WORLD - Tarsus will relocate its biennial Dubai Air Show to new and larger exhibition facilities at the Al-Maktoum International Airport for its 2013 edition.
The decision was announced in the organiser’s interim management statement for the period from 1 July to 16 November 2011. The company also claimed the Dubai Air Show, which runs from 13 to 17 November at Dubai International Airport, should break records once final figures are confirmed. There were 960 exhibitors from 50 countries at the 2011 trade show.
A highlight on the first day was Emirates Airlines’ order for 50 long-range Boeing 777-300 ER passenger jet worth US$18bn, in addition to an option on a further 20 planes. The order is the single largest dollar-value order in Boeing’s history. In all, $55bn in orders have been taken at this year’s show, up from $14bn at the previous 2009 edition.
Al-Maktoum International Airport is at theheart of the new 150sq km Dubai World Central, which is being built as a strategic initiative by the Government of Dubai and is being chaired by H.H Sheik Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum. The airport will include a dedicated exhibition area.
More broadly, Tarsus use the management statement to reveal forward stand bookings are at 96 per cent of anticipated full-year revenue as compared to 93 per cent at the same time last year (adjusted for biennial events).
“As a result of the timing of exhibitions, the fourth quarter of 2011 is highly cash generative and we are on track for year end net debt to be in line with management expectations,” the company stated.
Tarsus group MD Doug Emslie said 2011 had the hallmarks of being a record year. He also reiterated the company’s commitment to increasing its presence in emerging markets and driving organic growth through the business. An example of this is Tarsus’ rapid expansion plans in Turkey following its acquisition of organiser IFO.
Across the rest of its portfolio, Tarsus highlighted the strength of its Chinese business and forecast a record Labelexpo Asia at the end of November. In the US, the organiser’s Off-Price Show in August saw a 6 per cent year-on-year revenue rise and bookings for February 2012 area tracking ahead of last year’s edition.
“Looking forward to 2012, we are encourage by the momentum of our US media business, Off-Price events and Labelexpo Americas, but remain vigilant owing to the second half weighting of our profits,” Emslie added. “The momentum we have built across both Middle and Far eastern markets in 2011 augurs well for 2013 when the large biennial events recur.”
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