5:05 -  Well that is about it for us. Now the hard work of putting together all the news, information, opinions, photos begins. Have a great weekend and please leave any thoughts about the show you may have by adding comments on this thread. 

2: 18 - The next boom in the hotel industry in the Middle East will be in Iraq, according to Millennium & Copthorne president and CEO Ali Lakhraim. The company has seven hotels under development in Iraq and it will be the hotel chain with the largest presence in the country said Lakhraim. It also has properties underway in Qatar, Oman, Jordan and Sudan. Five properties were ready for signing in Libya prior to the outbreak of violence, but only time will tell if those projects will be resumed.

12:03 - Anantara will be increasing its portfolio by 75% in 2011, the group’s head of public relations Marion Walsh told Hotelier. New openings include two villa properties on Sir Baniyas Island in Abu Dhabi and launches in China and Vietnam. However, Anantara’s Oman project has been delayed after the owner fell into financial difficulties at the end of 2008. New investment from Abu Dhabi has now been secured but there is no set opening date for the resort.

11:38 - The online travel and tourism industry is poised to “experience solid growth” over the next five years – with the Middle East and Africa leading the way in percentage terms, research from Euromonitor International revealed. 

Online hotel sales in Middle East and Africa over the period will grow by more than 12%, sharing the top slot with Latin America which sees the same growth rates for accommodation. The growth figures for North America are in single digits for air and hotels at 6% and 4% respectively.

11:07 - Don’t miss our very own hospitality group editor Louise Oakley moderating another panel session today – this time on the all-important subject of recruiting and retaining talent. The panellists include Chris Watson and Michael Marshall from Millennium & Copthorne, who will be announcing the winners of the ATM Apprentice, which will result in three aspiring hoteliers being awarded jobs with the hotel group. Joining Chris and Michael will be Anne Oberdoerster, associate vice president of human resources at Rotana. The session will run in the seminar theatre in Hall 1 from 1pm-2pm.

10:04 - More announcements have just come through from Starwood: the company plans to open the first Four Points by Sheraton Brand in Sharjah in 2013 and has signed an agreement with Abdulsalam Alrafi Group LLC to open a new Sheraton hotel in Dubai.

Scheduled to open beginning of 2014, the hotel will be part of a three-tower mixed-use project located in the heart of Dubai's commercial district. The new Sheraton Dubai Sheikh Zayed Road Hotel is part of the Sheraton brand's global strategic expansion plan that includes adding more than 60 new hotels and
20,000 rooms to the Sheraton portfolio over the next three years.

DAY 4 - 9:18 - Everyone hanging in there? Fantastic party at One&Only last night, tired feet were singing the praises of the comfortable sofas. We’re starting the day with a meeting with Salem Al Mamari, director general of tourism promotions at the Sultanate of Oman’s Ministry of Tourism. Al Mamari is responsible for stimulating intra-regional travel, which the Ministry has identified as a key tourism driver in 2011 because the “growing transit passenger market is relatively unaffected by recent events in the Middle East”.

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4:05 - Moevenpick JBR's trial of iPads in rooms is going well according to general manager Horst Walther-Jones, who said the devices were a hit with guests but the hotel "would never get rid of the concierge service".

 3:35 - Do luxury and kids mix? Ultimately it comes down to the dollars. Do you lose more guests who are annoyed by the little ones than you make in attracting families? Fun panel session where we learned that Banyan Tree vice president marketing Luca Deplano actually postponed his proposal to his now wife because of a child running around his table.

2.30: V Continents Hospitality Group is re-branding a property in Bur Dubai - the Arabian Suites - from the end of this month. Tarek Elsherif, managing director of the dry hotel group says there is a big market for dry hotels among GCC travellers and is targeting 12 new hotel openings in the region in the next five years.

2.00: Expedia confirms plans are still in the pipeline to launch a local version of the website within the next 18 months - plans have been put back due to the sheer complexity of developing a tailored site for this region, but execs from Expedia anticipate a boom in online travel bookings in the coming year, with up to 50% of Middle East travel bookings made online.

1.20: One&Only The Palm has performed far above initial expectations, according to managing director Olivier P. Louis. The resort recorded 86% occupancy for April, and 84/85% in March. One&Only Royal Mirage has reported similar figures, with occupancy at 84/85% in April, and up to 95% over the Easter period. Sister hotel Atlantis is also still attracting huge numbers to Dubai, with occupancy in April at 92/93% said Louis. Overall, he said that beach properties in Dubai were doing very well. While rates are not back to 2007 levels yet, Louis said that at One&Only they are 95% of the way there.

12:50 - Panelists from 'The Middle East as a sports destination' seminar expressed concern that unrest in the region could halt future sports events, following the cancellation of the Bahrain Grand Prix earlier this year.

12:49 - Marriott global officer Stephanie Linnartz and VP global sales Middle East & Africa discussed with us the power of having 21 brands at your disposal and gave an overview of AC by Mariott, Edition and Autograph. Good news is Stephanie said the company had noticed a definite surge in business travel.

12:47 - HMH – Hospitality Management Holdings formalised contracts for two new projects in Jordan and one in Lebanon today. In addition, the group announced today the soft opening of Coral Hotel Doha and Corp Executive Hotel – Doha Suites. This was followed by two new signings in Oman.

11:42 - Ras Al Khaimah Hotels & Tourism Development Authority COO Victor Louis, who took up his post on May 1, revealed that the emirate is looking at developing a series of mountain resorts. A route through the mountains 900 metres above sea level has already been constructed and Louis says one of the benefits of the resorts is that the weather in the mountains is 12 degrees less than at ground level. Sounds like the perfect summer retreat for UAE residents.

11:02 - Commercial director for Tripadvisor Karen Plumb says user generated content takes the focus of the price of a hotel or trip. She said 72% of reviews on the site had given a four or five out of five rating.

DAY 3 - 10:04 - With blisters firmly in place we are just about ready to tackle day three of ATM. Some great parties last night, but even better gossip. Openings are one thing, but the stories behind the scenes were quite incredible. Our lawyers are on red alert! We will also be putting together all the photo galleries of the parties for next week, so if you were out and about keep checking in to see if you were snapped. 

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4:41 - Gulf Air announced today that it has appointed a new chief commercial officer in Karim Makhlouf, who told us that the airline is launching three new routes to Kabul, Nairobi and Copenhagen from June.

Monitoring and being active on social media sites such as TripAdvisor has become so important that Patrick Antaki, complex general manager of Le Meridien Al Aqah in Fujairah and Al Maha in Dubai said that he is recruiting a dedicated social media manager today – do you know anyone who fits the bill?

Movenpick Beirut gave us the down low on its new bar, Squares, which plans to be a super exclusive nightlife venue where you’ll not only have to book your table but your drinks in advance. It’s part of the revamp of the whole hotel, which started in September and is about to be completed at any moment.

4:38 - On May 7th Mums dine for free at Hawksbill restaurant at Saadiyat Beach Golf Club in Abu Dhabi for American Mother’s day, said Justin Bourke, food and beverage manager. The restaurant is also launching a new menu with a Korean influence next week.
 

4:32 - India is going to focus on medical tourism to try and boost its figures.

3:01 - Egypt is going to launch a major campaign to drive tourists from the region into the country. Georgia has witnessed a 19% increase in visitors from the Middle East, the country's first appearance at ATM is the start of the bid to ramp up awareness efforts in the region.

2:59 - Feeling the strain? Get along to the Radisson Blu party if you get a chance. Just outside Hall 3. Lovely refreshments, lovely food and lovely people. You have to love Rezidor. 

1:36 - Spanish hotel company Sol Melia has announced its first property in the Middle East. The five star Melia Dubai will open on October 12, to coincide with Spanish national day.

12:31 - Just seen some unnoficial pictures of the upcomng Ritz-Carlton in Riyadh. All we can say is wow.

11:40 - The race is on for the opening of the first St. Regis branded hotel in the Middle East. We've just met with GMs of the upcoming St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort in Abu Dhabi and St. Regis Doha. In Abu Dhabi, the hotel is expected to open on November 1, says GM John Pelling. And with a group of 100 guests booked on November 6 already, it seems we can be pretty confident about this date. In Doha, GM Tareq Derbas is slightly more vague, but says he is pushing for a Q4 opening. He added that his property will have the highest number of butlers for a hotel in the St. Regis portfolio - 50! On Saadiyat, there will be 40.

11:10 - More serious atmosphere today, a day for business. Team members have been busy this morning with interviews, round tables and seminars.

10:58 - Royal Caribbean International triumphed at the World Travels Awards yet again, scooping the award for the Middle East’s Leading Cruise Line for the second consecutive year.

 8:45 - Caterer Global has announced the launch of new awards which will recognise the best employers in hospitality in the UAE. Partnered with talent development company Learn Purple, the awards will take place in November, with nominations open now.

8:24 - Yesterday the show ended with a flurry of activity. Our very own Louise Oakley hosted a panel session on new hotel concepts for the Middle East. Seven Tides' Mike Scully said there were numerous sectors that were not being explored such as sports, cultural, individual and elderly tourists to name a few. Thomas Klein's Daniel During gave a visual presentation on the need for morhttp://v4.test.hoteliermiddleeast.com/fckeditor/editor/images/spacer.gife cultural experiences and concepts in the region while Hotel Missoni Kuwait GM  Pascal Gadet argued that less is more and the elimination of procedures is at the heart of 'new luxury'.  

8:22 - Wow, Movenpick knows how to throw a party. Ibn Battuta Gate was bouncing last night. Great food, entertainment and liquid hospitality. 

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4:17 - We have just knocked over a tree in the gangway, the bags are getting too heavy to control, but group exhibition director Reed TravelExhibitions Mark Walsh is in a positive mood. “Regional inbound and outbound tourism professionals are currently riding a wave of optimism, especially in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia," he said. 

"Recent estimates for hotel occupancies in both countries suggest a healthy double digit increase, according to industry professionals. Naturally, Qatar will provide a lift for the whole region as infrastructure projects begin in earnest, in preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2022.”

4:00 - Indonesia Tourism says Emirates is planning to launch a direct flight to Bali in the next few months.

3:40 - The Philippines is making a big push for Middle East tourists with a huge stand this year complete with massage chairs. The destination has also signed up BIzGate to represent them in the Middle East and have promised to work hard to educate the travel trade about the destination.

3:20 - Marriott International plans to introduce its Residence Inn by Marriott lodging brand for extended stay travelers in Bahrain later this year, under a long term management agreement with International Trading And Investment Co. W.L.L. The 78-unit property will open in the Juffair district of Manama and will be the first Residence Inn-branded property in the Middle East. Late last year, Marriott announced it would also operate a Residence Inn-branded property in Jizan, Saudi Arabia in 2012; a third Residence Inn-branded hotel will open in Algiers in 2014.

3:17 - The hotel manager of Ajman Kempinski, is apparently 2m 11 or 7ft 2inches. We bring you all the exclusives.

3:15 - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, has signed an agreement with Abdulsalam Alrafi Group LLC to open a new Sheraton hotel in Dubai. Scheduled to open beginning of 2014, the hotel will be part of a three-tower mixed-use project located in the heart of Dubai’s commercial district.

The new Sheraton Dubai Sheikh Zayed Road Hotel is part of the Sheraton brand’s global strategic expansion plan that includes adding more than 60 new hotels and over 20,000 rooms to the Sheraton portfolio over the next three years.

3:09 - Kempinski Bahrain CIty Centre is back on track for a Q3 opening after its staff the company sent away during the unrest have returned.

2.44 - Rotana COO Omer Kaddouri said the company's planned property in Libya has been postponed "indefinitely". Construction was due to begin on the property in a matter of weeks, but has been halted due to the recent unrest.

2:23 - Peter Drescher, Movenpick vice president food and beverage, Middle East and Asia, said that apart from the Egyptian operations, the political unrest has not yet affected Movenpick’s business in a negative way across the region, including Bahrain.

1:52 - We have refuelled and are back to business. HMH – Hospitality Management Holdings announced The Palace – Ajman, a 246-key five-star property.

Michel Noblet, President & CEO, HMH, said, “The Palace – Ajman marks a major milestone for HMH and is undoubtedly an unprecedented opportunity. The deluxe resort offers a fresh perspective on luxury accommodations in the region while setting an enchanting stage for an unforgettable experience.”
 

1:31 - The official opening of The Westin Hotel & Spa, Abu Dhabi is scheduled for September 1 2011, one month later than originally planned, according to general manager Klaus Niefer. The hotel is working closely with Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) to promote the destination.

1:08 - News coming thick and fast now. HMH – Hospitality Management Holdings signed today one new management contract in the UAE while announcing the completion of two other hotels in the works. The three new hotels are located in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Ajman respectively and will boost the existing HMH room supply in the Emirates by 40.29 % adding 378 keys to the group’s current inventory of 938 units.

On the East coast Le Meridien Al Aqah Beach Resort in Fujairah, announced that it will soon begin an AED 10 million renovation and refurbishment project. During this expansive project, the hotel’s Views restaurant will receive a complete revamp and the beaches will be protected from the ocean waves.

1:04 - Chairman of the holding company for Tourism, Hotels and Cinema in Egypt, Aly Abdel Aziz said there was no point in denying that tourism in Egypt was "bad". However, he said he believed it would recover if the government and Egyptian people ensur that the country "remains an attractive destination".

12:43 - Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker announced the launch of four new routes to Baku (November 30), Entebbe (November 2), Tbilisi (November 30) and Medina (July 4). They are part of what Al Baker said was an "aggresive expansion plan" that will see the carrier serve 120 destinations in the next two years. 

12:20 - News in from AHIC. Jumeirah puts Venu brand on suspension. Gerald Lawless said "we have decided to part with the Venu brand for the time being." Venu was announced by Jumeirah at AHIC in 2010. The focus will remain on the luxury 'stay different' Jumeirah brand with three having opened this year and four to follow including properties in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait.

11:27 - A lot of hotel companies announcing summer deals. Obviously a lot of effort has been put into trying to combat negativity from the unrest and Ramadan taking up the whole of August. Banyan Tree has said it will be detailing its latest signings and refurbishments at its stand HC 630

11:05 - As people put the final touches to their stands, one topic of conversation is dominating, the death of Osama Bin Laden. 

10:21 - We are on our stand, hooked up to the internet and ready for the start. We have Tunisia right next to us and Morocco and Egypt in our sights. Aside from all the extra bits and pieces, we will be covering Azerbaijan, news from the Philippines, Qatar Airways, Egypt, Indonesia, Australia, Emirates, Euromonitor data, Movenpick, Rotana, Raffles, Onyx and Marriott to name but a few.

Only problems to report so far are a loose bird in Hall 1 and a blister due to a new pair of shoes.

 9:05 — Welcome to HotelierMiddleEast.com's coverage of Arabian Travel Market (ATM). 

With so much going on in the region this week will be an opportunity to get the news and views from people across all hospitality and travel-related sectors. 

The show doesn't formally get under way until 11, but as soon as that ribbon is cut we will be scouring the show to bring updates throughout the day of all the latest news and gossip so keep checking in.