The 'Made in Italy' stars at Dubai Hotel Show

The quality of Italian-made goods and the originality of the exhibition space have proved a winning combination for the Italian contingent at the Dubai Hotel Show, the most important shop window for the hotel furniture sector in the Middle East and North Africa, which ends today. The 35 Italian companies present, as part of a mission organised by the Craft Confederation (CNA) for Rome and the Lazio region and by the Sviluppo Lazio organisation, have recreated an authentic replica of a hotel, which has seen crowds flock during the three-day event. The hotel features exteriors, a concierge, a hall, two rooms with bathrooms, a restaurant and a conference room, all of which is furnished with marble fountains, antique windows, sophisticated lighting, fine tapestries and precious billiard tables, the result of efforts by the network of companies involved in the project, that have ensured that the product is complete, enjoyable in three dimensions and easily appreciated for its aesthetics and quality. "The aim of the stand was to bring together the technical and aesthetic excellence of different companies in the Lazio region," the architect Ilaria Petreni tells ANSA. As well as the exhibition space, Petreni also designed several of the items placed inside the stand. The idea and the synergy that helped structure the Italian offer through its various exceptional items of craftsmanship have highlighted a string of aesthetic and technical qualities that have not gone unnoticed. Among the many meetings and invitations received, there are "at least three proposals to furnish hotels in Angola, Tehran and Abu Dhabi," says the head of industry at the CAN, Sabina Russillo. The tourism sector in the Middle East, bucking the global trend, continues to rise. In the golf, particularly in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, more than 5 million euros have been invested hotel projects, with Dubai alone counting 97 new hotels in construction. The UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, follows with 66 new hotels while the Ras al-Khaimah emirate has 14. Figures relating to 2011 from the Italian Trade Commission in Dubai show that the turnover from Italian furniture and decoration imports confirm a growing interest in Italian-made goods, with a rise of 9.2%. Strength in numbers was the philosophy behind the choice of a group of businesses from the Veneto region, who have featured at the 13th edition of the Hotel Show to ensure the right level of visibility. Six small businesses from the Bassano del Grappa area formed a temporary business association, offering high-end craft products for furnishings in ceramics, glass, gres and plastic.