping our industry do just that. I was honoured to host a discussion on how we can rebuild confidence; and it was truly heartening to see a great deal of that same confidence in the energy, engagement and eagerness to find new ways to bounce back which was on display throughout the entire event.
Nasir Jamal Khan , CEO, Al Naboodah Travel
It is a great pleasure to be a part of region’s first-ever virtual Gulf Travel Show as TravTalk Middle East brings together world-class speakers, attendees, and experts from the industry all under one virtual roof, connecting and building business relationships. The smart thinking and planning by the TravTalk team resulted in this extremely well organised event.
Ashu Gupta, CTO & Co-Founder Technogram Solutions
Technogram Solutions was pleased to be a part of the Gulf Travel Show. Technology has helped us overcome a lot of barriers, as seen through this virtual exhibition. Therefore, I cannot emphasise enough on the need of having a good technology partner for travel companies to take their business online. The overall theme of “Re-think, Re-engage, & Re-ignite Travel” had been executed sophisticatedly throughout the event. As India’s leading Travel Technology solutions provider, we connected to a wide variety of audience who were looking to get their hands on robust technology.
Imroz Uddin, Group Director of Sales & Marketing, Lily Hotels, Maldives
Overall, the event was organised in a very structured manner in terms of interface, technology, assistance on pre-scheduled appointments. We are very satisfied with the experience. Majority of buyers we interacted with were from the Middle East, Europe and UK. The buyers were looking for hotel contracting and it was a key opportunity and requirement from buyers. The event gave an opportunity to virtually connect with partners from the Middle East and other destinations over two days.
Yamina Sofo, Director – Sales & Marketing, German National Tourist Office
It was a great pleasure for the German National Tourist Office Gulf Countries to take part at the first-ever Gulf Travel Show. This was a much needed digital platform where we were able to connect with our partners during the two days of the show and had many fruitful discussions and connections. Apart from that our participation in the special panel discussions gave us the opportunity to share with our partners the current status of destination Germany and the many protocols that are in place to welcome once the borders open for the travellers.
Beverly Au Yong, Area Director Singapore Tourism Board Middle East
Singapore Tourism Board is delighted to have participated in the Gulf Travel Show organised by TravTalk. The event gave us an opportunity to reconnect with our valued partners from the region and engage in many meaningful conversations with them. We also participated in some outstanding panel discussions, led by stalwarts of the travel industry. This show has brought together industry experts, world-class speakers and attendees from across the region under one roof, allowing them to engage, connect and better their relationship.
Leyla Mahmudova, Regional Manager – Middle East, Azerbaijan Tourism Board
It is important nowadays to continue engaging with international partners. Due to the COVID-19 and travel restrictions which do not allow us to travel and participate at the exhibitions physically, virtual shows seem to be the best solution. Due to COVID-19, most of the trends are about ‘safe travel’. The questions that I get mostly are about COVID-19, and what Azerbaijan is doing to secure safe travel, and of course SAHMAN (Sanitation and Hygiene Methods and Norms Programme) project.
Dwight Jaret Salac, Managing Director, Pink Lily Travel, Philippines
Having an assigned Project Manager really made our participation easy. There was no hassle for both buyers and exhibitors. We had interesting meetings with buyers and received requests for Business Mutual Agreement for tourism revival. Most importantly, the Gulf Travel Show gave us the opportunity to present our plans and updates of our destinations to the global market. Almost 70 per cent of our meetings were from the Middle East, 20 per cent from Asia and 10 per cent from others.
Gabriela Petra, Cluster Assistant Director of Sales, DoubleTree by Hilton Resort & Spa Marjan Island, DoubleTree by Hilton Ras Al Khaimah and DoubleTree by Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Corniche Hotel & Residences – Q1 2020
I must say, the platform was perfectly done. I would strongly recommend it moving forward for such events. However, the team was very supportive, and messages were sent when needed so the walk-ins picked up. Thank you all for an amazing event and I am looking forward to the next one.
Seema Pande, Head Elev8 Representation & Consulting (representative Universal Resorts in GCC and Middle East)
Gulf Travel Show did not disappoint. The pre-set appointments were professionally selected, and the team assisted us in confirming relevant appointments. On the days of the show, the GTS team was present and hands-on in ensuring that appointments were carried out in a timely manner and were very efficient in driving footfall to our booth. Both days were filled with relevant appointments from all destinations with focus on the Middle East. The buyers were mainly looking for a better understanding of Maldives and the Universal Resorts portfolio. Some also asked for DMC recommendations.
Muhammad Idrees, Manager, Saudi Wings Holidays Riyadh
It was a lovely experience, we gathered a lot of information and had many fruitful discussions although hybrid, we will definitely achieve mutual goals. It was the first time that such an event took place virtually connecting many countries on one platform. The sessions in the auditorium were really good as we were able to listen to key industry personalities sharing their wealth of knowledge with the trade especially at this point of time.
Namratha Rose, Travel Influencer
GTS started off well with a welcome address by HE Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, SCTDA followed by a welcome by Raki Phillips, CEO of RAKTDA and a keynote from San Jeet, Director of DDP Group. It was reassuring to hear from industry veterans, sharing their valuable insights and thoughts on tourism recovery and the new normal. I was particularly interested in meeting with all the participating tourism boards to get updates on their destinations with regard to their travel guidelines, restrictions and opening dates and other future plans.
Santosh George, Director – Business Development, Yathra Travels
Frankly the website was quite interactive, it was like walking through a real exhibition hall. The entire process was smooth and the options to chat, make calls, download the brochure and contacts were flawless. I had a good number of meetings I could attend on both days. Outbound travel especially to destinations like Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Azerbaijan are my key interests, so it was good to find them there. The COVID protocols were quite clear for the destinations and the participating hotels have assured us of the precautions they have taken for a safe environment.
Marko Muthig, Regional Director Sales Asia TUI Hotels and Resorts
This is a new way of chatting for getting business and connections of the time being. I think the virtual show can keep people stay connected when we cannot travel to see or meet each other. We were able to meet and chat on virtual stand buyers from Middle East and other destinations.
Karim Nawar, Director of tourism – Areejalalo travel Saudi Arabia
It was a great show, I met a lot of companies and listened to the sessions with key industry speakers in the auditorium. My interests were airlines, tourism bodies and DMC’s and I managed to meet and network with them at the Gulf Travel show.
Kai Miethig, Certified tourist guide by Bahrain Tourism and Exhibition Authority and Member of The International Ecotourism Society Bahrain Chapter Congratulations! As a participant at the first ever virtual Gulf Travel Show, I was very impressed by the presentation, platform, show designed, entrance, hall, introduction and organization prior with meeting arrangements was an absolutely exciting experience. The different communication varieties included in the platform to exchange information, video clips of the exhibitors, download possibilities were very helpful.
Inputs by Shehara Rizly
