"It is forecast that there will be another 21 hotels with 7,000 hotel rooms in Saudi Arabia by 2013, 2,000 of which will open this year," the study said.

Although the global economic recovery remains uncertain, it noted that  new hotels are continuing to open across the Middle East and that the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) is likely to see 48 new hotels with 14,178 rooms open in 2010, at an estimated cost of $7.3 billion.

"Facing up to this double-edged challenge, a panel of hotel industry experts is to discuss strategies for dealing with the global economic downturn at the Middle East's leading dedicated trade event for the hospitality and leisure sector," Maggie Moore, exhibition director of The Hotel Show which will be held in May this year. The session on innovative management in challenging times will be part of The Seven Star Conference which is part of The Hotel Show. 

"The Hotel Show provides a useful barometer for the industry on how equipment, materials and service suppliers, marketing and sales strategies are being affected by the uncertain economic climate," Moore indicated . 

"While much of the recent attention has focused on the impact of the downturn on the hospitality sector, the United Arab Emirates continues to be one of the world's active areas for hotel openings," she said, adding that the UAE alone has over 5,700 rooms coming to market in 2010. Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are also seeing increased activity.

A total of 1,961 new hotel rooms are expected to be added to the Qatar hospitality market during this year, with a total of 21 new hotels coming online by 2013. Last year the number of available hotel rooms in the country increased by 25 percent  compared to the previous year.

"Existing hotels throughout the wider Middle East and North African region have been showing modest signs of recovery," said Moore. "Once economies start to pick-up steam and hotel occupancy rates begin to increase, hoteliers will quite rightly be in a cautiously optimistic mood."

Now in its eleventh year, The Hotel Show is the Middle East's most important event in the hospitality calendar hosting the latest products, services and technologies for the hotel, catering and leisure industries.

"Suppliers are critically important to the development of the hospitality sector in the region," said Moore. "Companies supplying products and services take part in The Hotel Show not only to generate leads and sales, but also to assess the opportunities and challenges facing the Middle East industry and come away with a better understanding of their customers."

The Hotel Show is divided into four zones: Interiors & design; operating equipment and supplies; security and  technology; and the resort experience, covering all things outdoor including furniture, accessories and design and includes hotel spa, an important sector with more than 60 percent of all spa activity in the Middle East taking place in hotels. Alongside the show are high level seminars - The Seven Star Conference, now in its fifth year, and the Middle East Spa Summit.