Abu Dhabi achieves record-breaking WTM

Abu Dhabi’s participation in last week’s World Travel Market (WTM) in London produced outstanding results for stakeholders in the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) pavilion, securing a record more than 500 meetings with key business partners. Additionally, TCA Abu Dhabi representatives held meetings with a record 101 travel trade contacts and over 45 key media, to explore destination promotion opportunities. Mubarak Al Nuaimi, International Promotions Manager, TCA Abu Dhabi, said the emirate’s delegation had witnessed a consistent stream of visitors to the Abu Dhabi spectacular with people keen to learn more about the destination’s many tourism developments and to learn about its culture and heritage. “We’ve managed to communicate to people all our new hotel openings, and attractions such as Yas Waterworld and Arabian Nights Village,” commented Al Nuaimi. “Lots of people from the industry have talked to us about the Formula 1Etihad Airways Grand Prix, and are aware of our packed calendar of events in coming months,” he added. The soon-to-open Yas Waterworld on Yas Island received a deluge of requests during WTM, with plenty of travel industry delegates wanting information on the new attraction. “We held several business meetings as a result of people approaching the stand. We’ve secured some new business leads which we’ll follow up and confirm in the coming weeks. We’ve also met with several tour operators who are taking groups of travel agents to Abu Dhabi in the near future and we’ve been able to incorporate the waterpark in their itineraries,” said John Kerr, Director of Sales at Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi. Mark Osborne, Director of Sales & Marketing, Aloft Abu Dhabi said: “The most beneficial meetings we’ve had have been with contacts who visited the stand without a planned meeting. We’ve had over 30 meetings in total and have successfully built brand awareness. We’re confident that as a result of WTM two new business leads will quickly be converted once we return to Abu Dhabi.”