Dubai convention unit now live

DUBAI The Government of Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has confirmed the Dubai Convention Bureau is now operational. "The bureau will allow us to offer corporate buyers a far more co-ordinated approach," DTCM director Ms Barbel Kirchner said. "Information on the facilities in line with buyers' requirements, and availability, will be instantly to hand." The bureau plans an awareness campaign later this year to showcase what it, and its satellite offices, will offer. "We are still determining exact dates of fam trips, but we do recognise it is vital for buyers to experience Dubai first hand," Ms Kirchner said. It will also launch an awareness campaign in Dubai to pull in members. Seven of the DTCM's network of 15 overseas offices will provide international marketing representation for the bureau and assist in bidding. According to Ms Kirchner, the DTCM has set a target of attaining 600,000 additional guest nights from the potential international rotating meetings market by 2008. Meanwhile, the DTCM has also confirmed the purpose-built convention centre will be ready for business in March 2003, in time to host the World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual general meeetings. The centre will offer 11,500sqm of meeting space, holding 11,000 delegates. New hotel developments include the Grand Hyatt Dubai, which will open at the end of the year, and the 900-room Madinat Jumeirah resort will open in 2004, catering for conferences for up to 1,000.