Tours, Activities & Attractions: Revival & Renewal at ATM 2021

Join us at the Arabian Travel Market 2021 for an exclusive series of talks with industry leaders from tours, activities, and attractions

Tours, Activities & Attractions: Revival & Renewal at ATM 2021 arival ben finch

by | 18 May 2021

Session highlights include:
Exclusive research on sector trends from Arival Co-founder and CEO Douglas Quinby
Ask Me Anything interviews with Burj Khalifa and Abu Dhabi Department of Culture and Tourism
Roundtable discussions on key trends and challenges in distribution, technology and changing customer behavior, featuring executives from tour operators, attractions, distributors and destinations

Arival will host a series of talks at the Arabian Travel Market 2021 in Dubai. Arival Dubai @ ATM will focus on the future and growing business through marketing, technology, distribution, thought leadership, and executive level connections.

The sessions will include an AMA with Zeina Dagher, CEO at Emaar Entertainment. Responsible for the strategy of some of the Emirates’ top attractions, including the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, KidZania, and Burj Khalifa, Ms. Dagher will share how attractions have adapted to the downturn and where attraction development, distribution, and guest experience is headed in 2021 and beyond.

Peter Jamieson, CTO of the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi, will examine how the Emirati capital is reimagining the guest experience. They’re creating a connected and personalized experience from travel planning to arrival and experiencing the destination. Jamieson will discuss the road ahead as the department seeks to connect tour and attraction supply to enhance the guest experience and create new opportunities for tour and attraction providers.

Julia Randow, regional director at GetYourGuide, Ian Renton, director of sales at Atlantis and Essam Salah, co-founder & CEO of OceanAir Travels will take a look at how digital, distribution and online platforms are ushering in dramatic change, from how travelers plan and book to how operators and distributors connect. The pandemic has only accelerated the need for operators to get ahead on tech. This session will explore the changes afoot amid the rise of online travel agencies (OTAs) and what this means for tour and attraction operators across the region.

And of course, Douglas Quinby, Co-founder & CEO of Arival will share exclusive Arival research on the outlook for tours, activities, and attractions and key trends shaping the sector’s revival post-pandemic.

ATM is putting on a hybrid show this year, with an in-person event in Dubai on May 16–19 followed by a virtual event on May 24–26. Admission is free, with the focus on reigniting the travel industry.

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Tags: GetYourGuide, Featured, Arival Events, Arabian Travel Market, Emaar Entertainment, Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo, KidZania, Burj Khalifa, Atlantis Dubai, OceanAir Travels

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Arival Guide to OTAs & Digital Distributors

A comprehensive directory of OTAs and online resellers for operators of tours, activities and attractions Authors: Brittani England & Martin Harlow Edited by: Douglas Quinby & Janelle Visser

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WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ARIVAL | ACTIVATE EDINBURGH AND ARIVAL 360 | VALENCIA AND WHICH SHOULD I ATTEND?

Since 2019, Arival has hosted one major event in Europe each year. For 2024-2025, we’re thrilled to offer two exciting events: Arival 360 | Valencia and Arival | Activate Edinburgh. Here’s a quick comparison to help you decide which event to attend—or why you might want to come to both:

Arival 360 | Valencia (28-30 April 2025)
  • Scope: Flagship European Event with a global reach; up to 30% of attendees from outside Europe, including the U.S., Middle East, LATAM, and APAC.
  • Audience: Experience creators, tech and distribution companies, and industry professionals from around the world.
  • Arival Theater Content: Global topics including: over-tourism and sustainability, technology, distribution, European consumer and operator trends.
  • Breakout Sessions: In-depth workshops on operational best practices, product expansion, AI, channel management, marketing tech, a Spain-specific track and an Innovation Showcase highlighting the most tech-savvy companies in our industry.
  • Networking: Connect with leading OTAs and distribution companies, and build valuable partnerships.
  • Location: Valencia, a stunning coastal city offering rich cultural experiences.
  • Attendees: Approximately 800, providing extensive networking opportunities.
Arival | Activate Edinburgh (23-25 November 2024)
  • Scope: Regional focus on the UK, Ireland, and the Nordic regions.
  • Audience: Operators and industry professionals from the region.
  • Content: Gain insights on regional topics like technology, distribution strategies, and hear from top regional tourism leaders.
  • Breakout Sessions: Experience hands-on learning at Edinburgh’s top attractions and tours, with sessions on visitor experience, digital journeys and innovative tour development. In-depth sessions for companies at the beginning of their digital journey and more advanced sessions for people and companies looking to elevate their experience.
  • Networking: With a more intimate setting. you’ll have more time to build deeper connections and create more meaningful interactions with your current and future partners including distributors, tech companies, DMOs and more.
  • Location: Edinburgh, known for its stunning architecture and historic charm
  • Attendees: Approximately 400, fostering an intimate peer-to-peer learning and networking environment.
Key Differences:
  • Global vs. Regional Focus: Valencia is a global event with an international audience, while Edinburgh is a regional event focused on the UK, Ireland, and Nordic regions.
  • Event Size: Valencia hosts about 800 attendees, providing broad networking opportunities, whereas Edinburgh’s 400 attendees create a more intimate, focused environment.
  • Content and Sessions: Valencia features global themes and advanced topics, whereas Edinburgh provides region-specific insights and hands-on experiential learning.
  • Location Experience: Valencia providing a coastal escape and Edinburgh offering historic and iconic attractions.
  • Who Will Be There: The most valuable part of Arival Events is the connections you make and the partnerships you build to grow your business. At Arival | Activate Edinburgh, you’ll engage with key industry players in the UK, Ireland, and Nordic regions. If your business focus is on these areas, Edinburgh is where you need to be. For those targeting broader European or global markets, Arival 360 | Valencia offers the ideal platform to network with international leaders and innovators. 
Why attend both?

With limited opportunities for business development, learning, and networking in our industry, attending both events is a strategic move. By participating in both Edinburgh and Valencia, you maximize your exposure to diverse markets and influential contacts. 

However, if budget constraints or a specific regional focus dictate your decisions, choose the event that best aligns with your primary business goals. Join us in Edinburgh for regional insights or Valencia for global perspectives—or better yet, attend both to fully leverage the potential of Arival’s expansive network.

For service providers such as a restech or ticketing platform, distribution company, or other services including marketing, AI tools, etc., attending both gives you access to attendees from both markets to connect with your current customers and to meet new ones!

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THE ARIVAL INSIDER PRO ACCESS MEMBERSHIP; YOU GET ALL THIS TO HELP YOU ADVANCE YOUR BUSINESS.

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Arival.guides
Short, digestible research & trends reports delivering insights into our industry, such as The Tour Operator Outlook for 2021.

Arival.travel articles
Topical articles about marketing, tech, operator business and operator stories in all areas of tours, activities & attractions & experiences

Job board access
Find a job from our regular listings, post a resume to the talent network and learn strategies from the job resources articles

New webinars
Helpful, instructional sessions covering subjects such as Mastering Facebook Ads, Grow Your Business and How To Work With OTAs — topics to help advance your business.

Discounts on all Arival in-person events
20% Discount on all Arival in-person events (save up to $300)* based on business type

Arival ProShield – Insurance program
Access to tailored insurance solutions by Granite Insurance is available exclusively for Arival Insider Pro Access Members. Insider Pro Access Members also have access to a suite of resources from Granite Insurance including templates, forms and other informative documents.

Insiders Pro Access member exclusive webinars
Paid membership-only webinars to deepen your understanding of important industry topics.

Job postings & talent directory
Post jobs & connect with candidates most applicable to your business.

Private roundtables to connect, learn and engage
Small, focused and intimate discussions exclusive to Arival Insider Pro Access members.

Full access to Arival’s library of in-depth reports
Up to date, deep analysis of tourism topics ranging from Self-guided Tours to Sales & Distribution Trends and Outlooks, based on the data that defines the industry.

The latest on-demand videos
Over 350+ on-demand videos featuring hot topics in tours, activities & attractions

Insider discounts in digital marketing, tech, e-learning, and more
Save money on additional tools, services and learnings you need to run your business. Exclusive to paid members.

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