Briton Mark Walsh, Reed Travel Exhibitions’ (RTE) Group Exhibition Director, has taken over direction of Arabian Travel Market – the premier Pan Arab travel and tourism show which will mark its 14th annual edition in Dubai this May.
Walsh, 44, takes over the ATM reins from Chris Chackal who has left RTE to pursue career opportunities elsewhere.
“Mark has the experience and knowledge to take ATM forward to the next level having spent 12 years with Reed Travel Exhibitions working across a variety of international travel shows, including World Travel Market,” said Richard Mortimore, Managing Director, RTE.
ATM is the latest show to join the directional portfolio of Mark Walsh, others include the International Golf Travel Market, City Break – the European cities’ B2B travel event and CIS Travel Market – the travel and tourism exhibition for the Commonwealth of Independent States, North West Russia and Baltic markets.
Walsh is no stranger to the Middle East having worked with Kuwait Airways for two years in a marketing role prior to joining RTE.
“My time with Kuwait Airways gave me a knowledgeable insight into the Arabian market and left me with extremely fond memories of the expansive hospitality for which the region is renowned,” said Walsh.
Arabian Travel Market 2007 will run at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre (DICEC) from May 1-4. To date the show has confirmed exhibitors from 47 countries including new-to-market participants from Peru and China. It will also host the regional exhibition debut of the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.
Arabian Travel Market is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, and under the auspices of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.
Caption: Walsh – takes up Arabian Travel Market reins
Reed Exhibitions is the world’s leading organiser of exhibitions and conferences. Reed brings together over 90,000 suppliers and more than 5.5 million buyers from around the world every year generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed events are held in 38 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and organised by 33 fully staffed offices.
Reed’s portfolio of over 460 events serves 52 industry sectors, including:
aerospace and defense, building and construction, design, electronics, energy, oil and gas, entertainment, food and hospitality, gifts, healthcare, IT/telecoms, jewellery, manufacturing, marketing and business services, pharmaceuticals, property, publishing, sport and recreation, transport and logistics and travel.
Working closely with professional bodies, trade associations and government departments Reed ensures that each and every event is targeted and relevant to industry needs. As a result, many Reed events are market leaders in their field.
Reed Exhibitions is part of Reed Elsevier, a FTSE 100 company and world-leading publisher and information provider, with revenues in excess of £4.8 billion (US$ 8.4 billion) (2004).
Reed Travel Exhibitions organises 17 events worldwide, including World Travel Market, Arabian Travel Market, C.I.S. Travel Market, EIBTM, British Travel Trade Fair, Asia Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME), International Golf Travel Market, Top Resa, Mediterranean Travel Fair, ICCA Exhibition, in association with the ICCA Congress, International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM), La Cumbre, City Break, China Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (CIBTM), Latin American & Caribbean Incentive & Meetings Exhibition (LACIME), Gulf Incentive Business Travel & Meetings (GIBTM) and Asia Luxury Travel Market (ALTM).
For further press information, please visit the Reed Travel Exhibitions’ website on www.reedtravelexhibitions.com
