2008 Conference Highlights

Dubai is one of the fastest-growing tourism destinations in the world, and the hotel and resort sector is experiencing unprecedented investment. To this end, in March 2008, the Vacation Ownership Investment Conference was held in Dubai for the fourth time.

More than 140 tourism leaders met to discuss the potential of timesharing and debate the implementation of developments across the Middle East. Among the delegates were senior management from international regional hotel companies, real estate developers, financial investors and regional tourism authorities and governments.

David Clifton, Interval International's Managing Director Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia, spoke at the event in Dubai and said. "This conference was perfectly timed, as Dubai and the Middle East have set a clear objective to become the next tourism destination of choice," Clifton says. "Developments all around the region testify to the great determination of its governments to see this become a reality. Tourism will be one of the key drivers of this region's economy and wherever tourism starts to flourish, timeshare becomes a key in the equation for success."

The Middle East:

Primed For Timesharing

The Middle East is prime territory for timeshare success, says Clifton. "The key factors are all there - a cosmopolitan atmosphere, creativity, a strategic location at the crossroads between Europe and Asia, as well as great weather and shopping. Timesharing is a major piece of the puzzle that will help drive intra-regional as well as international visitors to Dubai and Arabia."

Clifton notes that "ultra-creative mega-projects" are now the norm in Dubai, and world-class concepts are being developed in countries such as Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan. In addition, the increasing number of mixed-used resorts under construction provides new opportunities for potential timeshare developers, hence allowing more growth prospects for developers. "Through the Vacation Ownership Investment Conference in Dubai, regional developers and investors can discover the huge potential for them and find out how best to start that development process," he says.

The Dubai agenda included a presentation from key note speaker John Burlingame, Executive Vice President, Hyatt Vacation Ownership Inc, regarding 'Hyatt's Other Hospitality Product' focusing on the importance of maintaining brand values and incorporating fun, flexibility and long-term value into the Hyatt Vacation Club. Also speakers from Starwood Vacation Ownership, gave insight into one of Starwoods best-kept secrets and then Al Mohannad Sharafuddin presented and explored his experiences as a Timeshare Sales and Marketing Pioneer. There was also a special presentation to Pervaiz Naviede for Developer of the Year for successfully selling out Royal Club at the Palm Jumeirah.

Sponsors included, Arabian Falcon as Patron Sponsor, Emerald Vacation Club, Dubai Lagoon, Swarovski as Platinum sponsors, Genarator Systems and Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P as Gold sponsors, iBAHN as silver sponsors and Free Bird L.L.C as the Day Two lunch sponsors. The endorsers were GE Money, Marriott Vacation Club International, PricewaterhouseCoopers, WATG, and World Travel & Tourism Council. Hotels magazine, Perspective International Ltd, Vacation Industry Review were media sponsors.