Reed Exhibitions Chief Gornall to attend Arabian Travel Market

The new chief executive of Reed Exhibitions (RX) is to attend the Arabian Travel Market 2005 (ATM) in Dubai.

While at the show, which runs at the Dubai World Trade Centre from May 3-6, Alastair Gornall will meet exhibitors to gain feedback on the fastest growing event in the portfolio of Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), an RX subsidiary.

Gornall, who took the RX hot seat and joined the group’s worldwide board in September, says he intends to adopt a hands on business approach, and visiting Dubai is high on his development agenda. 

“ATM recently beat over 400 international trade show titles to take the ‘Reed Exhibition of the Year’ award for the second time running and has been an incredible success for both the group and the travel industry,” said Gornall. “The exhibition industry is highly customer focused and is about providing value for money, and that is something ATM certainly achieves.

“The Middle East, and Dubai in particular, is a massive and growing market for the exhibitions industry and I need to be there to listen to customers on the ground and ensure we continue to provide them with the high quality event they expect from us.

“I also hope to meet key decision-makers at governmental and private sector level to explore further opportunities for the group as a whole.”

The ATM 2005 has already sold more than 99 per cent of its 14,200 square metres of floor space, a 3,000 square metres increase on last year.

Chris Chackal, Group Exhibitions Director Reed Travel Exhibitions, said, “Alastair’s first ATM is going to set new records in trade buyer and exhibitor numbers from more countries than ever before.

“Exhibitors have signed up earlier, reflecting the success of last year’s event, the strength of the regional tourism market and demand from Middle East outward bound business. The show is set to be a sell out in spite of the 20 per cent increase in floor space.”

Exhibitors from 50 countries, including 43 national tourist bodies have confirmed participation.

This year RTE has said it will donate entry fees from the ATM’s two public sessions to the ‘Just A Drop’ charity to provide fresh water to communities ravaged by the December tsunami.

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