March 17- Dubai based Proleads research shows that 48 new hotels with 14,178 rooms are expected to open in the GCC in 2010. The estimated cost of the new hotels is $7.3 billion (Dh26.79bn). A panel of industry experts will discuss ways for the hospitality industry to deal with the global economic downturn at the Hotel Show, which runs from May 18th until May 20th at the Dubai World Trade Center.
Maggie Moore said “The Hotel Show provides a useful barometer for the hotel industry on how equipment, materials, and service suppliers, marketing and sales strategies are being affected by the uncertain economic climate.” Moore, who is Exhibition Director of The Hotel Show, noted that the UAE continues to be one of the most active areas in the world in terms of hotel openings despite the impact of the downturn on the hospitality sector.