DWTC wins bids for eight major congresses

Dubai: The Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), the region's leading venue operator and events organiser, has won bids to host eight new congresses in 2011 and 2012.

Covering key sectors that include health care, transportation, legal and technology, these events are expected to attract approximately 70,000 industry leaders and visitors, reaffirming Dubai's position as the leading gateway for business tourism in the region and contributing to the emirate's economy.

"Our success in attracting congresses of such world class stature is a powerful testament to Dubai's leading position as a regional business hub. The robust market outlook of the exhibitions, congresses and events sector continues to drive economic growth into the region, with many world-renowned associations looking to increase their exposure in sustained-growth markets like Dubai," said Helal Saeed Al Merri, CEO of Dubai World Trade Centre.

Most recently, DWTC supported Dubai in its successful bid to host the World Heart Foundation's (WHF) next World Congress of Cardiology (WCC). Bidding against Singapore, Kyoto and Cape Town, this is the first time in WHF's history that this global congress will be held in this region.

Meetings, Incentives, Convention and Exhibitions (MICE) play a big part in Dubai's tourism and retail industry.

"Figures from the latest International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the average spend per delegate in each congress is around $2,400 (Dh8,808). These include hotels, food, transfers, etc. Retail is one of the biggest beneficiaries from Mice tourism," said Bardin.

According to Frederic Bardin, senior vice president of Congress Solutions International, while the Mice tourism is still relatively young, these bid winnings have shown a positive start. "We still have some way to go before our Mice tourism is fully developed, but we've only started fairly recently. We haven't been active until two to three years ago. We have a lot of regional exhibitions but until now we've been lacking in hosting world wide associations," he said.

Boost to industries

Every participant or delegate at the congresses spends money on transportation, accommodation, food and retail, boosting the different industries.

DWTC will be hosting the World Hospital Congress in March 2011. DWTC has also partnered with the Dubai Health Authority to win the bids to host the 21st World Diabetes Congress in December 2011, the Annual Conference of the Society of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology (Sicot) in November 2012, and the recently announced 2012 World Congress of Cardiology.

"The World Diabetes Congress for example is one of the most important medical congresses in the world in terms of participant numbers. It's well regarded and a trend setter so it's important it comes to Dubai," says Bardin.

DWTC has already hosted major shows in 2010 in this key sector including The UAE International Dental Conference and Exhibition, Arab Children Health Congress, and others.

Acknowledged as the leading international scientific forum designed to update and increase knowledge in the field of human genome research, the Human Genome Organisation (Hugo) will convene its 15th annual Human Genome Meeting at the DWTC in March 2011, with a main focus on genomics and hereditary disorders.

The Microsoft Tech Ed, the premier technical education and networking event for technology professionals will be held in March.

In a bid to support the Roads and Transport Authority's (RTA) strategic plan for 2020: ‘Safe and smooth transport for all', DWTC will host the 59th International Association of Public Transport (UITP) World Congress in April 2011, together with the Mobility & City Transport Exhibition.

Dubai's well developed infrastructure and geographic position means it is well poised to become a business tourism hotspot in the region.

Scheduled events

2011

• March: Human Genome Congress (Hugo)
• Microsoft Tech ED
• International Hospital Federation
• April International Public Transport Congress (UITP)
• October: International Bar Association Congress
• December: World Diabetes Congress

2012

• World Cardiology Congress
• March: Microsoft Tech ED
• November: Orthopaedic Surgery/Traumatology (Sicot)