The number of hotel rooms in the UAE are projected to increase tremendously in order to accommodate the upsurge of 15 million tourists expected to visit the country by 2010. The boom in the hotel construction in the UAE will create immense business opportunities for lighting designers, suppliers and manufacturers of lighting equipment. The number of hotel rooms in Dubai will increase by 50 percent to 22,000 by the end of this year. Currently there are 40,000 rooms across 415 hotels in Dubai. The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) stated that, this year, 22 new hotels are due to open with seven new hotel apartments adding 10,000 rooms to the inventory. Hotel occupancy is running at 85 to 90 percent, reaching 100 per cent during international exhibitions. Following the growth trends in the region, the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority has approved investment packages to build 4,000 hotel rooms in three years as part of its plan to add 17,000 hotel rooms by 2015. Eckhard Pruy, CEO of Epoc Messe Frankfurt, said “the hotel and hospitality industry is growing by leaps and bounds in the UAE and GCC countries, thereby creating a wider market with better opportunities for Light Middle East, the biggest exhibition of its kind in the Gulf region. The event in Dubai places Epoc Messe Frankfurt at a unique forefront of dynamic growth within the hotel business.” “Light Middle East is backed by the most successful exhibition, for the lighting industry: Light + Building in Frankfurt which attracts more than 135,000 visitors every year. Therefore, we are, very confident that we can use our international experience to contribute towards the further growth of the event in Dubai,” he added. Running in parallel to Light Middle East in 2008, which will be held on May 25-27 is the 2008 Professional Lighting Designers Association (PLDA) light focus conference. This conference will serve as a creative platform which will connect a diverse set of lighting designers and architects to see future trends in design. Jessica Minton, senior show manager of Light Middle East, added: “The reformed panel, which includes - Osram, Philips, FibrePros, WILA, Martin Architectural; and the emerging expertise of Cinmar Lightings, ensures that Light Middle East continues to address the needs of clients and specifies through the choice and solutions provided by exhibiting companies. Philips once again will be a key member of the advisory panel.” __
