UAE. The organisers of last week’s Middle East Exclusive travel retail exhibition held in Dubai claim the event will double in size in 2005.
Justin Boutros, managing director of Channels Exhibitions, said: “We will double the exhibition space and double the number of exhibitors so that will mean more than 200-plus exhibitors next year.”
He added: “Given the circumstances of the industry affected by war in Iraq and the SARS virus, the fact we managed to attract 106 exhibitors was very pleasing. We have had very good feedback and already over 80% of the exhibiting companies have said they will be coming back next year. Already we have more than 30 new companies showing interest in joining Middle East Exclusive next year.”
Middle East Exclusive director Elysabeth Blachais-Catoire added: “In terms of visitor attendance, we reached our target and had the visitor profile which we were looking for. We were always looking more at quality of visitor rather than quantity and to ensure we had the right people here.”
Boutros thanked Dubai Duty Free managing director Colm McLoughlin and Middle East Duty Free Association (MEDFA) president Mohamed Mounib for their support, along with H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Saeed Al Maktoum, president of the Department of Civil Aviation and chairman of Emirates Group for his patronage.
Next year’s event will take place from 29 November to 1 December preceded by the Dubai Duty Free Golf World Cup on 25 and 26 December and the MEDFA conference on 27 and 28 December.
