Remembering Alan Le Coyte

Alan worked in the Middle East Gulf from the nineteen eighties, where he was quick to recognises the enormous potential of the region as a tourist venue, as a cruise destination and as a hub for maritime commerce. His abilities as a publisher, salesman and publicist were directed towards realising that potential.

Through his own publication, and his support of a range of high profile events, he earned the respect and gratitude of both government and private sector. He assisted the Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing’s Chuck Heath on their cruise tourism strategy.

London born

Alan was born in London and, like many of his generation, gathered a range of experiences, in the wine trade, as a painter and decorator, and as drummer for Dusty Springfield, before settling on his career path. His first job in publishing was with Hampstead & Highgate Express and as a salesman on the inaugural editions of Time Out magazine.

Move to the Gulf

He moved to the Gulf region in the early eighties, well before the region’s subsequent remarkable expansion made it an obvious base. There he worked for Lloyd’s List and Arab Traveller before acquiring his own title, Middle East Travel. He persuaded major publishers, the Toronto Globe & Mail, Asiaweek and Financial Times Television, that there was good business for them in the GCC countries, and he was hired to represent them all. In parallel he assisted with gusto in hotel launches and expansion projects for regional airlines in the UAE and Bahrain.

His move into the events business came in 1993, when he encouraged Reed Exhibitions’ Tom Nutley and Fiona Jeffrey to set up the Arabian Travel. Market in Dubai.

The inaugural show in 1994 came just two years after the first Gulf War, but was an instant success, and Alan became its regional sales representative.

Seatrade representative

His relationship with Seatrade began in the nineties, following a meeting with Sales Director Andrew Callaghan. Alan’s wide contacts and instinctive local knowledge made him an ideal representative for its publications in shipping and cruise and in its expanding programme of Middle East events. He contributed widely to Seatrade’s establishment of the region’s first major international exhibitions in shipping, offshore marine and cruise, and worked on the World Ports & Trade Summit in Abu Dhabi and on Seatrade’s pioneering event in Dubai on waterfront development which anticipated the remarkable spread of such projects across the GCC.

Vanessa Stevens, Managing Director of Seatrade Middle East at the time said: ‘Alan’s contribution to our events in the region and his understanding of the market were exceptional and we will all remember him as a good friend.’ His ability to treat all business partners with respect and good humour underwrote his business and personal relationships.

He is survived by his wife, Kathi Everden, who was a contributor to Seatrade Cruise Review in the ninties and early 2000s.

Add Seatrade Maritime News to your Google News feed.