Eventful time for buyers

For an industry that brings people together, there is no better reason to party than this one — that it has shaken off the effects of the global economic crisis as buyers plan more events than before. A majority of respondents in a survey ahead of today's Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) show Abu Dhabi said they see a steady increase in the number of events planned for 2011.

Looking ahead, 71 per cent of buyers said they expected to be planning a larger number of events this, while 25 per cent said they expected numbers to say the same as last year.

"Despite concerns over political stability and financial pressures voiced by many respondents [buyers], the results are optimistic on the volume of events forecast for the year ahead," says Sally Greenhill, managing director, The Right Solution Limited, a conference venue and destination development specialist. Greenhill and Rob Nicolas of Meetme will present key findings from the study, which polled 555 regional buyers over February and March, at a conference on the sidelines of the event today.

It also offers an insight to how the industry developed over the past 12 months and how these changes can be used positively.

When asked about their calendars in 2010, 47 per cent of participating buyers said they had organised more events in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region. Last year's analysis also reveals interesting transitions in the market place. Buyer respondents said they had organised an average of 6.2 events in the Mena region in 2010; and 13.6 events elsewhere in the world. Last year, 47 per cent of them organised up to five events each. This is the highest figure recorded by the survey which showed an average of 4.6 events per buyer in 2010, 5.7 events in 2009 and four in 2008.

It is also interesting to note that 25 per cent of buyer respondents had also organised more than 20 events elsewhere in the world.

Returning to 2011, most buyers are looking forward to planning association conferences, corporate conferences and incentive programmes; while a few of them will also be organising exhibitions.

The fifth edition of the Gulf Incentive Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) returns with a stronger focus on educating the market about the meetings industry. The show's education programme kicks off with the launch of the 2011 Middle East Meetings Industry Research where Greenhill and Meetme's Rob Nicholas will present the latest data on the regional Mice market. n

Talking points at GIBTM 2011

Sustainability and communication will be the big talking points for the industry at this year's GIBTM, organisers said in a statement.

The show's education programme attempts to raise the bar on industry debate and strategy and has announced eight confirmed sessions run by top speakers from around the globe.

Beginning today, these run until Wednesday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre and are free to attend for show visitors, with seats allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Sally Greenhill from The Right Solution and Rob Nicolas of Meetme will present the latest data on the regional Mice market.

Today will also see Rebecca Saunders of Sustainable Events talk about the business case for implementing sustainability initiatives in an interactive workshop. She will attempt to provide an overview of practical sustainability initiatives that can be implemented to enhance organisational efficiency.

Tomorrow's sessions kick off with Joyce Dogniez, Director of Development at Meeting Professionals International, who will examine the business value of meetings and events. Using research sources from Harvard Business Review, Oxford Economics, Forbes, MPI and other sources, she will make the business case for the profitability of face-to-face gatherings through meetings, incentives and events.

In line with the ever evolving demand to understand and develop new communication and marketing strategies, John Quinn of Satellite Communications will present us with five crucial Social Media Tips.

Other events for the second day include a session on sustainability reporting and a panel debate on the current state of affairs in the world of meetings.

The final day of GIBTM 2011 brings us Brian Ludwig, Vice-President of Cvent. Brian will look at strategic meetings management and how purchasing policies for standardised meetings can save organisations between 10 and 20 per cent in related costs.