JEDDAH — Accommodation and tourist attractions will drive the hospitality market in Saudi Arabia over the coming five years. It is expected to grow during that period and the hospitality market valued at $93bn in next five years. Travel accommodation will grow most significantly from now until 2017; with increased project spend of 24 percent over that time. The tourist attraction market follows closely behind, set to grow 23 percent within the same period. With such opportunity, companies from across the region are looking for ways of getting closer to the market. Christine Davidson, event director for The Hotel Show Saudi 2014, has seen increasing diversification from companies looking to capitalize on sector growth, she said: “The hospitality sector in Saudi Arabia has significant potential, at present and for the foreseeable future. “We see companies looking for a platform where they can find out more about the latest products and services available to them in order to drive this growth forward. The Hotel Show Saudi brings global products and brands to a local audience, providing a unique opportunity for business and information mining.” Other core sectors expected to present opportunities in the Kingdom include travel retail and transportation, anticipated to see 22 and 21 percent growth respectively 2014-2017. Both Riyadh and Jeddah are currently in the top 10 cities for new hotel projects in the Middle East, representing 60 percent of the total number of projects in the Kingdom. This year's edition will also include the participation of Samsung Electronics, which will showcase its full suite of hospitality products designed to enhance the hotel experience. “Saudi Arabia is an exciting market, and offers significant growth potential across all facets of its hospitality sector,” said Jae Cheon Park, general manager, Samsung Electronics, Saudi Arabia. “We are very pleased to feature our innovative hospitality solutions, which can significantly enhance guests' stay. At The Hotel Show Saudi, we will offer visitors a chance to experience Samsung's full range of hospitality products, from stunning visual display technology and smooth, cloud-based operations systems that elevate industry standards and usher in the future of the sector.” The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia, taking place at Jeddah Centre for Forums & Events from April 22-24, is supported by the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities and MICE. Knowledge Partners include Euromonitor International, Ventures Middle East and Top Hotel Projects. Organized by MICE Arabia, co-organized by dmg events, The Hotel Show Saudi Arabia debuted in 2012 at the Jeddah Centre for Forums & Events. The event is patronized by Prince Sultan Bin Salman, Chairman of the Supreme Commission for Tourism & Antiquities (SCTA). The sister show to The Hotel Show in Dubai, and the largest full spectrum hospitality and supplies event for the MENA region, both trade-only exhibitions bring the best of regional and international manufacturers together with qualified buyers to meet the demands of burgeoning regional hospitality market. The events provide unmatched networking and sourcing opportunities and function as unsurpassed business to business platforms for the hospitality industry. An international exhibition and publishing company, dmg events produces market-leading exhibitions and conferences for the global energy, construction, digital marketing, hospitality and interior industries, with events in the Middle East, North America, Europe and Asia. — SG
