The line-up at GIBTM
This is my last column before my team and I welcome you to Abu Dhabi for the largest gathering of meeting professionals in the Gulf and Middle East to GIBTM from March 29 to 31 at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, UAE.
The meetings and events industry in the Gulf is still in its infancy and, during my many visits to the region, I have been asked many times by travel professionals, why should they attend GIBTM?
My answer is always the same. By attending, those within the industry will come away with business leads and new learnings as to how to grow and develop new business.
Attendees will find everything they need to organise and plan their next meeting, conference, incentive or event.
Core to this offering is our professional education programme. Whether talking to the likes of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), hotel groups, venues or destinations there is an obvious hunger for education. This is why we have developed an extensive education programme that includes a number of initiatives tying in, for the third year, with a dedicated Gulf Meetings Week – created with the input and support of key associations Meeting Professionals International (MPI), Site and the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA).
Our strong links with the leading industry associations are highlighted by the first education event in Gulf Meetings Week taking place on Sunday, March 28. This interactive session, organised with MPI and ICCA, will tackle the topic of ‘Meetings Reality and Potential in the Gulf Region – The Market Knowledge Exchange’.
The year’s restructured Professional Education Programme at GIBTM will be divided into three distinct themes – Event Planning Day on Monday, March 29; Industry Research Day on Tuesday, March 30 and Industry Trends Day on Wednesday, March 31.
Event Planning Day will feature four challenging and thought-provoking sessions; the first by Graham Keene, CEO World Events, on planning and implementing corporate social responsibility policies; Ali Al Saloom, president Embrace Arabia, will tackle the key cultural considerations when planning events in the Middle East and Adrian Bell, founder Action Impact, will look at the future of the growing special events industry.
Industry Research Day, as the name suggests, will provide all attendees with the knowledge to further develop their business as key names within the industry present compelling, up-to-date research. The day commences with the presentation of the GIBTM/meetme 2010 Middle East Research Survey results, providing the most up-to-date research on the meetings and events market in the region as of March 2010.
This will be followed by Sean Mahoney, president Site 2010, looking at the current climate for motivational events and sharing insights from the International Site Index and IRF Incentive Industry Trends Outlook. The third session, presented by Didier Scaillet, chief development officer MPI, will highlight key findings from FutureWatch 2010.
With input from 2,700 meeting planners and buyers taken from 39 countries, FutureWatch provides the industry’s most comprehensive international snapshot of what factors will directly impact on the industry in 2010 and beyond.
The final session of the day will bring the presenters together on one platform to reflect on what the research findings mean to the future of the industry.
Our third themed day tackles industry trends and will feature presentations on delivering content in meetings, inter-cultural training, technology and events trends.
Quite a line up of education sessions I am sure you will agree.
Since the first GIBTM in 2007, the event has played a significant role as the voice of the industry, focusing minds on the benefits to both buyers and suppliers from the meetings and events sector. If you have not registered for GIBTM yet, I do urge you to do so.
By Graeme Barnett exhibition director GIBTM.