Le Meridien Dubai, the premier business and leisure hotel in the United Arab Emirates, has received a very optimistic response from the Indian market during the recently concluded Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2003. Travel agents and tour operators from India visiting ATM were confident about a steep increase in inbound travel from the corporate and leisure sectors.

In 2002 itself, Le Meridien Dubai recorded a substantial increase in room nights and upbeat business results from the Indian sector. During the year average room occupancy for the hotel from this sector grew by more than 50 per cent to reach a record 10,040 room nights in 2002.

While corporate travel accounted for almost 60 per cent of the total business from India, there was also a significant increase in conference and incentive business, as well as in long-haul travellers transiting in Dubai on the way to and from Europe and the United States. Furthermore the hotel also registered a significant uptake in business from new Indian destinations that its partner airline, Emirates, Airlines, has added in the past one year.

Shujaat Yar, Business Development Director, Le Meridien Dubai, said that despite an extremely challenging business environment for the hotel industry during the past year, Le Meridien Dubai, had been successful in consolidating and growing its business from the Indian sector. He said, “Le Meridien Dubai has always considered India to be a key market. We attribute a major part of the hotel’s strong performance during the year to the aggressive expansion plans of our partner airline, Emirates Airline, in India.“

Nabil Sultan, General Manager India for Emirates Airline said, “In 2002 we significantly increased our network in India by adding several new destinations to our portfolio. Our enhanced presence in the country has opened up new markets for our partners such as Le Meridien Dubai.