THE meetings and events industry in the Middle East is clearly on a growth trajectory as it continues to attract regional and international meetings, events and exhibitions into the region. With still plenty of room for further development, its enormous potential is yet to be fully realised as more of the region‘s world-class facilities are still in the pipeline.
As an emerging globalised service sector, every dirham spent on hosting such events leads to approximately seven to 10 dirhams of peripheral economic benefits. Excellent flight connections together with spacious exhibition and conference venues equipped with state-of-the-art technology, affordable yet luxurious accommodations and specialised freight forwarders, all make the Middle East an ideal location for international business meetings and events.
The region currently offers facilities that can confidently cater to any type of event. Looking at the recently opened Ferrari World Theme Park on Yas Island, which will become a true world-class incentive destination in its own right, or the developments on Saadiyat Beach Island with the Guggenheim Museum and the Louvre to be ready in 2013, or the fact that Qatar won the right to host the World Cup in 2022, the sector is indeed faced with tremendous opportunities for further growth in the years to come.
Of course, world-class facilities are nothing without people bringing them to life and delivering high levels of service and customer experience, making personnel resources development a key requirement to support continued growth.
GIBTM (Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition), which takes place from March 28 to 30, 2011, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), promises to be the largest gathering of meeting professionals in the Middle East. More significantly, it is in an excellent position to drive and shape the industry‘s knowledge.
At the event, we are looking to develop our existing comprehensive professional education programme allowing visitors to learn from industry experts. Free seminar sessions, suitable for all levels of attendees from the incentives, business travel, meetings and events sectors will be available at the show.
One of GIBTM’s objectives is to attract international and regional decision makers and influencers who hold regular meetings and events to educate them on what the Middle East, as a convention, meetings and incentive destination, has to offer.
And all attendees to GIBTM will benefit from the opportunity to meet and conduct business with leading suppliers, discover new destinations, attend the professional education programme and network with fellow industry professionals.
By Lloyd Kenyon, exhibition manager of GIBTM 2011.