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New Management Team to Shape PALME Show Expansion in Middle East
Following the appointment of PALME Middle East Exhibition Director, Alexander Heuff, show organisers IIR Exhibitions Entertainment & Installation Technology Group have announced the arrival of Neil Hickman (pictured) as their new Group Exhibitions Director.
Having worked worldwide in the Events, Exhibition and Conference industry for more than ten years, Hickman brings a strong pedigree. More recently he has spent four years as Director of the Cityscape series of events, based in Dubai, making him perfectly placed to oversee the burgeoning technology show.
Commenting on the continuing potential for sound and vision integrators in the region, Hickman said: “The boom in hotel build and future tourism attractions shows no sign of letting up — new projects are being announced on an almost daily basis. As a result, the professional sound, light, music, audio visual and systems integration industries are expected to quadruple in the next three years as a result of opportunities in both the commercial and residential sectors.”
The steady increase in real estate development indicates that over 120,000 high-end residential units will be built in the next two years and even more commercial properties; this will make the Middle East the most attractive of the emerging global markets to be targeted as demand for high-quality systems integration soars.
This encouraging growth and development in the market further reinforces the importance of PALME Middle East which takes place next April.
“The 2008 show is already set to be larger than this year,” said Heuff. “As such, it needs to reflect a maturing industry which has successfully assimilated Western standards of sound and vision technology, digital platforms and control over a wide network. This will be manifest in an expanded, intensive and highly-focused seminar programme in which the underlying message will be education.”
Exemplifying this will be the Smart Residential Technologies zone — a dedicated forum for suppliers and providers of integrated systems solutions and applications.
Heuff confirms that the UAE’s high degree of disposable income and its ever-booming property market has largely underpinned the success of PALME Middle East, with the Install Middle East vertical now making up 50% of the show.
With major corporations such as MGM, Halliburton and HSBC announcing the setting up of headquarters in the Middle East — all of whom will look to source networked AV/IT technology infrastructures — PALME Middle East 2008 will be sending out tailored messages to attract installers, architects and consultants in 2008.
“The show will be all about providing new ideas, innovations, advice and solutions,” promises the Exhibition Director.
PALME Middle East will once again embrace all the core technology sectors on a zone-by-zone basis.
The Architectural Lighting and Interior Illumination zone will build on the success of Jonathan Speirs ‘Made of Light – the Art of Light and Architecture’ in Install Middle East. Helping to influence and inspire the rapidly emerging Middle East lighting architectural scene, PALME Middle East 2008 will again honour the most creative schemes in the region at the second Middle East Lighting Design Awards (MELDA).
The exhibition also recognises the growing number of Western equipment hire companies setting up bases in Dubai to raise the technical standards of concert and event staging and rigging. The expanding Event 360 vertical show will reflect this quest for higher values, while its scope will also extend to venue dressing and stand building. With more events taking place in the region than ever before, IIR will host a major Event 360 Conference featuring keynote speakers and guests.
The MUSAC sector will be the destination for the region’s up-and-coming musicians and DJ’s; this year relocated to the Pavilion Hall, next to Halls 6 and 7 it will also host the PALME DJ Competition.
In summary, Alexander Heuff concludes: “Anyone working with technology in the region — whether in a professional or semi-professional capacity — should be prepared to be enriched and enlightened by what this exhibition has to offer.”
PALME Middle East 2008 will occupy Halls 5, 6, 7, 8 & The Pavilion at the Dubai International Exhibition Centre between April 27-29.
17th September 2007
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