Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2022 is ready to welcome the world to the UAE from Monday, May 9 to Thursday, May 12. The renowned event will host 1,500 exhibitors, representatives from 112 global destinations and an anticipated 20,000 attendees. The live show will be followed by ATM Virtual, which will run from May 17 -18.
Taking place at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) in collaboration with Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the 29th edition of ATM will form an essential part of the UAE’s annual Arabian Travel Week.
In keeping with this year’s theme of “The Future of International Travel and Tourism,” ATM 2022 will feature a selection of sessions and events, enabling industry professionals from around the world to discuss current trends and explore long-term opportunities within the fields of travel, transportation, tourism, hospitality, events, attractions and more.
Danielle Curtis, exhibition director ME – Arabian Travel Market, said: “ATM 2022 will see a diverse range of industry leaders take to the stage, offering expert insights on trends, challenges and opportunities from across our sector. Our opening session, for instance, which will be moderated by CNN’s Eleni Giokos, will feature Issam Kazim, chief executive officer of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing; Scott Livermore, chief economist at Oxford Economics; and Jochem-Jan Sleiffer, president – Middle East, Africa and Turkey at Hilton.”
One of many show highlights, the revamped and rebranded ATM Travel Tech event, previously called Travel Forward, has undergone a year-on-year expansion of almost 400 percent. In addition to the latest travel technology products and services, the ATM Travel Tech Stage will host a series of seminars, debates and presentations focused on the long-term trajectory of tourism in the Middle East.
The inaugural ATM Draper-Aladdin Start-up Competition, meanwhile, has generated significant buzz since its launch earlier this year. Held in conjunction with AladdinB2B and Draper Associates, the initiative will see 15 travel, tourism and hospitality start-ups pitch for USD 500,000 of funding – not to mention the opportunity to compete for an additional USD 500,000 of investment as part of hit TV show, Meet the Drapers.
After joining ATM Virtual 2021, both the ARIVALDubai@ATM forum and the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) will participate live in Dubai for the first time this year. With its focus on current and future trends for tour operators and attractions, ARIVALDubai@ATM will provide expert advice on growing business through marketing, technology, distribution, thought leadership and executive-level connections. GBTA, meanwhile, will deliver the latest business travel content, research and education to help drive the sector’s ongoing recovery and support longer-term growth in business travel.
ATM 2022 will include in-depth buyer forums dedicated to India and Saudi Arabia, enabling attendees to explore trends and potential opportunities within both key markets. The show floor will also feature live interviews with aviation and hospitality experts; debates on the future of sports, city and responsible tourism; digital influencer networking; best stand awards; and the return of ILTM Arabia, with its focus on the lucrative luxury travel market.
Capitalizing on the upward trajectory of regional tourism investment, the ITIC-ATM Middle East Summit – hosted jointly by ATM and the International Tourism Investment Conference (ITIC) – will shine a spotlight on access to project finance in the post-Covid era. Speakers include Gerald Lawless, director of ITIC and WTTC ambassador; Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s minister of tourism; and Dr Taleb Rifai, chairman of ITIC and former secretary-general of the UNWTO.
The upcoming edition of ATM will coincide with Arabian Travel Week, a festival of events dedicated to enabling travel professionals from all over the world to collaborate and shape the recovery of the Middle East travel industry through exhibitions, conferences, breakfast briefings, awards, product launches and networking events.
