Expo 2020 Dubai is being touted as the “world’s largest and most impactful event to ever take place in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region,” especially for the emirate’s hotel, travel and tourism sectors.

That is according to state news agency WAM which has reinforced the additional business hotels will enjoy throughout the six-month mega event. “With Expo 2020’s theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, as well as one or more of its sub-themes of Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability, Dubai will welcome visitors from every corner of the globe to join the making of a new world, as it brings together the planet in one place to reimagine tomorrow,” said the report by WAM.

Wego, which specialises in travel services and online reservations stated that various countries are awaiting the start of Expo 2020 Dubai. The company revealed that it witnessed, through its website, about 533,000 searches during July, on flights and hotels for the period in which this event will be held.

This indicates the increasing demand that Dubai is witnessing, and the rapid recovery of the business tourism sector, noting that in light of the preparations for Expo 2020 Dubai, hotels have begun to allocate packages and extended stay offers specifically for visitors to the exhibition, the company stated.

Notable Dubai hotels

WAM noted that of the 715 hotels in Dubai as of May 2021, 134 fall into the five-star categories. It also noted hotels such as the Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, SLS Dubai Hotel, JW Marriott Marquis Dubai and others as icons of Dubai thanks to their soaring heights.

During April this year, as Expo was six months away, Hotelier Middle East published a special report around how hoteliers have been readying for the ‘World’s Greatest Show.’

“Expo is perhaps the greatest opportunity we have in 2021 to show the world that the importance and impact of large-scale events has not diminished after the pandemic, so all of us within the industry need to do all we can to rally round and make it as successful as possible – I for one cannot wait for the challenge,” said Stijn Bastiaens, VP, commercial director, Middle East, Africa & Turkey, knows this feeling better than most.

Expo 2020 Dubai runs from October 1, 2021 until March 31, 2022.