Marriott: U.S. Market Is Cooling Amid Global Hotel Boom

Good morning from Skift. It’s Tuesday, May 21. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Marriott and Hilton appear to be neck-and-neck in the race to expand their footprints and loyalty programs. But if you look at the more important metric of fees earned for services they provided hotel owners, you’ll see Marriott far ahead.

With things looking up for tourism in The Bahamas, representatives of the country’s Ministry of Tourism, Investments & Aviation (BMOTIA) are set to build on their success at the 42nd edition of Caribbean Travel Marketplace. Hosted by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and scheduled for 20 - 23 May 2024 at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Jamaica, the Caribbean’s largest tourism marketing event will offer opportunity for The Bahamas to shine as buyers and sellers of tourism products and services from countries across the region convening for business. In 2023, The Bahamas saw record-breaking tourism growth accounting for 9.6 million visitors, up 38% from 2022. While foreign air arrivals rose 17% to record 1.7 million in 2023, cruise arrivals surged 43.5% to record 7.9 million. The country’s 16 islands all enjoyed significant increases, with visits to New Providence, for instance, up 36% in 2023, to Grand Bahama up 44%, and the Out Islands up 40%.

As passenger numbers in the Middle East are predicted to reach 429 million this year, representing a 5.4% increase on 2019 figures, a panel of aviation experts convened at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) yesterday to discuss how the market is changing, outlining their predictions for the future of air travel. The session, ‘Looking Skyward for Innovation: How Technology is Disrupting Aviation’, was moderated by travel expert Mark Frary and included panellists from Cirium, IATA, AviationXLab, and Riyadh Air.

Egypt will showcase its commitment to enhancing the tourist experience and attracting new visitors from the UAE, GCC, and globally by highlighting the country’s tourism potential, forthcoming projects, and future initiatives at Arabian Travel Market 2024 (ATM) in Dubai as it looks to build on the record 15 million tourists welcomed in 2023.

Under the inspiring theme “Empowering Innovation – Transforming Travel through Entrepreneurship,” Oman is poised to demonstrate its dynamic tourism sector at the Arabian Travel Market Exhibition 2024. Spearheaded by His Excellency Azzan bin Qasim Al Busaidi, the Omani delegation is ready to reveal the latest advancements in travel technology and sustainable tourism practices. This strategic participation marks a pivotal effort by Oman to forge new international partnerships, exchange invaluable knowledge, and prominently feature its burgeoning tourism capabilities on the global platform. With more than 36 companies participating, Oman is set to showcase the unique cultural and natural attractions it offers, especially highlighting the much-anticipated Khareef Dhofar season and various summer promotional activities aimed at attracting global tourists.

The Philippines returns to the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024 on 6 – 9 May 2024 at the Dubai World Trade Center. As the Middle East’s leading global travel event, ATM is a crucial platform for nations to spotlight their tourism offerings and foster invaluable partnerships within the global travel industry.

Visit Qatar will be participating in the 31st edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) conference this year in Dubai, UAE from May 6 to 9 to showcase upcoming destinations Qatar offers to the travel and tourism industry. Exhibitors will have the opportunity to explore new areas in the tourism market, highlight the benefits of cooperation, and attract additional investment in the tourism sector.

The Ajman Department of Tourism Development (ADTD) is gearing up for a momentous presence at the Arabian Travel Market 2024 (ATM), scheduled from May 6 to May 9, 2024. This premier event serves as a significant platform for ADTD to unveil the rich Ajman’s cultural heritage, vibrant Events Calendar, Things to Do diverse tourism offerings, and the remarkable growth trajectory of its tourism sector. In line with its vision for progress, ADTD actively seeks strategic partners during ATM 2024 to foster collaborations and enhance Ajman’s position as a leading destination in global tourism.

The organisers of Arabian Travel Market 2024 (ATM) and representatives from the exhibition’s strategic partners, which include the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Emirates, IHG Hotels & Resorts, and Al Rais Travel, have outlined their plans for the event, which takes place from Monday, May 6, to Thursday, May 9, 2024 at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC).

Nikos Chardalias, Governor of the Attica Region, Greece, has hailed the role played by the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) in Dubai in bringing together all tourism and travel companies, airlines, and industry stakeholders from around the world under one roof.

The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) marked the start of this year’s Arabian Travel Market (ATM) by showcasing the Kingdom’s spectacular summer destinations to trade partners as the country’s tourism sector continues to go from strength to strength, said the Saudi Press Agency on Tuesday.