GIBTM 2011 will offer a unique platform for professionals of the meetings industry to interact and learn from international and regional experts as well as industry associations MPI, SITE and ICCA, which will present and debate key issues at the show including trends and personal development, incentive travel, event management, technology and finance, marketing and sales and social media.
The programme will start on March 28 with a session on the launch of the 2011 Middle East Meetings Industry Research, where GIBTM will reveal the results of its annual research about the industry in the Middle East region.
This will be followed by ‘Implementing Sustainability Initiatives – The Business Case’ – an interactive workshop providing an overview of practical sustainability initiatives which can be implemented to gain added unique selling points.
On March 29, four sessions have been lined up including ‘Meetings Deliver – The Business Value of Meetings & Events’, ‘The Technology Hour – Five Social Media Tips to Engage With Your Audience’, a seminar on what is happening in the world of meetings and ‘Sustainability Reporting – Where to Start’. The three-day programme will wrap up with a session on ‘Strategic Meetings Management: How to “Speak Procurement”’ on March 30.
The education sessions are free for all visitors and suitable for all levels of attendees from the incentive, business travel, meetings and events sectors.
“The business tourism, meetings and incentive industry has expanded significantly over the past year and as a result we are creating an education programme that embraces every kind of subject that will not only provide industry knowledge for individuals to use for their own personal development but the topics will also provide trends and updates for anyone who is actively engaged in the profession”, said Erica Keogan, association and education manager.