Middle East Exclusive Gains Momentum

The organiser of Middle East Exclusive (MEE) has announced that the exhibition is expanding significantly in 2012, following the success of this year’s edition and the bright prospects of international travel retail presenting opportunities for companies looking to break into new markets. Organised by Channels Exhibition, the travel retail, duty free and luxury goods exhibition will be held in Dubai from February 27-29.

According to the organiser, exhibitor bookings have gained momentum, with duty free business in the region looking extremely buoyant. According to Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Duty Free and MEE’s patron, the response to the 2011 edition of the exhibition was encouraging and most importantly “underlines the fact that MEE continues to provide an effective business platform for the region’s rapidly expanding duty free and luxury goods industry prospects.”

The organiser has lined up several interesting features for the upcoming edition of the show. In 2012, MEE will bring together a seminar of top buyers, with keynote speakers and senior executives addressing issues of key concern. In addition to the popular Gala Dinner on the first night, the exhibition will feature a social evening on the second day of the show, extending networking opportunities even further. Introduced ahead of 2012, a comprehensive publicity programme will be running throughout the year for the first time, building on the high levels of media interest seen at the 2011 edition of the show.

According to Channels Exhibitions, another first and a major attraction in 2012 will be the ‘Duty Free Shop of Tomorrow’. This centre-piece retail display is said to put on show all the new products and offerings from exhibitors in one stunning space, allowing buyers to see immediately and up-close how the latest products can really work in a retail environment. As they tour the shop, buyers will be able to gather information about every item they see on display, before going onto talk to exhibitors at their stands.

Registration for the Hosted Buyer’s Programme of the exhibition has also seen an increase from category buyers, department heads, group retail buyers and decision makers from the travel retail and duty free industry from across Asia, adds the organiser.