- ATM’s independent panel of judges praised the Experience Abu Dhabi stand for its flowing design, innovative use of greenery and excellent visibility
- Other winners included AlUla, Bangkok, ExploreTECH, flydubai, Qiddiya Investment Company and Saudi Tourism Authority
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 8 May 2024: Experience Abu Dhabi secured the Best Stand Design Award (over 150m2) at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024, which will run at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) until Thursday 9 May. The exhibitor’s stand was praised by ATM’s independent panel of judges for its flowing design, innovative use of greenery and excellent visibility from the show floor.
In the Best Stand Design (50-150m2) category, ExploreTECH was selected by the judges for its slick, two-storey concept as well as its efforts to promote partner startups. Bangkok Metropolitan Administration won the Best Stand Design Award (under 50m2) thanks to its traditional yet colourful layout and effective use of space.
Qiddiya Investment Company’s stand won ATM’s inaugural Best Use of Technology Award. Judges commended the interactive digital recreations developed by the organisation, which allow attendees to feel as though they are physically present at the planned megaproject in Saudi Arabia.
ATM 2024’s Sustainable Stand Award was presented to AlUla, which paid particular attention to materials reuse, including the carpet selected for the space. The exhibitor integrated a series of QR codes, which enable attendees to access information about the sustainability-related reasons behind its various design choices. Judges were also impressed by AlUla’s pledge to offset emissions from its stand, as well as its approach to visitor engagement – planting a tree for everyone who engages during the show.
This year’s Best Stand for Doing Business Award was presented to the Saudi Tourism Authority, which received praise for effectively showcasing multiple destinations with distinct meeting areas, zones dedicated to the nation’s culture, and an abundance of information points. The award for Best Stand Feature went to flydubai for an innovative design that plays with perspective, making visitors feel like they are flying from one angle while resembling the wings of an aeroplane from another.
Emirates was highly commended in the Best Stand Design Award (over 150m2) category for a stand that created an open feel for visitors, with a layout that allows attendees to enter from any direction.
The judges for the ATM 2024 Best Stand Awards included; Sarah Duignan, Director of Client Relationships, STR; Mo Elhadi, Account Manager MEA, STR; Otag Fida, Senior Project Manager, DXB Live; Kate Harden-England, Editor, Travolution; and Nehme Shehab, Operations Director, RXME.
Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “It proved extremely challenging to decide on the ultimate winner in many of this year’s Best Stand Awards categories, which just goes to show the level of quality on display at ATM 2024. I am immensely grateful to our independent judges for their time and effort, and I would like to congratulate all this year’s award winners and highly commended exhibitors.”
Best Stand Award winners
- Best Stand Design under 50m2 – Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (AS7555)
- Best Stand Design between 50-150m2 – ExploreTECH (TT4250)
- Best Stand Design over 150m2 – Experience Abu Dhabi (ME0750, ME0720)
- Best Stand for Doing Business – Saudi Tourism Authority (ME1820, ME1730)
- Best Stand Feature – flydubai (ME1020)
- Best Use of Technology – Qiddiya Investment Company (ME1780)
- Sustainable Stand – AlUla (ME1750)
The Best Stand Awards winners were announced on day three of ATM 2024. Elsewhere today, the Future Stage hosted a full programme of fascinating innovation-focused sessions including Innovations Shaping the Future of Accessible and Inclusive Travel and Decoding MENA Tourism Potential: Unveiling NextGen Destinations in 2040.
The excitement is building for the ATM Start-Up Pitch Battle tomorrow, which will take place on the Future Stage. Held in partnership with Intelak, the Start-up Pitch Battle provides a platform for travel start-ups to present their innovative, industry-changing business ideas live on stage. The shortlisted companies are Curated Planet, stayK, InterLnkd and ClearQuote Technologies ME Ltd.
The largest edition of ATM to date will close tomorrow following four days of impactful industry discussions and unrivalled networking opportunities across the MICE, leisure, luxury and corporate travel sectors. The final day will focus on the next generation of travel and tourism talent with the Educating Young Entrepreneurs: Building a Career in Travel session and the Network with Future Leaders event.
The latest ATM news stories are available at https://hub.wtm.com/category/press/atm-press-releases/.
To register your interest in attending ATM 2024, visit https://www.wtm.com/atm/en-gb/enquire.html.
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For more information, log on to wtm.com/atm/en-gb.html.
Arabian Travel Market (ATM), now in its 31st year, is the leading international travel and tourism event in the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals. ATM 2023 welcomed over 40,000 attendees and hosted over 30,000 visitors, including more than 2,100 exhibitors and representatives from over 150 countries, across 10 halls at Dubai World Trade Centre. Arabian Travel Market is part of Arabian Travel Week. #ATMDubai
Next in-person event: 6 to 9 May 2024, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai.
https://www.wtm.com/atm/en-gb.html
Arabian Travel Week is a festival of events taking place from 6 to 12 May, within and alongside Arabian Travel Market 2024. Providing a renewed focus for the Middle East’s travel and tourism sector, it includes Influencers’ events, GBTA Business Travel Forums, as well as ATM Travel Tech. It also features the ATM Buyer Forums, as well as a series of country forums.
https://www.wtm.com/arabian-travel-week/en-gb.html
About RX
RX is a global leader in events and exhibitions, leveraging industry expertise, data, and technology to build businesses for individuals, communities, and organisations. With a presence in 25 countries across 42 industry sectors, RX hosts approximately 350 events annually. RX is committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX empowers businesses to thrive by leveraging data-driven insights and digital solutions. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. For more information, visit www.rxglobal.com.
About RELX
RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. RELX serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs more than 36,000 people over 40% of whom are in North America. The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX. *Note: Current market capitalisation can be found at http://www.relx.com/investors
World Travel Market (WTM) portfolio comprises leading travel events and online portals across four continents. The events are:
WTM London is the world’s most influential travel & tourism event for the global travel community. The show is the ultimate destination for those seeking a macro view of the travel industry and a deeper understanding of the forces shaping it. WTM London is where influential travel leaders, buyers and high-profile travel companies gather to exchange ideas, drive innovation, and accelerate business outcomes.
Next event: 5 to 7 November 2024 at ExCel London.
WTM Latin America takes place annually in the city of São Paulo and attracts around 20,000 tourism professionals during the three-day event. The event offers qualified content together with networking and business opportunities. In this its ninth edition – there have been eight face-to-face events along with a 100% virtual one, which was held in 2021 – WTM Latin America continued to focus on effective business generation, and achieved the advance booking of six thousand meetings that were held between buyers, travel agents and exhibitors in 2022.
Next event: 14 to 16 April 2025 – Expo Center Norte, SP, Brazil.
WTM Africa launched in 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2022, WTM Africa facilitated more than 7 thousand unique pre-scheduled appointments, an increase of more than 7% compared to 2019 and welcomed more than 6 thousand visitors (unaudited), the same number as in 2019.
Next event: 9 to 11 April 2025 – Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town http://africa.wtm.com/
About ATW Connect: Africa Travel Week’s digital arm, is a virtual hub packed to the seams with interesting content, industry news and insights, and the opportunity to hear from experts on a variety of topics in our new monthly webinar series. All with the aim to keep all of us in the travel and tourism industry connected. ATW Connect focuses on inbound and outbound markets for general leisure tourism, luxury travel and the MICE/business travel sector as well as travel technology.
WTM Global Hub, is the WTM Portfolio online portal created to connect and support travel industry professionals around the world. The resource hub offers the latest guidance and knowledge to help exhibitors, buyers and others in the travel industry face the challenges of the global coronavirus pandemic. WTM Portfolio is tapping into its global network of experts to create content for the hub. https://hub.wtm.com/