Food Quality and Service as Important as Price say Industry Experts;
Air Traffic to the Middle East Up 10 Percent
Travellers are increasingly choosing which airline they fly with on the basis of the quality of food and the service provided, say industry leaders.
The standard of in-flight catering is now one of the top three deciding factors in the highly competitive airline industry according to the International Travel Catering Association (ITCA).
“Passengers have come to expect five-star meals while they are in the air,” said Terry Coyle, Senior Board Member, ITCA, organiser of the ITCA Dubai Conference. “Airlines in the Middle East have a reputation for providing excellent service in all areas, and the quality of the catering is becoming as important as the price for many people. The standard of food on-board has improved dramatically in the last five years due to increased competition and consumer demand.”
In-flight catering specialists from around the world will meet in Dubai for the International Travel Catering Exhibition and Conference, ITCA Dubai Exhibition and the Dubai Conference, taking place at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from 16 – 18 November 2009.
The latest figures published by the International Air Transport Authority (IATA) show that while traffic to most parts of the world is in decline, the Middle East is bucking the trend. The study stated that ‘revenue passenger kilometres’ (RPK’s) was up almost 10 percent in May in the Middle East, but there was a world-wide decline of 9.3 percent.
Now in its fourth year, ITCA Dubai has rapidly expanded in recent years to bring together the entire travel catering market, representing Airline, Cruise, Ferry, and Railway hospitality industries from across the Middle East, Africa, and Indian Subcontinent.
“Making the journey both enjoyable and memorable has become a key service differentiator in these enormously competitive markets,” said Julian Roach, Project Manager, Dubai World Trade Centre, organiser of the ITCA Dubai Exhibition. “ITCA Dubai provides the perfect platform in sourcing the right catering, entertainment, and hospitality services – a mission critical component of any travel business strategy.”
The ITCA Dubai Exhibition is proudly supported by Emirates Airlines as official carrier, and presented in conjunction with the prestigious ITCA Dubai Conference taking place from 16 – 18 November 2009.
For more details on ITCA Dubai, please visit www.itcadubai.com.
Photo Caption: Industry Experts Will Discuss the Importance of Quality In-Flight Catering at this year’s ITCA, Dubai.
