Greenwood: Power 50 recgonises those who have made a significant contribution to the travel and tourism industry. Greenwood: Power 50 recgonises those who have made a significant contribution to the travel and tourism industry.

As years go, 2009 has been a tough one. Not only have we suffered an unprecedented global financial crisis, but pandemics such as Swine Flu, not to mention natural disasters that have threatened to wipe out entire communities, have shook the world.

The travel and tourism industry has been adversely affected by the accumulative affect of these factors, yet the fittest have survived and now look to the future with optimism, nowhere more so than in the Middle East.

It is fitting, therefore, that instead of focusing on the negative, we pay homage to those who have made the Middle East’s travel and tourism industry what it is today – a thriving economy in its own right, with nothing but prospects for growth and development on the horizon.

Arabian Travel News is therefore proud to unveil the first ever Power 50 on November 1 – a list of the top 50 people we believe have not only helped to shape the region’s travel and tourism industry from its humble beginnings, but continue to push the boundaries to ensure it grows and matures for years to come.

These people come from many walks of life, but one thing they all have in common is passion for the industry.

We will provide the full list of Power 50 in the November edition of Arabian Travel News, but from November 1 onwards, will reveal the names of those nominated online at www.hoteliermiddleeast.com in groups of five starting backwards from 50 to 46.

Of course, the ATN Power 50 list is purely subjective and we recognise that not everyone will agree with our choices, but we look forward to your feedback and your comments.