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Senior management from American organisations hosted on trip to Emirate
US generated more than 500,000 visitor nights in Abu Dhabi during 2016 Abu Dhabi, 05 February 2017: Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) is hosting a 50-strong delegation of senior travel industry experts from the United States on a tour of the emirate’s key attractions as it bids to strengthen ties with one of its key global markets. The high-profile attendees on the trip are all travel agency owners who are members of BCD Travel’s affiliate programme. BCD Travel is the third largest travel management company in the world representing $27 billion in 96 counties with 15,000 employees worldwide. Senior leaders from BCD Travel will also be in attendance. HE Saif Saeed Ghobash, Director General of TCA Abu Dhabi, said: “Last year was a record one for the number of visitors we received and we aim to capitalise on this momentum. The total number of hotel guests showed an increase of 8 per cent in 2016, hitting over 4.4 million. These results demonstrate the emirate’s growing international appeal, as well as our ongoing successes in positioning Abu Dhabi as a distinctive global destination built on rich experiences, our cultural heritage as well as unlimited opportunities for family leisure and MICE events. “The U.S. is one of our key markets, last year we welcomed 136,000 guest arrivals into the emirate generating more than half a million guest nights.. Our hosting of this influential delegation will demonstrate a world-class destination with first-class hotels, and a rich diversity of cultures and attractions.” He added
There are currently 45 flights a week arriving into Abu Dhabi from Washington DC, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Dallas/Ft. Worth operated by national airline, Etihad Airways, which provides excellent air connectivity between the US and the emirate. The delegation, which is staying at the Ritz Carlton Abu Dhabi Grand Canal, is visiting Al Ain and undertakes an orientation tour of Abu Dhabi, visiting Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Manarat Al Saadiyat in Saadiyat Island, Emirates Palace and Yas Island. A gala dinner is being hosted at Emirates Palace on the Saturday evening alongside senior officials from TCA Abu Dhabi. The following day the tour party will visit the Etihad Airways Innovation Centre before departing for a tour of Dubai. The US is recognised as a key market not only due to the number of visitors and guest nights it provides, but also as it is the headquarters for a major share of the world’s associations and organisations who hold their annual conferences in different cities around the globe each year. HE Ghobash added: “Abu Dhabi has been making significant strides in attracting business into the emirate by leading and supporting bids to host a number of key conferences in the coming years. Growth of business from trade associations - many of which have their global headquarters in the USA - is an opportunity we can all seize. “Our achievements have been recognised by the International Congress and Convention Association which has identified the UAE capital as the fastest-growing destination in the Middle East for cities attracting international associations annually.” The delegation arrives in Abu Dhabi on Thursday 2nd February and leaves the UAE on Wednesday 8th February.
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