International

Hospitality industries join to promote tourism

June 16, 2008 By: Stephanie Ricca Hotel and Motel Management

J.W. Marriott Jr. told attendees that his company just signed a deal to be a part of Dubai Festival City. Marriott International opened its first Dubai property in 1993.

Dubai, United Arab Emirates–Hoteliers and tourism and travel sector leaders from around the world gathered in Dubai in May at the eighth annual Global Travel & Tourism Summit to prioritize common goals relating to the overlapping hospitality industries.

The consensus: Consider the environmental, economic and political impacts of all facets of tourism because consumers want that commitment.

"Responsible" was the buzzword as speakers refined their ideas of how to build global travel and tourism while encouraging travelers to pay special attention to their ecological, social and economic footprints.


Who gets the biggest piece of the pie?

J.W. Marriott Jr., chairman and c.e.o. of Marriott International, set the scene for the conference with his openings remarks: "Although globalization evokes different feelings, the mark of a true global economy is a symbol of freedom," he said. "The bottom line? Travel is trade."

While Marriott gave a nod to the fact that the U.S. increasingly attracts fewer tourists, the mood of his speech and the conference was global.

"We need to be resourceful in keeping tourism strong despite the economy," he said.


As political and social changes happen, economies follow, said Norbert Walter, chief economist of Deutsche Bank Group and c.e.o. of Deutsche Bank Research.

Marriott announced the company signed a deal that week to launch the 320-unit Marriott Vacation Club, Dubai Festival City, the first Marriott Vacation Club resort in the Middle East and the first one outside of the U.S.

Dubai Festival City is just one example of the booming hospitality climate that characterizes this Middle Eastern seat. Four Seasons, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and InterContinental Hotels Group also have committed projects to this waterfront mixed-use development.

His Excellency Khalid bin Sulayem, director general of the Dubai government department of tourism and commerce marketing, explained Dubai's growth and gave a nod to the expansion opportunities on the horizon.


Stephen Holmes, chairman and c.e.o. of Wyndham Worldwide, said sustainable lodging choices are in the hands of consumers.

"We had 7 million hotel guests in 2007 in Dubai and booked 47,000 rooms," he said. The government has a goal to attract 10 million guests by 2010 and 15 million by 2015.

Tourism is 30 percent of Dubai's gross domestic product, and bin Sulayem said the Emirate is keeping up with the pace and prioritizing sustainable development.

"Dubai was the first city in this region to create green building initiatives," he said.

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