Major business entities and sponsors of DSS 2009 hail initial results

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Major business entities in the UAE and sponsors of the recently concluded Dubai Summer Surprises have hailed what they see as a recovery in the retail and hospitality sectors driven by the 65-day summer extravaganza this year. Initial figures for mall footfall and revenues, hotel occupancy rates, and inbound visitor numbers suggest that DSS was able to attract visitors despite fears of an economic slowdown and a subsequent slump in tourist numbers.
 
His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates airline and Group, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman of the DSF Office Supreme Committee said, “With the conclusion of the twelfth edition of DSS, Dubai has undoubtedly scored another achievement. To organise a global event with a magnitude such as that of DSS is always a challenge and the achievement this year is even more significant given the enormity of the global economic crisis.”
 
“The successful conclusion of DSS 2009 just goes to prove that Dubai’s initiatives has its own resilience in overcoming obstacles, nevertheless, the success of DSS this year would not have been possible without the support of the thirteen sponsors that affirmed their equivocal trust in the event and subsequently enhanced the exceptional cooperation between the public and private sectors in Dubai,” added HH.       
 
Laila Suhail, CEO of the Dubai Shopping Festival Office which is an agency of the Dubai Department of Economic Development said, “DSS 2009 achieved the targets we had set, especially by meeting the expectations of our private sector partners. A lot of effort went into planning and finding the right formula to give the retail sector the boost as it was the most affected by the economic crisis. The DSF Office enjoys a strategic relationship with all its stakeholders including government departments, private sector entities, and the local and regional media, thereby giving the Office a strong foundation to organize the global events that it does today.”
 
Emirates
Ahmed Khoory, Emirates Senior Vice President Commercial Operations, Gulf, Middle East and Iran said, “Emirates is honoured to have once again taken part in Dubai SummerSurprises. DSS is an extremely well thought-out and executed event and we extendour congratulations to all parties involved in putting it together.”
 
“We firmly believe that DSS offers Emirates’ customers excellent added over the summer months. Traditionally summer represents one of our busiest periods and this year has been no differentwith strong sales recorded across our network,” he said. value when visiting Dubai
 
“In addition to promoting DSS packages across our network, Emirates also furtherstimulated travel to Dubai with a number of exciting and wallet friendly summerdeals including the Kids Go Free promotion, running until mid-September, thatlets children under the age of 16 years fly for free, stay for free atparticipating hotels, dine for free, and play for free at Dubai's major touristattractions when accompanied by two adults,” said Khoory.
 
Dubai Shopping Malls Group
“Dubai Summer Surprises has played an important role in driving traffic to shopping malls this summer. Fabulous retail offers, discounts of up to 70% or more and unique entertainment activities in malls definitely captured the attention of shoppers. Our Surprising Millions campaign helped to generate further interest, giving customers amazing opportunities to win prizes worth AED 5 million in total through mega weekly raffle draws and instant refund of shopping bills. Shoppers couldn’t have asked for more,” said Majid Al Ghurair, Chairman of Dubai Shopping Malls Group.
 
MasterCard
“This year marked our 10^th Anniversary as a proud sponsor of the DSS. We are delighted to have worked closely with DSS, our customer financial institutions and merchants over the years to provide MasterCard cardholders exclusive privileges and benefits during DSS. We are proud of our longstanding presence in the UAE and look forward to continue to play an active role in promoting the UAE as a global destination for commerce, tourism and shopping,” said Denzil Lawson, general manager, Middle East & Levant, MasterCard Worldwide.
 
Dubai Festival City – Al Futtaim Group
Tom Miles, Director – Shopping Centres, Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate Al-Futtaim said, “Dubai Festival City once again was the cynosure of all eyes during DSS 2009 resulting in nearly 60 percent rise in footfall traffic during the first half of this year. The award winning Festival Centre at Dubai Festival City was again successful in offering high standards of entertainment, retail offerings and leisure to all our guests during this year’s Dubai Summer Surprises.”
 
“We are also happy to report a 56% rise in footfall traffic during the first six months of this year, over the same period in 2008. This is a strong indication of that Festival Centre at Dubai Festival City continues to top popularity charts and has become a destination of choice. Dubai Summer Surprises is a wonderful event and we are proud to have become its strong partner,” he added.
 
Al Ghurair City
Salem Al Ghurair, Chief Executive Officer, Al Ghurair City said: “In its 12th edition, Dubai Summer Surprises once again put Dubai on the global map as a year-round shopping destination. And, as a key sponsor of the festival, Al Ghurair City is proud to have supported this Dubai government-driven initiative. As in the previous years, this year shoppers were offered exciting discounts, entertaining events and prize packed promotion. We are pleased by the positive response that we received towards the promotion and events at Al Ghurair City during DSS 2009.”
BurJuman
BurJuman played host to some of the most popular events of this year’s DSS including the Shayla and Abaya fashion show, a huge hit with our fashion-conscious customers, the aesthetically pleasing Flower rain and the world-class ‘Imagine with Elmo’ and ‘Mr. Men Dance-a-thon’ entertainment acts. These attractions coupled with the summer garden theme that transformed the mall into a floral paradise, the designer discounts offered during our Summer Sugar promotion and the opportunity for all our customers to win up to Dhs 5 million were instrumental in ensuring steady footfall and enhanced sales this summer,” said Sabina Khandwani, head of PR and marketing, BurJuman.
 
WAFI
“Summer is traditionally a good season for Dubai’s shopping malls, with the many activities of Dubai Summer Surprises, as schools close for the holidays and soaring temperatures keep people from going outside; and this year amid the global downturn consumers were looking for great deals and WAFI retailers were very aware of this and adjusted prices accordingly. Discounts have been greater than before, as retailers realised they had to attract residents and tourists through larger reductions,” stated Shajahan Unneen, General Manager, WAFI Property.
 
Dubai Mall – Emaar Malls Group
Nasser Rafi, Chief Executive Officer, Emaar Malls Group, said, “This year’s Dubai Summer Surprises, an outstanding shopping and entertainment event on Dubai’s annual retail calendar, has proven to be a great success across all of Emaar Malls Group’s shopping malls. It has been a strong driver for Dubai’s tourism and retail sector assuring a unique experience for customers. DSS activities offer a balanced combination of retailing and entertainment, strengthening the malls’ overall strategy of increasing footfall.
 
“Throughout DSS we have seen an increase in footfall figures at both The Dubai Mall and Dubai Marina Mall week on week. Our retailers have contributed to the success of the festival with special offers and incentives, and sales also increased during the DSS period.

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