Back for its 32nd show, Arabian Travel Market 2025 will take place from April 28 - May 1 Dubai World Trade Centre, unlocking business potential for the travel trade industry. Exhibition Director of the travel tradeshow, Danielle Curtis sheds light on the new innovations at the event and why this year looks set to be biggest yet.
The 32nd edition of Arabian Travel Market is nearly here. What can attendees expect from the show?
We are excited to welcome the global travel community to Dubai for the 32nd edition of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), which promises to be our biggest and most impactful show yet. With more than 2,800 exhibitors, over 55,000 attendees, and participants from 161 countries, ATM 2025 reflects the scale, ambition and optimism driving the travel and tourism sector forward.
Catering to a diverse audience from the travel industry, whether a destination, airline, hotel group, tech innovator or buyer, ATM provides a platform for business, innovation, and thought leadership. Across the show floor, which has increased from 12 halls in 2024 to 14 this year, we will have a full product offering with new features, deepening our focus on sustainability, and expanding dedicated zones such as ATM Travel Tech Innovation & Start-Up Zone and the all-new IBTM@ATM, which reflects the surging growth in the global business events sector.
Give us a flavour of the key themes of this year’s show?
The theme for ATM 2025 is Global Travel: Developing Tomorrow’s Tourism Through Enhanced Connectivity. This concept extends far beyond technology – it encompasses how deeper, smarter and more sustainable connections across borders, industries and communities are shaping the future of tourism.
We will also have a keen focus on business events, with the IBTM@ATM zone, a specialised area for business event suppliers to showcase their offerings and connect with buyers through prescheduled appointments and business exchange sessions. It will also feature a new Business Events Stage, which will host sessions on global event trends, sustainability in business travel, and the role of AI in events, supported by key partners including ICCA and GBTA.
Inclusive and sustainable development and recognising the urgent need for the industry to reduce its environmental impact and invest in more innovative, regenerative models of tourism, will be addressed. Enhanced connectivity plays a vital role in supporting these goals, not just digitally, but economically and socially.
There are some very interesting new innovations for the show this year. Can you tell us more about them?
Innovation is at the heart of ATM 2025. It will be a significant thread running throughout the exhibition, especially in the areas of travel technology, artificial intelligence (AI), smart mobility and data-driven personalisation. With the global travel tech market projected to reach US$ 18.6 billion by 2033, ATM 2025 will showcase how next-generation tools are enhancing everything from route optimisation and airport operations to hyper-personalised customer experiences and predictive analytics in hospitality.
Key innovations will be on display in the expanded ATM Travel Tech zone, which has seen a 25 per cent year-over-year growth. We’re excited to be adding the Start-Up and Innovation Zone to this area. The Start-Up competition, in partnership with Intelak, will feature entrepreneurs presenting their groundbreaking ideas and showcasing their cutting-edge solutions to a panel of industry judges, celebrating the sector’s thriving ecosystem. Additionally, a fully immersive VR experience will provide visitors with a new perspective on the possibilities within the industry.
We have also introduced exhibitor speed networking opportunities, allowing them to connect with senior buyers and forge new business relationships. To further enhance these connections, we provide access to the ATM Meet meetings platform, allowing exhibitors and visitors to schedule meetings prior to the event. In addition, we provide innovative event tools powered by QR codes to foster valuable connections, along with dashboards that enable customers to track and benchmark their success.
We are committed to driving the future of tourism by nurturing the next generation of travel pioneers and innovators.
A major feature of ATM is its panel discussions. Are there any that you are excited for?
Our conference programme features over 185 high-profile speakers across three stages: the Global Stage, Future Stage and the new Business Events Stage.
On the Global Stage, high-level discussions with government ministers, C-suite executives and economists will cover regional tourism investment, future source markets and global economic drivers. Noteworthy sessions include the ministerial debate, which will focus on unlocking tourism growth through connectivity, Euromonitor’s spotlight on India’s Next Gen Traveller and YouGov's research on shifting traveller behaviour. ATM is also collaborating with Tourism Economics to deliver regional travel and tourism trends as part of the session Leisure, Luxury & MICE – Leading Trends of the Middle East.
At the Future Stage, sessions such as AI: Everywhere All At Once and Generational Trends Influencing Hyper-Personalisation in Luxury will be key highlights. We’re excited to welcome Cassie Kozyrkov to ATM on the opening day this year. As a strategic AI pioneer, Google’s first Chief Decision Scientist, and founder of Decision Intelligence, she has redefined how industry leaders leverage data and AI for strategic advantage. Her insights into how the tourism industry can utilise AI will be invaluable, and I look forward to hearing her discussion on the Future Stage.
And on the Business Events Stage, we’ll hear from ICCA and GBTA on the intersection of sustainability, innovation and business travel – highly relevant topics for today’s planners and destinations.
Participation for this year’s event is up from 2024. How significant is this for ATM?
It’s incredibly significant. With visitor registrations up 104 per cent year-on-year, ATM 2025 is on track to be a record-breaking edition. Over 52 per cent of registered visitors are from international markets, reflecting the show's growing global influence.
Exhibitor growth is also impressive, particularly from key strategic markets: Asia is up 27 per cent, Africa is up 21 per cent, the Americas are up 18 per cent, and Europe is up 12 per cent. India’s participation has increased by 41 per cent alone, driven by growing outbound travel and airline expansion.
This global momentum not only reinforces ATM’s stature as a premier international travel trade event but also aligns with our theme of enhanced connectivity – bringing the world closer through meaningful engagement, partnerships, and shared opportunities.
The demand for luxury tourism and hospitality is growing faster than any other sector. What can attendees expect from this domain at ATM?
The luxury travel sector is booming, particularly in the GCC, with ATM 2025 providing a unique showcase for this growth. According to STR, 19 per cent of all hotel rooms in the GCC now fall under the luxury category, and demand continues to rise due to giga projects, experiential travel, and the expanding wellness sector.
At ATM, attendees will engage with leading luxury hospitality brands, including IHG, Mandarin Oriental, Kempinski, Jumeirah, Kerzner International and Four Seasons, among others. A standout session led by Haitham Mattar (IHG) will explore strategies to ‘redefine hospitality and find your competitive edge’, while others will deep-dive into the trends shaping high-end travel, from cultural immersion to hyper-personalisation through AI.
Anything else you would like to add?
ATM 2025 is more than a trade event; it’s a forward-looking catalyst for innovation, sustainability and collaboration in the travel industry. From unlocking the potential of emerging source markets like India, LATAM and APAC, to exploring the intersection of tech and tourism, ATM is designed to help every stakeholder uncover new growth pathways.
We’re proud to be hosting this global conversation in Dubai, a city that exemplifies connectivity, visionary innovation, and a sustainable vision. Whether you’re discovering the latest AI travel solutions or forging international partnerships, ATM 2025 is where the future of travel connects.
