The Hotel Show Dubai 2021: Opening Highlights from Day One

Day one at The Hotel Show Dubai 2021 offered a long-overdue opportunity for industry leaders to meet face to face with an array of interactive discussions, demonstrations, and engaging exhibits

Dubai, 31st May 2021:  The Hotel Show Dubai 2021, the largest event of its kind in the region, returned live and in-person today at the Dubai World Trade Centre. The show welcomed thousands of enthusiastic visitors and exhibitors from over 20 countries, which is running for three days, until Wednesday, June 2nd, 2021.

The 21st edition of The Hotel Show Dubai was inaugurated by His Royal Highness Sheikh Ahmed 
bin Saeed Al Maktoum, adding significance to the opening moment and underlining the importance of live events as an integral element of the region’s hospitality industry. 

Exhibitors included a selection of leading regional and international brands, with attendance from a raft of notable industry leaders who are participating in a full schedule of seminars, live competitions, conferences, and demonstrations, providing many networking possibilities and the exchange of inspiring ideas. Anna Jafra, Manager at Pomerania Development Agency commented “We represent 11 companies from our region and we’ve had a lot of interest from visitors already on the first day and made some exciting contacts. It’s been very busy and we’re particularly impressed with the level of health and safety precautions in place that are making this show possible for so many people.”

The first day at The Hotel Show Dubai encouraged a strong revival of the hospitality industry, indicating a bright and prosperous future for all those involved. Andy White, Senior Vice President at dmg events says, "Our aim at The Hotel Show 2021 is to educate, inspire and entertain. We're delighted to be back after 15 months, and, as a result have focused on developing outstanding content for this year's edition. We are pleased to have doubled the number of seminars and have three times as many speakers as previous editions. We are delighted with how day one has done with an array of things to experience under one roof and can’t wait for days two and three." 

Hospitality Leadership Forum

The Hospitality Leadership Forum offered a rare opportunity to spend time with the industry's most outstanding leaders. Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism & Commerce Marketing, was welcomed with a standing ovation in recognition of DTCM’s decisive handling of the pandemic over the past 15 months. His engaging keynote offered unique insight into Dubai’s strategic response to COVID-19, that has seen the Emirate emerge as a global blueprint of destination marketing success. 

The F&B Stakeholders Summit

Elsewhere, the F&B Stakeholders Summit showcased a series of focused conversations for a sector that has been incredibly challenged by the COVID-19 era. Naim Maadad, Chief Executive, Gates Hospitality Board Member, Dubai Restaurants, led the first discussion, acknowledging the wealth of venues and talent available in the region and encouraging the industry to recognise the need to encourage, educate and reward industry professionals for their contributions to safeguard future retention and recovery.

HITEC Dubai 2021

Frank Wolfe, HITEC Dubai Chairman, took to the stage to commence an interactive series of discussions on topics such as data breach prevention and management, supporting the age of mobile: wireless optimization, guest interaction, as well as a panel projecting future travel trends, and what the hospitality industry can learn from developments in other industries. 

The Hotel Show Chefs Table Challenge

Ten participating chefs battled it out on day one of this year’s long awaited Chefs Table Challenge which returned for its third edition at The Hotel Show Dubai 2021. Visitors and exhibitors witnessed judges score participating teams on mise en place, culinary skills, presentation, and, of course, taste.