Abu Dhabi: The Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition 2011 was inaugurated yesterday in Abu Dhabi by Shaikh Sultan Bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA).
This is the fifth edition of the exhibition, which will run until tomorrow at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec).
This year the event has attracted 275 exhibitors including first-time participation from countries such as Lebanon, Syria, Indonesia and Bahrain. It expects to welcome up to 2,000 professionals in the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) industry.
"It is the only international exhibition in the Middle East region dedicated entirely to the business of meetings and events," said Lloyd Kenyon, GIBTM's Exhibition Manager.
"It provides the perfect business platform for both international and regional venues, hotels, destinations and suppliers to meet with local, regional and international meeting planners, incentive travel buyers and those involved in the global meetings and events industry."
According to the Meetings Industry Research Report, which has research carried out at the beginning of this year with responses from over 600 international and regional buyers and suppliers, the UAE "still dominates the region as the country of choice for meetings and events, with Dubai still the most popular emirate".
From 2012, Doha and Muscat could prove serious challenges to Dubai and Abu Dhabi due to new international and inter-regional air routes and convention centres, the report said.
It also said that according to suppliers, the key to increasing their business includes political stability and security, greater awareness of what the region has to offer, an improved financial climate, increased air routes and easier visa processes.
Meanwhile ADTA has entered into an associate partnership with the Meetings Professional International Foundation (MPIF), which will conduct a survey on Abu Dhabi's expanding meetings industry under a three-year deal.
Called "Needs Analysis Survey", it will help determine the most essential training requirements and training gaps that need to be addressed, in addition to a future strategy to benefit all the destination's meetings industry stakeholders.
ADTA says the agreement will also strengthen the destination's awareness across MPI's varied business platforms. ADTA's International Promotions Manager, Mubarak Al Nuaimi told reporters yesterday it will also take part in 18 international exhibitions this year, including for the first time in the US and China.
