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Centaur and Dnata form joint venture for exhibitions in Middle East
The UK`s Centaur Media Plc and Dubai-based Dnata World of Events have revelaed a joint venture agreement to manage exhibitions and trade fairs in the Middle East. The Dubai-edition of the Business Travel Show - already an industry-leading event in Britain and Germany - will be the first event to be staged jointly by the new partnership.

The new Dubai show will be presented at the Madinat Arena on 29-30 October 2007. Calum Taylor, Managing Director of Centaur Exhibitions - a division of Centaur Media, said he believes that Dnata World of Events is the ideal partner for the company`s entry to Middle East markets, commenting: Dnata World of Events has excellent contacts in the Middle East and is a well-respected name in the industry internationally, by virtue of the number of high-profile global events that the company has presented in Dubai.

Dnata Agencies Senior Vice President Iain Andrew described the joint venture as a breakthrough in sharing international expertise, where complementary strengths can work to mutual benefit. He added: Centaur Media is already well-established as one of Europe`s foremost specialists in exhibition management, much the same way as Dnata Agencies is a leading travel management organisation in the Middle East.

Medhat Nassar, Manager Dnata World of Events said: Together, we will be able to leverage our respective strengths to the advantage of clients in Europe and the Middle East. We can benefit from Centaur`s European expertise while providing the same level of proven professionalism in our region.

Sally Pugmire, Event Director at Centaur Exhibitions, said there were very strong reasons for choosing the Business Travel Show as the first event to be staged by the joint venture. These include the strong need to improve knowledge of the benefits of a managed travel policy in a fast-growing business travel market, she explained, And with so much growth about to happen, particularly in the hotel sector, there is a real need for promotional opportunities as suppliers compete for business.

She noted that the Gulf region is currently the world`s fastest growing for business travel, with 80 per cent of travel in the region being classified as business travel, and said: There is a shift in traditional buying habits towards making online bookings and transactions, so the timing of the launch is exactly right for the needs of the business travel community in the UAE and greater Gulf region. To date the event has been very well received by the major airlines and hotel groups operating in the Gulf and fits perfectly with their strategy. Michael Verikios - Tuesday, February 20, 2007