Entry to Gitex is by bar-coded, color-coded badge. Media badges were orange this year and by the second day of the show the hunt was on. The elusive tangerine-tagged creatures were prized catches and exhibitors made every effort to snare at least one.
Faced with a huge show and aware that they were being stalked, many journalists restricted themselves to press conferences and official functions.
Others went into disguise, concealed their press badges, and re-registered themselves at the exhibition as mere mortals. Which method was best? The only clear choice was survival. It’s getting pricier to put a journalist on the ground at the event. In an informal survey, overseas media with hotel reservations booked months in advance spent at least SR1,000 per day while in Dubai.
Those making last minute hotel reservations paid even more. Airfare was additional. Who benefited most from the media at the event? Dubai World Trade Center of course.
But waiting in endless access lines, harassed by PRs and vendor reps, struggling every afternoon to find transport and forced to haul all their gear all day, the media weren’t happy. These professionals are coming from around the world to publicize DWTC and its activities. Better ways must be found to facilitate them.