GIBTM has unveiled the outline of its professional education programme for hosted buyers, visitors and exhibitors, which will take place in Abu Dhabi during the first dedicated event for the Gulf’s business travel, meetings and incentives industry (GIBTM), running March 13 to 15.
Organised in conjunction with the key industry associations (MPI, ICCA, and SITE), the programme encourages learning and development through targeted seminar sessions aimed at all industry sectors. It will focus on current and future trends within the worldwide and regional Gulf meetings industry.
The GIBTM seminar programme brings together leading international industry speakers to cover a wide range of subjects including, How to bid and win International Association Business, presented by Martin Sirk – CEO, ICCA; Creating the Meeting Professional, presented by Didier Scaillet – MPI; How to trap Asian and Middle East business, by Clarence Fernandes – Clavin Marketing; and The Changes and Developments in Technology within the Meetings Industry, presented by Eric Mottard – EventoPlus, How to build a successful strategic partnership, presented by Joost de Meyer – First Incentive Travel, Risk and Crisis Management presented by Bert van Walbeek – The Winning Edge. There will also be a UNWTO/RTE/ICCA/MPI presentation on Measuring the Economic Importance of the Meetings Industry.
The seminars commence at 9am each day of GIBTM, entrance to all seminars is free of charge to all event attendees.
RESEARCH
On March 13, GIBTM in association with MICE International, will present the findings from the region’s first major industry research study. The results are expected to address the future business potential for the region, identifying opportunities for growth and expansion, and providing a valuable tool for regional suppliers looking to target and attract new business into the region, as well as international suppliers looking for an insight into new prospects operating from within the region.
The CEO summit, an initiative created by Reed Travel Exhibitions and first launched alongside EIBTM, will take place during GIBTM and is by invitation only. Designed as a unique forum for the world’s senior industry business leaders to meet bi-annually to discuss the major issues facing the industry today, the group specifically requested that their next meeting was to be held in Abu Dhabi during GIBTM. Among the key subjects being debated on an on-going basis by the summit is sustainability and corporate social responsibility, identifying the effect the MICE industry has on the world’s economies.
“Through this dynamic professional education programme, we want to establish GIBTM as the debating chamber for the meeting and incentives sector in the Middle East,” says Paul Kennedy MBE, group exhibition director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.
Running the day before the show, on March 12, is the Middle East Development Symposium. The first of its kind, it will identify the key issues and challenges faced within the meetings industry both internationally and regionally.
VISITORS
Organisers Reed Travel Exhibitions expect this first GIBTM to attract more than 1,800 trade participants from the UAE and Gulf region. “GIBTM is an international event dedicated to the art of planning meetings, incentive events and business travel. We expect to deliver over 170 exhibitors from international and local venues, destinations, suppliers and partners to the industry so we believe that every trade visitor will find inspiration, solutions, new ideas and leave with even greater knowledge of their sector and its business opportunities,” said Graeme Barnett, event director for GIBTM.
The global line-up of countries now represented includes the UAE (Abu Dhabi and Dubai), Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Qatar, Sharjah, Oman, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Sri Lanka and major hotel groups, such as Starwood, Kempinski and Jumeirah, have also confirmed their presence at the inaugural event. Etihad Airways, the event’s airline partner, will also have a presence. More details at www.gibtm.travel