DESPITE the challenging times for the industry, the Gulf Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition’s (GIBTM) 3rd Middle East Meetings Industry Research Report has indicated that there is still confidence in the region, with continued growth compared to 2007.
The report was compiled and independently analysed by Sally Greenhill, director The Right Solution. The research was carried out by Reed Travel Exhibitions in conjunction with Meetme (NPI Publishing) during January and February 2009, during which 258 regional and international buyers and 167 suppliers were questioned.
Of the buyers based in 47 countries (the largest proportion of respondents came from Middle Eastern countries) 81 per cent have held events in the region over the past12 months compared to 46 per cent in 2008, with 51 per cent confirming they have organised more events in the Gulf and Middle East during the same period – up from 40 per cent in 2008.
Dubai continues to be the most popular destination followed by Egypt, Abu Dhabi, Morocco and Jordan. Overall, events have been held in over 22 different destinations throughout the region. The buyers predicted that the next top destinations would be Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar respectively.
The duration for events in the region was however down to 3.9 days from 4.1 in 2008. Cost, quality of accommodation, quality of meeting facilities and service were top influencing factors when holding an event in Gulf and Middle East.
Corporate social responsibility and environmental issues remain important to event organisers but their influence on the decision making process has reduced from 79 per cent to 71 per cent. Concluding the buyer results, 25 per cent believe that the volume of events organised would increase, with 35 per cent remaining the same.
Regarding suppliers, 18 per cent of the respondents worked exclusively in the Middle East where they had experienced more business from different clients than in previous years, particularly with corporates and non government organisations (NGOs).
The oil/gas/utilities sector comes top for suppliers, followed by the pharmaceutical, medical and financial sectors. The mean number of events experienced by suppliers in the last twelve months is 3.6 compared with 3.7 in 2008.
Location is the key factor thought to influence a client’s decision to hold events in the region, followed by cost and quality of service. A total of 68 per cent of suppliers believe that the Gulf and Middle East have the most growth potential worldwide – up from 62 per cent last year.
Paul Kennedy MBE, Reed Travel Exhibitions group exhibition director meetings and incentive events said, “This, our third GIBTM Middle East Meetings Industry Report, is proving once again to be an invaluable, up-to-date barometer as to the state of the meetings and events sector in the Region. Despite a difficult and challenging year the results, both from a buyer and supplier perspective, shows that the industry is in good shape to
ride out the current economic climate.”
Rob Nicholas, publisher of Meetme said, “Since the beginning of the economic crisis there has been a blur between perception and reality as facts become harder to grasp in rapidly changing markets. However, our research provides a clear insight into where the industry is headed over the next 12 months and comes from the professionals actually determining where and when business is placed. “What is most reassuring is the fact that most respondents see their budgets for the region either increasing or staying the same during 2009. This is very positive.”