Routes to announce 2009 event venue in September

Routes, the world route development forum, which organises annual business events covering airports, airlines and related businesses, has completed its evaluation of Hyderabad for hosting its annual conference in the year 2009.

Hyderabad is among the four cities, including Beijing, Seoul, Cancun, which have been shortlisted for hosting the 2009 event.

Speaking to the media here on Wednesday, Eric Layden, director (sales and marketing), Routes, said the evaluation of all the four cities is over and the name of the successful bidder for hosting the event would be announced in September during the current year's annual conference to be held at Dubai.

Over 2,000 delegates from 140 countries representing 600 airports and 300 airlines world over are expected to take part in the event, according to him.

GMR group, the developers of the greenfield Hyderabad International Airport, is among the 20 bidders for hosting the 2009 event, of which four cities have been short listed by Routes.