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JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2011 THE LEADING PUBLICATION FOR MIDDLE EAST MEE TING, INCENTIVE & EVENT PLANNERS

NEWS

J A N / F E B 2 0 1 1 — W W W . M E E T M I D D L E E A S T. C O M

THE LEADING PUBLICATION FOR MIDDLE EAST MEE TING, INCENTIVE & EVENT PLANNERS

Conference and event reviews, news updates and previews of upcoming meetings and venues

ANALYSIS Bringing down the house

A look at the state’s tourism and business investments as it prepares for the world’s biggest football tournament

A lack of permanent venues, coupled with an increase in entertainment and incentivised events, has sparked a surge in demand for temporary locations across the Middle East

LICENSED BY INTERNATIONAL MEDIA PRODUCTION ZONE

Cover Illustration: Liz Ramos-Prado for

Preservation road Despite an unwarranted reputation for eschewing the environment, the Middle East’s tourism and meetings industry is proving to be the driving force behind the region’s carbon-conscious outlook Swing action Such is their popularity, Golf courses remain a popular setting for corporate events. But which offer the best facilities on and off the fairways? Meetme steps onto the greens of several local golf clubs to ﬁnd out

Beijing Being the capital of the People’s Republic of China makes Beijing one of the most vital and important cities in the world of business

COMMENT Sue Hocking 24

QNCC’s director of sales explains how Qatar’s meeting and incentives industry will beneﬁt following the state’s successful World Cup 2022 bid

Charlie Banks Organise This events manager on sustainability in the Middle East

VENUE Gran Via Exhibition Centre Sònia Graupera, guest events manager for exhibition organiser Fira Barcelona, discusses GVEC’s best features

PROFILE Rob Davidson Meetings analyst and university lecturer on growth in the Middle East, tackling the skills shortage and why the industry is still going strong amid tough economic conditions

DESTINATION REPORTS Qatar

MEET Tom Rowntree InterContinental Hotel Group’s vice president of brand management for Europe Middle East and Africa

EDITORIAL Editorial Director Scott Birch Editor Rob Morris Contributors Charlie Banks, Adrian Murphy, Sue Hocking STUDIO Senior Art Director Andrea Tempesta Senior Designers Prachi Bhaumik, James Jary, Kelly Massie, Tony Santiago Photo Editor Antonie Robertson Photographer Adham Sneeh Production Coordinator Naveed Aziz ADVERTISING Advertisement Manager Stefanie Morgner International Sales manager Rose D’Souza Sales Coordinator Michelle Hirao PUBLISHING Publisher Rob Nicholas

Nicholas Publishing International FZ LLC P.O. Box 500573, Executive Heights (Damac Building), Dubai, UAE t: +9714 4243600 f: +9714 4327505 e: meet@npimedia.com w: www.meetmiddleeast.com

With such stiff competition from the US, Australia and South Korea, no one gave Qatar a hope of winning the World Cup 2022 bid. The naysayers all insisted the state was too hot and underdeveloped, which in their view made it an unviable candidate to host the world’s biggest football tournament. And yet here we are, relishing the prospect of the greatest sporting showpiece arriving in the Middle East for the first time in 2022. By the time the event rolls round, the Qatari government will have spent billions of dollars building more hotels, creating a public transport system and developing a new airport – all of which bodes well for the state’s meetings industry. Event planners and associations are often perturbed by cities that lack the infrastructure needed to stage big events; a factor that has arguably restricted Qatar’s ability to bring in the leading industry players. But the opening of Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) this year, coupled with the government’s huge spend on development, should see the state competing with more established destinations for corporate dollars. You can read more about Qatar’s successful World Cup bid and construction plans in our four-page report starting on page 50. We also speak with Sue Hocking from the QNCC, who explains how winning the right to stage the tournament will benefit the state’s meeting and incentives industry (page 24). Elsewhere in the magazine, our cover story on page 26 focuses on sustainable issues and eco-friendly practices employed by local exhibition venue operators and hoteliers. In particular, we concentrate on green issues and analyse why meetings professionals in this region are taking the issue more seriously. also features a report on Korea Mice Expo (page 36), This issue of which provides an insight into the challenges that Seoul’s tourism and meetings industry faces. And we take to the fairways to find out what corporate facilities some of the region’s leading golf courses have to offer (page 44). Rob Morris Editor |

Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained in this publication, NPI cannot be held responsible for any errors or inaccuracies contained within it. All information contained in this publication is under copyright to NPI and cannot be reproduced or transmitted in any form, without first obtaining written permission from the publisher.

NEWS / REVIEW

No tourism fallout from Korean conflict North Korea’s bombing of the south won’t harm Seoul’s meetings industry, tourism chief says Deepened hostilities between North and South Korea following a gun fire exchange will not affect Seoul’s tourism and meetings industries long-term, a senior tourism figure has claimed. Samuel Koo, CEO of Seoul Tourism Organization, told MeetMe that conference planners and industry associations would continue hosting events in Seoul, despite growing concerns over tensions with North Korea. Two civilians and two soldiers were killed when North Korea fired artillery shells at a South Korean island in late November. The attack, the heaviest from the north since the Korean War ended in 1953, was carried out during a South Korean military exercise near a disputed maritime border on the west of the divided peninsula. Up to 200 North Korean shells were fired during the battle, with most hitting a nearby military base. The south retaliated by firing back and sending a fighter jet into the area. “This sort of ‘North Korea will invade’ talk has been with us for 50 years. This was the scariest thing to happen because shells landed in a civilian area, but those who know about Korea know this is a part of Korean life,” said Koo. “I am told a number of tour groups from Thailand have cancelled their trips, but the numbers don’t amount to much and we will quickly overcome this especially if nothing happens [anytime soon]. “Thailand is running a campaign called ‘Have faith in Thailand’ and I do after last year’s red shirt demonstrations. Of course, it’s not the government doing this [cancelling trips to South Korea] but individual groups.” Martin Sirk, ICCA chief executive, was also confident the conflict would only have a short-term impact on Seoul, providing the troubles did not escalate. “One of the general conclusions was if it was simply a skirmish it wouldn’t have any lasting effect because Seoul doesn’t have a reputation for being an unsafe place and oneoff occurrences don’t harm that,” he said. “For example, the bombings in Madrid were terrible, the worst terrorism attacks in 6/

Europe, but it didn’t impact on Madrid’s competitive position whereas if a bomb went off in Jakarta it can actually knock them back six to nine months because it’s reputation of being secure is not there, so you can develop a reputation for being unsafe. Any drop in visitor numbers would more likely be seen on the leisure side than business, Sirk added. “If you are reasonably set up well to begin with then it won’t have much of an impact. What it could potentially have an impact on is the leisure tourism side. Leisure tourists are typically a lot more nervous than business travellers and conference professionals.” South Korean ofﬁcials claimed the military drills in the disputed waters, where deadly clashes have previously taken place,

1953

When North and South Korea agreed a truce

were not aimed at antagonising their neighbours. This battle follows an incident last year where South Korea accused the north of torpedoing one of its navy vessels, killing 46 sailors. Samuel Koo But North Korea claimed its accuser started the ﬁght. A truce between the countries has been in place since the end of the Korean War in 1953. But the countries are still effectively at war as North Korea continues to threaten its neighbour over more planned military drills. North Korea warned of retaliatory attacks, promising to deliver a devastating blow to any provocation. The comments came as South Korean ally, the US, deployed ships to the disputed waters. China, a longstanding ally of North Korea, has expressed its concern at the US military’s responses. Meanwhile, global powers continued to raise questions about North Korea’s nuclear programme.

Doha unveils new passenger terminal Seychelles ready to play host

The new arrivals terminal at Doha International Airport will satisfy increased demand from travellers looking to visit Qatar, a senior aviation figure has claimed. Akbar Al Bakar, CEO of Qatar Airways, said the terminal was a necessary measure for handling 15 million annual passengers

while construction work on the state’s new US$14.5 billion airport continued. “With the pace of development in the State Of Qatar increasing exponentially, the new Doha Arrivals terminal and other improvements will sustain the existing airport’s expected

growth in passenger numbers until the time comes when we move all these operations to New Doha International Airport in 2012," he said. “The existing Doha International Airport is well prepared to handle this interim period of growth and we are also planning ahead to the future to ensure a smooth transition when the new airport becomes operational,” Al Baker added. The new terminal has extra immigration counters, baggage belts and e-gates. It also features a Q-tel kiosk, premium lounge for ﬁrst and business class passengers travelling with Qatar Airways, a café and various hotel transfer desks. A departure area will be built, offering more passenger facilities, check-in desks and boarding gates for travellers.

Extreme weather hits EIBTM attendance The organisers of EIBTM have admitted hosted buyer attendance figures were down in 2010 compared to the previous year as adverse weather conditions across northern Europe disrupted travel plans to the event. Some hosted buyers in the UK were unable to make EIBTM in Barcelona last December after heavy snow fall in the region led to a 48-hour closure of Gatwick Airport. Graeme Barnett, EIBTM exhibition director, told reporters that attendance ﬁgures were down 45 to 3,582 for 2010. “We tried to do everything in our power to get these buyers out of the UK but sadly, the conditions prevented them leaving,” he said. Meanwhile, expected scheduled meetings between hosted

buyers and exhibitors were down from 57,000 to more than 55,000. Barnett said that EIBTM organiser Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) would put exhibitors and buyers that had arranged to meet during the event in touch with each other at a later date. Despite the travel disruptions, trade visitor numbers were up ﬁve percent to 4,010 in 2010 compared with the previous year,. Meanwhile, total attendance during the same period climbed one percent to 8,395. A plane to ﬂy 224 hosted buyers and exhibitors back to the UK

4,010

number of trade visitors in 2010

following the event on December 2 was chartered by RTE amid ongoing travel disruptions arising from extreme weather conditions in northern Europe. Visitors and exhibitors that reached Barcelona experienced new initiatives for the 2010 event, including EIBTM TV – a live news channel broadcasting interviews and stories on screens around the show ﬂoor. The content, along with footage of presentations and education sessions, was also posted on www.eibtm.com. A new format CEO Summit attracted 60 industry figures to hear three speakers, including UK economist professor Dominic Swords, who talked about rising confidence in the sector’s business potential.

Hosting incentives and conferences in the tropical islands of the Seychelles is now “a real possibility”, according to its tourism board. Bernadette Willemin, European director for the Seychelles Tourism Board, said improved air access and rise in hotels offering conference facilities ensured the islands were ready to handle industry events. The tourism board attended EIBTM last December to push the Seychelles as a meetings and conference destination. During the show, Jenny Seraphine from Meridien Hotels launched the property’s new Barbarons Beach conference room for the Seychelles. She was joined in Barcelona by representatives from Creole Travel Services, Mason’s Travel and Seychelles Connect, all of whom travelled to Spain to promote the Seychelles conference and tourism industries.

NEWS / REVIEW

Abu Dhabi reports 27% rise in guests Guest numbers at Abu Dhabi hotels and hotel apartments soared 27 percent last November as race fans ﬂocked to the UAE capital to see the ﬁnal F1 Grand Prix of the 2010 season. Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) revealed that 169,001 people stayed in the emirate in November, while guest nights surged 42 percent to 544,753 compared to the same period in 2009. Meanwhile, occupancy levels climbed 18 percent to 77 percent, with average length of stay increasing from 2.88 nights to 3.2. Monthly revenue climbed 24 percent to US$139.4 million. The results pushed Abu Dhabi’s guest numbers between January and November to 1,646,799 – just below ADTA’s 1.65 million visitors target for 2010. “There is no doubt that the staging of the Formula One

Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, and it being the ﬁnale to the season, had a strong positive inﬂuence on November’s hotel statistics,” said Lawrence Franklin, ADTA’s strategy & policy director. “The impact of the Grand Prix, the recently opened Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and the Yas Island Show Weekends, mean it is now certain that we will surpass our annual target.” Domestic tourism for November grew 19 percent, while the number of North American hotel guests visiting Abu Dhabi that same month climbed 48 percent. Elsewhere, the level of UK, German and French visitors staying in Abu Dhabi last November increased 62%, 24% and 8% respectively.

Malaysia to host Asia’s first IAS event Dubai rooms to rise 50% by 2015

Malaysia will be the ﬁrst Asian destination to host an international HIV treatment conference, the country's convention bureau has conﬁrmed. The 7th International AIDS Society (IAS) HIV conference on Pathogenesis, Treatment and Prevention will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre in 2013, according to the Malaysia Convention & 8/

Exhibition Bureau (MCEB). Started in 2001, the staging of the biennial conference alternates between developed and non-developed countries. The IAS examines the latest developments in HIV-related research and explores ways to prevent and treat HIV, particularly in low-and middleincome countries. Announcing Malaysia’s bid success, Minister

of Tourism Malaysia, YB Dato’ Sri Dr Ng Yen Yen said: “Between 5,000 to 6,000 delegates from 125 countries are expected to converge at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre for the four-day conference in July 2013. "With almost an estimated 90 percent of the delegates coming from overseas, the conference is estimated to generate over RM78 million (US$25 million) in economic value to the Malaysian economy. The IAS conference is the ﬁrst large-scale event to be secured following the launch of Malaysia’s Economic Transformation programme. Part of the initiative involves the business tourism segment, which is expected to create an additional 16,700 jobs by 2020.

Dubai must attract an extra 2.5 million annual visitors if it is to fill over 50 percent more hotel rooms during the next five years, a Deloitte report has claimed. Deloitte said hoteliers could struggle to maintain occupancy rates once a further 30,000 hotel rooms, adding to the 50,000 already available, came online by 2015. Occupancy rates in Dubai have fallen from 80 percent in 2007 to 70 percent this year, with RevPAR’s dropping US$60 from $300. While figures are down in Dubai, it is still reporting strong occupancy figures compared to other markets. This has prompted some hoteliers to claim that the emirate has the infrastructure and air access to fill additional rooms.

IFA sets 2012 completion date for Fairmont Palm Jumeirah Developer secures US$115 million funding to finish project IFA Hotels & Resorts (IFA HR) expects to finish building the Fairmont Palm Jumeirah in early 2012, more than three years later than originally planned, after securing US$115 million funding for the project. The property developer managed to raise the capital through Standard Chartered Bank, ending a long search for fresh finance. In early 2010, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts president Thomas Storey admitted that the Fairmont Palm Jumeirah would be delayed by the “financial challenges” that project partner IFA Hotels was suffering. According to the Palm Jumeirah website, the hotel was scheduled to open in 2009. Few Dubai Banks have shown interest in property ventures since 2008, when the global economic crisis sparked an industry crash in the emirate. The fallout saw several banks incurring huge losses after lending heavily to property developers. Many banks have since become more cautious about financing property developments. But IFA HR said Standard Chartered’s willingness to do business could signal a return to more flexible lending for construction projects, “This is the first new foreign-bank funding for a Dubai hotel real estate development we have seen in a very long time,” said Joe Sita, president of IFA HR’s investment arm IFA HI. “It is evidence of renewed confidence in the region and the industry and confirmation of ongoing confidence in the IFA Group and its projects on the Palm Jumeirah.” In a press statement, IFA said the announcement would surprise developers that were accustomed to rejection when approaching Dubai banks for finance. “In fact, executives at the Reuters Middle East Investment Summit agreed that financing for real estate projects in the country had all but dried up, stating that they didn’t see major real estate lending by banks happening anytime soon,” the statement said. “IFA HR’s US$115 million deal could indicate a faster recovery for the sector than expected." The company’s “record of producing successful mixed-use developments in the

world’s most sought-after destinations” was pivotal to securing the bank funding, the statement added. Standard Chartered Bank agreed to finance the Fairmont Palm Jumeirah’s ongoing development, having previously working with IFA HR. “Banks like ours are being judicious about arranging financings; we will only back projects, and ultimately companies, in which we believe all the necessary fundamentals are in place for a successful outcome,” said Paul Jurie, Standard Chartered’s global head of alternative investments. “The Fairmont Palm Jumeirah hotel is already well underway and is backed by a client with a successful track record, both in the region and in other parts of the world. Jurie added: “This is the second loan we have facilitated for the Group with the first being a US$165.9 million loan to finance The River by Thai developer Raimon Land, in which IFA HR is a major stakeholder. The 400-room Fairmont Palm Jumeirah will be the fifth project IFA HR has developed on Palm Jumeirah’s trunk. It is also behind

Fairmont Heritage Place, Kingdom of Sheba

the Palm Residence (Al Nabat & Al Haseer); the Al Shalal Beach Club; Golden Mile, Palm Jumeriah and The Residences; and Kingdom of Sheba on the Palm’s crescent. Elsewhere in Dubai, IFA HR is developing Laguna Tower, a mixed-use tower comprising the Mövenpick Hotel & Residence, condominiums, a private residence club and loft and duplex apartments. /9

NEWS / UPDATE

XL Events wins big at Eventia Awards

A British events company has been named technical supplier of the year at an industry awards ceremony in London. XL Events won the accolade at the Eventia

Awards following a successful 2010 in which the company signed up high-proﬁle clients, including ITV and the Central Ofﬁce of Information.

Medical tourism chiefs target Middle East Medical tourism markets are targeting patients from the Middle East that annually spend billions of dollars on surgery, a recent report has found. Consulting ﬁrm Frost and Sullivan said that the UAE alone accounts for US$2 billion of the industry’s annual revenue. The sector was growing 20-30 percent each year and would be

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worth $100 billion by 2012, the report added. Latest ﬁgures show that more than three million patients travel the world for medical care, spending a combined $78.5 billion every year. Countries hoping to attract patients from the Middle East include Germany, Thailand, India and Malaysia.

Participants vying for the award had to discuss in-depth how they provided technical support for three big events. XL Events talked about delivering a large-scale HD projection system for an 18-metre wide by 10-metre high screen at the National TV Awards. Other examples included projecting images onto a large, book-shaped statue at the Financial Services Roadshow for a UK bank, and providing holographic systems and projectors during Samsung’s Corby mobile phone launch at the Milan Fashion Show. The presentations were assessed by a panel of 14 independent event industry professionals, including organisers, agencies and experts.

Speaking at the awards, Eventia chairman Mark Saxby said: “This year’s ﬁnalists and winners have set new standards of excellence and serve as testimony to the energy and enthusiasm that is currently driving face-to-face communication to the forefront of marketing strategies.” The awards show attracted 800 events industry professionals and was hosted by BBC Breakfast regulars Bill Turnbull and Sian Williams at the Park Lane Hilton Hotel in London. XL Events services a huge variety of events and has an extensive inventory of video, LED, Camera Systems, audio and lighting equipment, plus a strong team of project managers, technicians and engineers.

Seoul searching for top industry talent South Korean capital Seoul faces an uphill struggle in ﬁnding talented graduates and skilled workers for its meetings and tourism sectors, according to industry representatives. Even with leading industry technology and extensive exhibition and conference ﬂoor space at its disposal, Seoul is constantly battling to attract the best talent, Seoul Tourism Organization’s CEO Samuel Koo has admitted. Speaking at the Korea MICE Expo 2010, Koo said luring “trained professionals who cover international marketing and who are comfortable in an international setting with communication skills” was a big challenge. “There is a shortage and it will get worse before it gets better,” he added. “There is competition

regionally and nationally with other tourism organisations and our wages are not up to Korea's premier industry standards, so there is added difﬁculty in attracting talented people.” A lack of hotel rooms throughout the heavily congested city was also hampering Seoul’s meetings and exhibitions industry, according to Koo. The tourism chief said the city’s 25,000 rooms were often ﬁlled throughout the year, with hotels even reporting strong numbers last November – a traditionally slow month – due to the G20 Summit. But he added that the problem would be alleviated to some extent when a further 15,000 rooms throughout the city came online in 2011.

Visitors to cash-in at Las Vegas events Staging two major meetings exhibitions in Las Vegas this October will allow attendees at either show to schedule more appointments than usual, events organiser IMEX America has claimed. The inaugural IMEX America show is scheduled to take place from October 11-13, with the Site International conference running from October 13-15. Prior to both shows, Site Nite North America will be held on October 10. Ray Bloom, IMEX chairman, said the agreement with industry association Site to host both events close together would beneﬁt delegates attending either conference in the city. "Co-locating the Site International Conference in Las Vegas [this] year means that our exhibitors will be able to meet and make appointments with highly-qualified and motivated Site member buyers from North America and other world countries." The decision to co-host the events was made at the Site International Conference in Cape Town last year.

700

members attended last year's SITE conference

Mary MacGregor, 2011 Site president and business development manager, said staging the conferences together in Las Vegas was a natural ﬁt for both parties. “Site has a long-term, highlevel partnership with IMEX. Our vision in these challenging times is to hold our events where attendees can minimise their

Flydubai launches Saudi service Budget carrier flydubai has increased its route network to 29 after launching flights to Saudi Arabian city Yanbu. Dubai’s low-cost airline introduced the six-weekly service on January 7 to satisfy increased demand for flights to the Kingdom. Ghaith Al Ghaith, flydubai CEO, said flights to Yanbu, an industrial city located on the Red Sea coast north of Jeddah, would strengthen relations between the UAE and Saudi Arabia. “As a key business destination in the region, frequent flights to the Kingdom will help foster

business connections and as such we foresee a lot of travellers coming to the UAE to conduct business and vice-versa,” the budget airline chief added. The Yanbu service is one of several new launches in recent

months. In late 2010, flydubai introduced flights to Armenian capital Yerevan, Abha in Saudi Arabia, Sulaimaniyah in Iraq and Turkmen capital Ashgabat. “These four services perfectly illustrate what flydubai is all about; opening up new markets for passengers in Dubai, while also offering affordable travel to the UAE for people around the region,” Al Ghaith said “To add another route so soon after beginning flights to four new destinations, further demonstrates the phenomenal growth of flydubai.”

costs and maximize their education, networking and ROI. It is perfect synergy to hold our event at the conclusion of this exciting new industry-wide gathering,” she added. The annual Site conference is a networking event that usually attracts 700 international members from 35 countries.

BSL targets Middle East Event management company BSL is hoping to secure more business in the Middle East this year after opening its Abu Dhabi office last May. The business, which celebrates its 25th year in the sector, established a regional base having handled VIP transportation for the 2009 F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. During the Grand Prix, BSL managed transportation of 15,000 VIPs to Yas Marina Circuit. It also oversaw hospitality and operational logistics for two ﬁnancial institutions. / 11

NEWS / PREVIEW

UAE ideal spot for budget hoteliers

U2 to play in Baltimore during first AIBTM Irish rock legends U2 are set to light up Baltimore this year after announcing a tour date in the city during the inaugural AIBTM. Global events organiser Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) has revealed that more than 1,000 tickets will be available to hosted buyers and exhibitors attending its first meetings and incentives show in America. Several promotions will be held to distribute tickets for the concert, taking place on June 22 at the M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore as part of the Irish band’s worldwide 360° Tour. Florence and The Machine and other guests will also perform on the night, RTE confirmed. “We believe this exciting announcement is a first for the meetings industry; it takes our networking events to a new level, and of course it also gives our stakeholders a chance to see an extraordinary live concert created at the stadium in downtown Baltimore,” said AIBTM project manager Steve Knight. “Using theatrical stage creations that include a cylindrical 12 /

video system of interlocking LED panels, a steel structure rising 150 ft from the floor over a massive stage with rotating bridges – a real 360 degree event experience – this concert really will give all those involved in staging live events a first-hand experience of a lifetime.” Tourism authority Visit Baltimore and RTE will be hosting the first AIBTM from June 21-23. It will be the first time international meetings and events industry players have congregated in North America for one of RTE’s meetings and incentives shows. Networking events and business and education programmes will be held during the show. “Not only will visitors be able to experience Baltimore’s topnotch convention package while in town for AIBTM but they will see first-hand how convenient our downtown stadiums truly are, while taking part in one of the most popular rock band tours to take place in the City,” said Tom Noonan, president and CEO of Visit Baltimore.

The UAE is a prime spot for more budget hotels as rapidly expanding low-cost carriers continue to bring more visitors to the region, analysts have claimed. Rob O’Hanlon, partner for the tourism, hotel and leisure industry at Deloitte in the Middle East, told The National newspaper that the growth in stopover traffic among airline passengers also warranted more budget accommodation. “We will see more traffic coming through this market. Provided we're able to capture it there's business to be had,” he said.

The Gulf is showing signs of following the European trend where travellers hop on ﬂights and take several short-breaks each year. And hotel chains in Dubai are looking to capitalise, having launched budget properties in the emirate. Among them, easyHotel, Premier Inn and Holiday Inn Express opened Dubai properties last year. While currently undersupplied, Abu Dhabi has two Premier Inn hotels planned including one at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel to open fully in first quarter

The Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel, Staywell Hospitality Group’s newest Dubai property has completed its soft opening following a recent cocktail reception to mark the event. Scheduled to be fully-operational by mid-February, the 392room hotel is ideal for business and leisure travellers, according to Asian-paciﬁc hotel management group Staywell.

“The soft opening of Park Regis Kris Kin Hotel Dubai marks an excellent addition to our portfolio of 24 hotels,'' said the property's general manager Scott Butcher. “Like our other properties in Asia this stylish brand new hotel has been designed to suit the local tourism culture while also bringing Australian hospitality to the region,” he added.

ADNEC targets North America Venue owner looking to bring US corporations to Abu Dhabi ADNEC, the Gulf´s biggest exhibition venue, is looking to attract US corporate meetings and associations to the UAE after signing an agreement with Marketing Challenges International (MCI), a destinations promoter. The partnership will see MCI marketing Abu Dhabi on ADNEC's behalf as a meetings and exhibitions venue to North American buyers and associations. During a press conference at EIBTM to announce the deal, ADNEC sales and marketing director Christina Anthony insisted she “had no doubt whatsoever” that the North American market would be keen to stage events in the UAE capital. “We will continue to push for US business throughout next year and will be participating at major American meetings and industry exhibitions including AIBTM and IMEX across the US and Canada,” she added. Anthony also said that meetings with buyers in New York, Chicago and Washington had already been arranged. Plans to tap Asian and Far East markets have been mooted, although ADNEC said it would concentrate on developing business with the US before targeting other regions. “We see that [Asia] as an equally important market, but we are still only ﬁve years old so it´s one step at a time,” Anthony said. “We have established a very good core and base of business in Abu Dhabi and are now reaching out to the rest of the world. This is the ﬁrst such appointment of this kind, but there will be others.”

M¡chel Couturier, president of MCI, said US companies were looking at generating further business and staging more events in overseas markets, despite the tough economic conditions still plaguing North America. “Associations and corporations have to deal with the global world. On the association side, there are two ways to develop – one is through membership overseas and two is to market their knowledge, again overseas. We went through a crisis like 9/11, but for 2008 and 2009 our associations market going overseas has grown each year,” he said.

Couturier added that the plans of coffee chain Starbucks to open hundreds of outlets in America and across other regions next year was indicative of US corporations´ push to expand internationally. “An interesting indicator of what´s happening in the US, Starbucks in 2008-09 closed hundreds of stores there, but next year they are doubling the number in the US and around the world,” he said. “They have closed in Las Vegas over 50 stores in the past two or three years, but will open another 100 new stores in the US and 400 overseas stores next year. It´s an indication of how corporations and associations view overseas markets.” Opened in February 2007, ADNEC is the Gulf´s largest exhibition centre with 73,000 square metres of exhibition space, 20,000 square metres of outdoor water space, and conference, banquet and meeting space. In 2008, ADNEC acquired London-based exhibition venue Excel for Dhs2.3 billion as part of Abu Dhabi government´s strategy to build a global network of event venues. Last year, the venue staged 119 events. / 13

NEWS / PREVIEW

Hilton Seychelles to open in March Hilton Worldwide has announced it will open a new property in the Seychelles this March after signing a management agreement with Silhouette Island Resort. The 111-villa Hilton Seychelles LaBriz Resort & Spa will be the hotel chain’s second property in the tropical islands. It will feature five restaurants, leisure activites and various relaxation facilities, including a fitness centre, tennis court, swimming pool, snorkelling and fishing. Renovation work to develop the property – which is a 30-minute boat ride or 15 minute helicopter transfer from Seychelles International Airport – into a Hilton Hotels & Resort hotel has taken place in recent months. The

hotel is located on Silhouette, the third-largest island in the Seychelles and a marine national park that is considered one of the Indian Ocean’s most treasured sanctuaries. Attractions include the Grand Tortoise Sanctuary and Mount Dauban. “We are pleased to enter this partnership for Hilton Seychelles LaBriz Resort & Spa; our second Hilton branded property joining Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa. Seychelles is a very important leisure destination and an emerging market for Hilton Worldwide and the Hilton Brand in the Indian Ocean,” said Essam Abouda, Hilton’s vice president of operations for the Arabian Peninsula and Indian Ocean.

Big demand for Thai trade show Several exhibitors appearing at last year’s IT&CMA and CTW exhibition have already conﬁrmed attendance for the 2011 show in Bangkok, the event organiser has claimed. TTG Asia Media said that MICE bureaus and suppliers from across the world had signed up for the meetings and incentives industry show, which takes place this October, after generating strong business leads at the previous event.

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According to post-event feedback, more than 90 percent of exhibitors were optimistic about turning interest from the show into orders during the next six to 12 months. And more than half of those said they expected orders to range from US$250,000 to above $500,000. Some 95 percent of buyers and corporate travel managers at the 2010 show said they were satisﬁed with the event, TTG Asia Media added.

During last year’s threeday exhibition, 13,000 business appointments between 304 exhibitors and 483 buyers and corporate players took place. “This figure does not include the other business leads and opportunities that our delegates realised during the many official networking functions,” said Darren Ng, managing director of TTG Asia Media. Companies already signed up for this year’s exhibition include the Brunei Tourism Development Department, Dusit International, Egyptian Tourism Office, Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau and Ministry of Culture & Tourism Republic of Indonesia. Hard Rock Hotels and Starwood Hotels and Resorts have both confirmed they will appear for the first time at the IT&CMA and CTW event in 2011.

Airlines to hit profit this year Middle East airline profits will be down $300 million this year compared to 2010 as the industry’s growth rate continues to slow, according to IATA. But the International Air Transport Association added that Middle East airlines would remain the world’s fastest growing carriers, despite an expected profit drop from the $700 million forecast for 2010. “[The Middle East] will be the fastest growing region in both 2010 and 2011. But the pace of demand growth will halve from 21.5 percent in 2010 to 10.5 percent in 2011,” IATA said. All other regions would suffer a substantial profit drop in 2011, arising from less air travel demand amid ongoing global economic turmoil.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS JANUARY 2011

MOROCCO TRAVEL MARKET

Marrakech Palais Des Congres Marrakech, MOROCCO January 12, 2011 FITUR

Feria de Madrid Madrid, SPAIN January 19-23, 2011

FEBRUARY

EMITT – EAST MEDITERRANEAN TOURISM & TRAVEL EXHIBITION

Tuyap Beylikduzu Istanbul, TURKEY February 10-13, 2011 AIME

Melbourne Exhibition Centre Melbourne, AUSTRALIA February 15-16, 2011

MARCH ITB

Messe Berlin Berlin, GERMANY March 9-13, 2011 MOSCOW INTERNATIONAL MICE FORUM

T-Modul Exhibition Hall Moscow, RUSSIA March 15, 2011

EMIF – EUROPEAN MEETINGS INDUSTRY FAIR

Brussels Expo Brussels, BELGIUM March 15-16, 2011

AUGUST

GIBTM

Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre Abu Dhabi, UAE March 28-30, 2011

CIBTM

China National Convention Centre, Beijing, CHINA August 31-September 2, 2011

APRIL

SEPTEMBER

INTEX Shanghai Shanghai, CHINA April 13-15, 2011

New Delhi, INDIA September 14-17, 2011

PATA TRAVEL MART

IT&CM

IFTM TOP RESA

Paris Porte de Versailles, Paris, FRANCE September 20-23, 2011

PALME MIDDLE EAST 2011

Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre Dubai, UAE April 26-28, 2011

OCTOBER

ITB ASIA

MAY

Suntec Singapore, SINGAPORE October 19-21, 2011

ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET

Dubai International Exhibition Centre Dubai, UAE May 2-5, 2011 BITE

Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre Manama, BAHRAIN May 12-14, 2011

IMEX AMERICA

JUNE

ITE HONG KONG

Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre, CHINA June 9-12, 2011

OMAN TRAVEL MARKET

ASIA LUXURY TRAVEL MART (ALTM)

Oman International Exhibition Centre Muscat, OMAN May 16-18, 2011

Shanghai International Convention Centre Shanghai, CHINA June 13-16, 2011

IMEX

AIBTM

Messe Frankfurt Frankfurt, GERMANY May 24-26, 2011

Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, USA June 21-23, 2011

Venetian/Palazzo Hotel Las Vegas, USA October 11-13, 2011 IMEX AMERICA

Site International Conference Las Vegas, USA October 13-15, 2011 50TH ICCA CONGRESS

Congress Center Leipzig Lipzig, GERMANY October 24-26, 2011

NOVEMBER EIBTM

Fira Gran Vira Barcelona, SPAIN November 29-December 1, 2011

MITT – MOSCOW INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL & TOURISM EXHIBITION

Expocentre Fairgrounds Moscow, RUSSIA March 16-19, 2011

UITT – UKRAINE INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL & TOURISM EXHIBITION

Kiev, UKRAINE March 23-25, 2011

SAUDI TRAVEL AND TOURISM INVESTMENT MARKET (STTIM)

Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA March 27-31, 2011

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ANALYSIS / TEMPORARY VENUES

A lack of permanent venues in the Gulf, coupled with an increase in entertainment

BRINGING

DOWN HOUSE THE

When British explorer Wilfred Thesiger returned to the UAE in 2000 to pick up a recognition award for living with Bedouin tribes some 50 years earlier, he was aghast at the number of modern roads and buildings constructed following the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s oil boom. Thesiger was used to spending his days roaming a vast desert, pitching a tent come nightfall and settling with his companions in their makeshift home. So, to see a once desolate landscape populated with towering skyscrapers, glitzy hotels and six-lane freeways upon his return was clearly a shock. But despite his reservations, Thesiger may have taken heart from the rise of a meetings industry market that befits his nomadic lifestyle. As an alternative to fixed meetings spaces in hotels and conference centres, temporary venues would surely prove more appealing to the British explorer if he were alive today. Boasting similar traits to mobile Bedouin habitats, tents and marquees are raised to host specific events before being disassembled hours later when the last reveller has gone home.

16 /

and incentivised events, has sparked a surge in demand for temporary venue suppliers. While likely to appease an old adventurer, temporary venues have also proved popular among sports, entertainment and cultural event organisers since their emergence in the Middle East. In particular, demand for ﬂexible structures that can hold up to 20,000 people has soared during the past three years. And it’s not just tents and marquees that are sparking interest. Contemporary designed canopies along with temporary grandstands for major golf tournaments and makeshift stages, where some of the world’s most famous musicians perform, also feature regularly in this region. Suppliers and event organisers say the advantages of using these structures over permanent ﬁxtures for corporate gigs are manifold, with individual events able to take place in settings tailored to a client’s requirements. Large hotels with permanent meeting and conference halls are also raising temporary venues for various outdoor events, such as Ramadan, weddings, concerts and televised football matches. While Abu Dhabi and Dubai have many ballrooms to complement their respective exhibition centres, mediumsized outdoor venues remain in short supply, particularly between October and March when cool temperatures provide the ideal clime for al fresco leisure pursuits.

Left: Harlequin creates venue spaces for outdoor events Below: Fans gather to watch World Cup 2010 matches at the Barasti beach stadium

20,000

total capacity of some temporary venues

/ 17

ANALYSIS / TEMPORARY VENUES

Abu Dhabi Corniche is a great place to hold corporate and leisure parties and a wonderful experience for those who attend; we can errect a structure, remove it the next day and people have their beach back _ Alistair McDonald, director of Wicked Tents

2007

The year that Wicked Tents was launched

18 /

“There are many advantages [to having temporary venues] and a major factor is that permanent ones would often cost more,” says Alistair McDonald, director of Wicked Tents, which has developed flexible structures since its launch in 2007. “An example of how temporary events work best, the Abu Dhabi Corniche is a great place to hold corporate and leisure parties and a wonderful experience for those who attend; we can erect a structure and then remove it the next day and people have their beach back. If we make a temporary venue, it’s cheaper to rent off us than build a permanent venue and we can also relocate at short notice.” Last year, Wicked Tents worked on 10 to 15 projects each month, including the Tribeca Film Festival in Doha and Abu Dhabi Art, both of which made use of outdoor facilities. Equally popular for leisure visitors and incentive groups, such events often provide a mix of permanent and temporary spaces, making the most of the venue’s fixed facilities while offering flexible areas for guests and artists. “If you organise the Abu Dhabi FIFA Club World Cup football tournament, for example, you have two beautiful stadiums, but they need additional facilities for hospitality, media and first aid, so we can enhance what is already there,” adds McDonald. During the Abu Dhabi Art fair held at Emirates Palace hotel last November, 50 art galleries from around the world were housed inside the hotel. Meanwhile, a terrace leading to the beach held temporary venues for design studios and VIP lounges. “We did all of the temporary structures for Abu Dhabi Art including the design studios, power, air conditioning, tents, floors and fit out – the complete job – as well as the VIP majlis,” McDonald says.

Top left: A social event for Doha Tribeca Film Festival Top right: Holding corporate gigs beneath the Burj Khalifa

“Most of the clients we deal with take care of the overall holistic look and we provide tents, canopies, ﬂooring, interior design and landscaping. The only thing we don’t do is the entertainment,” he adds. “In 2010, for instance, we built the Barasti beach stadium for the FIFA World Cup, and we also built Jumeirah Beach Hotel’s Ramadan tent – two different events that had completely different settings for leisure and corporate guests. “At the same time we built the Festival City [Dubai shopping mall] World Cup venue, involving two domes for Arab audiences with Arabic commentary and no alcohol.” Aside from the World Cup and Ramadan, Wicked Tents also worked on the Tribeca Film Festival in Doha and developed outdoor venues for the Dubai International Film Festival. “We did the VIP lounge for Tribeca, a 1,500 square metre venue for organisers, press and DJ events and it was consistently changing because it was being used every night so there were always different themes,” says McDonald. “For this, we used a saddle-span structure and a tri-span structure, which involves putting three tents together and creating a unique shape with a customised window looking onto the beach.” Wicked Tents usually works independently, but occasionally partners with other companies when involved in major events like the Tribeca Film Festival. Other businesses that worked on the show included Dutch ﬁrm De Boer and the UAE’s Al Laith Scaffolding. “We get appointed by Tribeca and work on our own project, but we all work together in some ways and make every effort to ensure everything runs well,” McDonald says. “We also work with companies from all over the world to source our equipment, including ones in Canada, Germany and Italy.”

1,500

square metre venue used for Tribeca Film Festival

One of the fastest growing destinations for large-scale shows in the Gulf, Abu Dhabi has hosted temporary events for corporate professionals at Yas Island, home to the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Elsewhere, seven-star hotel Emirates Palace has become a popular venue to stage concerts for world famous musicians like Elton John, Bon Jovi and Christina Aguilera. “We always play host to a variety of events in our outdoor areas, the largest of which is West Park where we can accommodate up to 20,000 at our concerts,” Hazem Harfoush, assistant director of marketing at Emirates Palace, says. “We will have a deal with the company organising the event and the area is then theirs. They put up the venue as they wish and deal separately with the suppliers. Harfoush says the hotel has no trouble attracting event organisers that appreciate the ‘perfect surroundings, well-equipped hotel facilities and spacious open areas with terriﬁc scenery’. “Parking is feasible and there is no trafﬁc to deal with, which plays a big role and we often sell out these events,” he adds. / 19

ANALYSIS / TEMPORARY VENUES

Top: More UAE companies are holding al fresco events Below: Corporate venue for Abu Dhabi Golf Championship

As one of the oldest suppliers of temporary events in the UAE, Harlequin Marquees and Event Services provides structures for several sectors. Typical events the company works on range from sports, music, media, conferences and exhibitions to corporate product launches and royal and private parties. “The structures we build range from 3m x 3m canopies to venues requiring 15,000 sq m of structural space,” says Camilla Quinn, client services manager at Harlequin. “We also provide the interior ﬁt out and design, furniture rental and air conditioning for our structures and other venues.” Since launching in the UAE 12 years ago, Harlequin has expanded its operation across the Middle East with particular focus on Abu Dhabi. “The UAE has some fabulous outside areas, from parks to hotel lawns to the desert, and there are so many perfect spaces for building temporary structures on, enabling clients to capture whatever backdrop they want for their events,” Quinn adds. “Organisers of larger events are looking to come to the region – sporting events and concerts particularly – which is increasing the demand for the larger structures and event offerings. It is an exciting time right now in the Middle East.” 20 /

Flexibility has helped make temporary venues more popular among event planners in the Middle East, according to industry insiders. They also cite suppliers’ ability to offer complete ﬁt-outs as a contributing factor to increased appeal in non-permanent structures; a trend that Harlequin can conﬁrm, having seen demand for its design, furniture and carpeting services rise in recent years. “Often in permanent venues, there is a minimum spend or a venue hire fee which means before you even begin to put the event together you have already spent some of your budget,” Quinn adds. “Building your own bespoke venue in the size and shape which suits your particular event could potentially cost more, but then your venue meets your expectations 100 percent.

2000

Harlequin has built temporary venues since the Millennium

ANALYSIS / TEMPORARY VENUES

Right: The ‘drum’, built for a Qatar oil industry event

Using a temporary venue enables clients to start with a blank canvas, to create a theme or a unique event tailor-made to their requirements. Clients can start from scratch and build up _ Camilla Quinn, client services manager at Harlequin

“Using a temporary venue enables clients to start with a blank canvas, to create a theme or a unique event tailor-made to their requirements. Many event venues around the UAE already have an architect’s design or an interior designer’s vision, which forms part of the permanent venue. By using temporary venues, clients can start from scratch and build up.” Large-scale corporate and leisure events that Harlequin has worked on include the Abu Dhabi Golf Championships, Al Ain Air Show and Dubai International Jazz Festival. “The structures which we can provide encompass anywhere between six people relaxing in our 3m x 3m canopy up to more than 3,000 people for cocktail receptions in our largest structures,” Quinn says. Each event Harlequin is involved in requires meeting strict safety rules to ensure everything runs smoothly. “Harlequin adheres 100 percent to European safety standards and practices and our operations team is fully qualiﬁed, with all members receiving regular training,” Quinn adds. “All our events are risk assessed beforehand and a full health and safety assessment is conducted.” Having successfully staged several events in temporary venues during 2010, the UAE and wider Gulf is gearing up to host many more this year. And temporary venue suppliers that proved themselves to be ﬂexible and innovative during the past 12 months will once again be the industry’s driving force. }

STAGECO BUILDS ROYAL DRUM IN MIDDLE EAST In December 2010, temporary structures company Stageco constructed ‘The Drum’, for one of Qatar oil and gas industry’s biggest events. The event, organised by WRG Qatar LLC in Ras Laffan Industrial City, was held to honour three Qatari industry leaders that broke Middle Eastern records by jointly producing 77 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas. Qatar Petroleum, Qatargas and RasGas were recognised for their landmark achievement during a ceremony organised by 77 Mta Task Force. Event management was carried out by WRG, which handled creative input, production, branding, catering, entertainment and video content. The 57 metre wide and 20 metre high venue, designed to look like an LNG tank, was constructed by event engineering specialist Stageco. The company designed and manufactured building parts used to create a structure with a rigging capacity of 35 tonnes. A 1,200-seater auditorium, deep water stage reaching 16 metres in depth in places and 360 degree screen measuring 180m x 9m was built. A crew of 18 Stageco professionals, led by Dirk De Decker, overcame several logistical and development challenges to complete the structure in 10 days. “While standards were high throughout, we’ve created an innovatively designed temporary event venue, keeping to challenging time schedules. I’m delighted with the outcome,” De Decker said.

22 /

ADVERTORIAL / BYRNE

NO FIXED ABODE

Duncan Archer, projects and events division manager for Byrne Equipment Rental, on the rising popularity of temporary venues. Byrne Equipment Rental is one of the largest and longest established rental companies operating in the Gulf region. The growth of the leisure, sport and tourism industries here has developed a need for individual and tailor-made services to make each event more extravagant and memorable than the last. By meeting this need, the company’s projects and events division has grown to become a key part of the overall business, and is continuing to expand its products and services. The customers of this division cover a range of regional sporting and entertainment events that take place annually. These include anything from golf tournaments to horse racing, tennis and motorsport events, not to mention the growing number of music concerts, local cultural festivals and exhibitions. Whether it is temporary power, toilet facilities, ofﬁces, changing rooms, grandstand seating, lighting or security fencing that is needed, Byrne’s projects and events division provides turn-key solutions to each and every demand. From the initial layout and site-design advice to delivering a venue that any event organiser can be proud of, we remain the only company to provide a one-stop-shop facility.

What typical events do you work on? Any event can require a temporary venue, from an international concert or sporting occasion to a large corporate event or exhibition. We were able to offer turn-key solutions to both the Dubai Desert Classic and the Dubai Ladies Masters golf tournaments by assisting with the initial layout and site-design, as well as supplying all generators, cabins, VIP ablution units, temporary accommodation and grandstand seating for both. What advantages do temporary venues have V]LY Ä_LK SVJH[PVUZ& There are many advantages that event organisers now recognise when opting for a temporary structure over a permanent building; time and cost effectiveness are just two of them. The modular design of a temporary venue can accommodate the most resilient of facilities with versatile designs of a highly innovative standard. They can be customised with glass panels, mezzanine floors and various external finishes to name but a few. Whatever the size, height or space required; the structure can be constructed to offer a tailor made solution to the requirement.

How has demand for your temporary venue equipment supply services changed in recent years? Over the years the clients have become more demanding. They either know exactly what they are looking for or need a solution that fits their requirements. Different types of temporary structures are required; one minute a structure could accommodate wardrobes and the next day it can be a changing room. In general, the quality of finish has improved each year, as have important issues such as fire safety with all of our buildings now being constructed using non-flammable materials. Do you have any product launches lined up in the coming year? Product wise we have just taken delivery of portable buildings designed specifically for use in supporting the film industry. We also recently took delivery of trailer mounted/towable high class ablution blocks, and have recently ordered large chiller units. All should be available soon. >OH[ HYL `V\Y L_WLJ[H[PVUZ MVY [OL [LTWVYHY` ]LU\L market in 2011 and what plans do you have in store? We expect continued growth in the temporary venue market with standards rising considerably; better utilisation of our fleet and service offering is also expected. We have maintained a number of close working relationships that have developed over time. The level of customer service we provide is second-to-none, with one point of contact for all required rental needs, and a 24-hour call centre (ensuring a backup service) that remains unmatched in the market today.

Contact Information: Duncan Archer Projects and Events Division Manager Byrne Equipment Rental Tel: 043 814100/ 050 4553460 Email: duncan@byrnerental.com Web: www.byrnerental.com

COMMENT

STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT Sue Hocking, director of sales for the Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), tells Meetme how the state’s meetings industry can capitalise on a successful World Cup 2022 bid.

What’s your reaction to Qatar’s successful 2022 World Cup bid? It’s going to put Qatar on the map. Hosting the Asian Games in 2006 did that to some extent but the World Cup in 2022 is a much higher proﬁle event and I think everyone in the world now knows where Qatar is. It is good for us because the destination was still sort of unknown before the bid. Critics say Qatar is too hot to stage a World Cup and it doesn’t have the right infrastructure. What’s your response? I am sure the infrastructure is something that will be addressed, so I have no doubt at all that the infrastructure needed for the World Cup will be in place. I really can’t see the authorities here allowing any kind of hitch at the event in 2022 – I can’t imagine it won’t be ﬁrst class. The criticism we are hearing is hearsay from people who don’t live here and don’t know how well Qatar does things.

brought Qatar to their attention. There hasn’t been a dedicated convention centre in the city and associations traditionally go through a convention centre rather than a hotel. That’s partly because more often than not there are tradeshows or exhibitions involving 1,000 to 2,000 people and 20,000 square metres of space, which the hotels here don’t have space for. There hasn’t been the facility in Qatar for people to meet here. How will QNCC and further hotel developments in the state change this? With the additional hotels that are going to be created it can only help us, especially with two planned at the Education City site adjacent to the QNCC.

How will QNCC tap into the successful bid? The country hosts a lot of international meetings and until now there hasn’t been a dedicated convention centre. We are already seeing the impact in the local community with a buoyant feeling from local businesses. From the QNCC side, we have the opportunity to capitalise on that euphoria and target some of the sporting conventions taking place around the world. We certainly have opportunities to research and work on. It’s the conferences associated in sports, particularly football, that we’re looking at, as well as other sports because the whole world is looking at Qatar. We’ll certainly use the World Cup bid as part of our strategy. Has QNCC held talks with any sporting associations about holding events in Qatar? It’s too early. Since the World Cup bid we haven’t moved forward too much and we are still doing research, which usually takes a long time. It involves targeting and ﬁnding the right person, setting up meetings and so on.

What impact will the successful World Cup bid have on the country’s meetings industry? Internationally, it will increase Qatar’s proﬁle. Some international meetings have been held here, but the international associations market hasn’t held a lot of their meetings in Qatar and that’s what we are focusing on primarily.

Have any associations or meetings planners expressed an interest in staging events in Qatar since the bid? Not that I am aware of. No one has stated that, but we are certainly feeling the excitement in the local community, which is great.

Why haven’t international associations previously looked at Qatar? No one has really worked on the associations market for Qatar before QNCC was here (the convention centre is set to open this year). There wasn’t the awareness because no one

How about interest from parties and associations in the Middle East, has anything happened there? There aren’t that many regional meetings operated in the Middle East but we have had interest from people we’ve spoken to. Again, most of them haven’t been here so we are

24 /

educating them on how they can run their meetings here. We’re also showing how we can assist them by putting them in touch with the right people and introducing them to the hotels if we need to. It’s about going the extra mile to make organising meetings here so much easier. So there is interest from various parties but nothing concrete to announce? There are some deals, but we can’t announce them yet. As we get towards June and July this year, we’ll start announcing the meetings that we have booked already. How many conferences and exhibitions will QNCC hold in 2011? We still have new bookings coming in, but the first major event is the World Petroleum Congress, which is taking place in the first week of December 2011. That will attract about 5,000 delegates and it will require 40,000 square metres of exhibition space. It is a major event for this country. The World Petroleum Congress has been going for 74 years and this will be the 20th event as it’s held every four years; it’s never been held in the Middle East, which I find remarkable.

What general developments are taking place in the coming years? There are plans for an extra 80,000 hotel rooms for the World Cup. The event is a long way off, but building work will start now. There will also be shopping malls and a metro train system opened by 2018, which is a big thing for Qatar because there isn’t a good public transport system. The new airport is opening in 2012 and Qatar Airways is continually expanding their routes around the world, so all of these things

WE’LL CERTAINLY USE THE WORLD CUP BID AS PART OF OUR STRATEGY

are great for us. Access is one of the biggest things that meeting planners and association executives look for and they typically ask, ‘can we fly there directly?’ Qatar Airways currently flies to around 100 destinations, so we’re very well off as far as air travel access goes. How does Qatar’s meetings industry compare to those in other Gulf states? It’s still growing here and the region is really dominated by Dubai, Israel, Cairo, Morocco and Abu Dhabi. But with the work that we are doing and business we are targeting, we are definitely aiming to change that in the next five years. We want to be in the top three for this region. I have been working here for two years and I see the interest we get. We attend tradeshows overseas as well as ones like GIBTM in Abu Dhabi and there is a lot of interest in Qatar. There are a lot of meetings around the world that haven’t been held in this region, while ones that have been were generally held in Dubai. When people are here, you know you’re in the Middle East and some of those other cities I mentioned are like any other big city. Qatar retains the Middle Eastern feel, which makes it appealing. } / 25

ANALYSIS / GREEN EXHIBITIONS

Despite an unwarranted reputation for eschewing the environment, the Middle East’s tourism and meetings industry is proving to be the driving force behind the region’s carbonconscious outlook. By Adrian Murphy.

Not traditionally known for its eco-friendly practices, the Middle East has often been criticised for putting rapid construction and development ahead of environmental preservation. Unspoiled desert landscapes have given way to bustling cities featuring towering skyscrapers, huge shopping malls and fivestar hotels following years of heavy investment. With more leisure and business hotels scheduled to come online in the coming years, the region’s commitment to the environment remains in question. Given the findings from an industry report — compiled by Sally Greenhill from conference and events facilities specialist, The Right Solution, and NPI Publishing — the critics’ collective scepticism is hardly surprising. The research, released during GIBTM in 2009, revealed that buyers were less concerned about corporate social responsibility and environmental issues during the global economic downturn. Of the 258 buyers surveyed (mostly from the Middle East), 71 percent said that decision makers were influenced by green issues, down from 79 percent in 2008. With a new report expected this March, it remains to be seen whether Middle Eastern buyers’ views on the environment have changed. What is certain, however, is that this region’s tourism industry is continuing its green agenda push. Attempts to boost the region’s carbon-conscious image have been made, with Abu Dhabi playing host to the World Green Tourism (WGT) exhibition last November. The event, held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), was attended by industry professionals looking to share their thoughts on green initiatives. They were joined by more than 50 speakers, including international sustainability experts, tourism ministers authority heads and UN representatives.

ANALYSIS / GREEN EXHIBITIONS

The exhibition provided a platform for Abu Dhabi government to showcase two core values of its 2030 plan, tourism – as a key to economic diversification – and environmental sustainability. So where better to host the event than a carbon-conscious conference centre that welcomes international travellers from far and wide? Developed to host corporate events, exhibitions and concerts, ADNEC has already proven its green credentials by winning the Green Award at the 2010 Middle East Events Awards. Further showcasing the venue’s carbon-conscious approach, a 15-member Environmental Task Force comprising representatives from several departments within the company has been established. The team was formed to push through new initiatives aimed at reducing the venue’s environmental impact, according to Humaid Al Dhaheri, ADNEC’s director of finance and HR. “ADNEC has been at the forefront of the ongoing development of the events industry in Abu Dhabi and we are determined to ensure our leadership role extends to areas of sustainability and social responsibility,” he says. “Awards that recognise our ‘green’ credentials are particularly significant for us, illustrating the exhibition centre’s commitment to Abu Dhabi’s 2030 vision, which places sustainability at the very heart of the development agenda. ADNEC’s initiatives continue to draw industry acclaim not only regionally but also internationally, providing us the inspiration to reach further in raising industry standards and pioneering best practices.” The venue’s 2009 recycling push adds weight to Al Dhaheri’s claims. Last year, ADNEC recycled 91.9 tonnes of cardboard cartons, 609 kg of plastic and 52 kg of cans. In context, these figures equate to conserving 1,564 trees and limiting oil and water consumption by 34,960 and 644,000 gallons respectively. Such measures would also reduce energy usage by 368,000 kilowatts and preserve 276 cubic yards of landfill space. Another measure proving ADNEC’s commitment to environmentally-friendly practices involves installing 560 solar panels at the Aloft Abu Dhabi hotel, which is connected to the exhibition centre. Some 90 percent of the hotel’s hot water is generated through panels that absorb energy from the sun. It is estimated that this helps save about 870 megawatts hours of electricity annually. Over at the under-construction Capital Gate, which lies adjacent to the exhibition centre, a double-glazed façade is being built on the upper floors. The tower will also have low emissivity glass around the lower floors to reduce energy consumption. 28 /

ADNEC FACTS

91.9 tonnes

of cardboard cartons recycled by ADNEC last year

ADNEC is the largest exhibition centre in the Gulf with a gross indoor exhibition area of 73,000 square metres. In 2009, the exhibition centre staged more than 100 international, regional and local events that were attended by hundreds of thousands of people throughout the year. This is in stark contrast to the 14 events held at the venue just three years earlier. Events held at ADNEC include the International Defence Exhibition and Conference; World Future Energy Summit; Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference; Gastech; Cityscape Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi International Motor Show. Boasting several ecologically-friendly initiatives, ADNEC provides preferential parking for drivers with hybrid cars. Bathrooms at the Aloft Abu Dhabi hotel have soap and shampoo dispensers instead of individual plastic bottles to reduce wastage, while soil excavated during development of the Capital Centre tower was used at the nearby ADNEC Marina project. Shifting the soil over a short distance lessened the biodiversity impact and reduced transport emissions associated with longer journeys.

I never hear people say they have stopped green initiatives because of the economy; the people I meet by default have an interest in the environment _ Professor Neil Kirkpatrick, head of environment & sustainability, Royal Group

Elsewhere, ADNEC is collaborating with sub-developers on the Capital Centre micro-city, located near the exhibition venue. Both parties are exploring ways to minimise the ecological impact of building 23 towers within the development. Beyond the Middle East, one meetings and conference venue in Ireland is making similar waves with its commitment to the environment. Opened last September amid the economic crisis, The Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) is expected to be carbon neutral by 2012. The CCD boasts a thermal wheel heat recovery system and Ice Storage Thermal Unit (ISTU), which chills water overnight, forming large ice blocks that melt during the day to provide air conditioning for the entire building. Similarly to convention centres, hotel operators realise sustainability is a big draw for carbon-conscious delegates that require somewhere to stay when attending conferences and events. This trend has been noted by Professor Neil Kirkpatrick, head of environment and sustainability for UAE-based conglomerate Royal Group. Responsible for overseeing sustainable practices throughout the 60 large to medium-sized companies that Royal Group controls, Kirkpatrick is aware of corporations placing more emphasis on the environment. In particular, hotel chains such as ones that Royal Group operates, are investing more time and money in sustainability. “There is nervousness about cost, as the capital has to be there, but from my side it is an increasing requirement now to increase profit and be green. It’s about how to be responsible and when investing in new building projects you have to give emphasis to this. I never hear people say they have stopped green initiatives because of the economy; the people I meet by default have an interest in the environment.”

Left: ADNEC Right: The Convention Centre Dublin

2012

Convention Centre Dublin is expected to be carbon neutral by then

To satisfy its own green agenda, Royal Group has rolled out sustainability and training programmes for its 10,000 staff. The group’s green initiative extends to its hotels, where several environmentallyfriendly measures have been introduced throughout guest rooms and meetings facilities. “In our hotels we have funded LED lights that cost 15 percent more than normal lights, but because of the heat and energy reduction of 93 percent you get a payback within six months,” Kirkpatrick says. “We are the owner and operator, so if we look at a new build we recognise the importance of sustainability and can be more ﬂexible at the outset. “It is about social decisions as much as economic ones. For example, do we include balconies? The concern from the contractor’s point of view was using more materials, and the time and cost involved. So, we created an energy model to look at the barrier between heat in the window and heat reﬂection; having balconies in a hotel reduces demand on the system by 15 percent.” / 29

ANALYSIS / GREEN EXHIBITIONS

The challenge for us is to be seen walking the talk and not just green wishing, we were the first hotel group to offer guests carbon-offset possibilities _ Sarah Rooney, responsible business manager, Rezidor

While recently carrying out market research, the Royal Group asked hotel customers including business clients that use its meetings facilities, if they would pay more for sustainability. Most said they would stump up more cash if faced with a marginal increase. “In our Canvas Hotel at the foot of Jebel Hafeet in Al Ain we have found that we can reduce energy and put the prices up marginally,” Kirkpatrick says. He adds reducing the width of balconies and bringing in the end walls of the hotel have provided savings on materials and energy. Elsewhere, water-saving technologies that can cut consumption by 20 to 30 percent have been fitted in Royal Group’s existing hotels. Other ongoing measures include training staff on energy-saving procedures. “We are in a period of transition and people are beginning to grasp the concepts of sustainability; there is widespread understanding in the UAE, which has happened in the past two years,” says Kirkpatrick. “What we have in this region is the highest environmental impact in the world, with 550 litres of water consumed per person per day, so we have to be more responsible. We have sustainability programmes working across all the stakeholders in the company and it includes the key decision-makers.” Royal Group chiefs believe that engaging staff through training and introducing more environmentally-conscious technology across their hotels’ meetings and leisure facilities can drastically reduce energy consumption. “Training staff can make a difference and housekeeping staff play an important role,” says Kirkpatrick. “Drawing back curtains to clean a guest or conference room rather than switching on a light and turning all electrical items off before they leave can have an impact.” Dubai currently has 50,000 rooms, with a further 30,000 to be added in the next ﬁve years by leading hotel chains that plan to establish green measures in existing and new builds. Among them, Radisson hotel chain owner Rezidor has recently been awarded Green Key Certiﬁcates for its six UAE properties. It aims to secure the same accolade for all 27 hotels within its Middle East portfolio in 2011. Sarah Rooney, Rezidor’s responsible business manager and key speaker at the World Green Tourism exhibition, says she was pleasantly surprised with the region’s commitment to sustainability. 30 /

LEED AND QATAR NATIONAL CONVENTION CENTRE Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) was developed by the US Green Building Council in 1993 and established five years later. The main aim is to provide building owners and operators with a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable green building design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. The Qatar National Convention, designed by Japanese architect Arata Isozaki, is a 177,000 square metre structure seeking a LEED Gold Rating, a first for a building of its type in the Middle East. Scheduled to be completed at the end of 2011, it will feature 3,700 square metres of solar panels accounting for 12 percent of its total power. The centre will also be fitted with occupancy sensors, water-efficient fixtures, LED lighting, carbon dioxide monitors, and variable air-volume systems that minimise the use of resources and improve indoor air quality.

“What has been very interesting for me after four years in this job is that in this region the hotels seem to be going that extra mile,” she says. “We started our environment programmes in 1989 and introduced the Responsible Business Programme in 2001 to promote the wealth and wellbeing of staff and guests. This means responsible and ethical behaviour within the group and community to reduce negative input on the environment for all hotel brands.” Each Rezidor hotel now has a responsible business co-coordinator, with employees from various departments working together to manage green policies. Rooney says changing the lighting in guest and meeting rooms to LED provides annual energy savings of 60 to 80 percent. She adds that the lighting in corridors and rooms is controlled by sensors and key cards respectively. “We also provide instructions [to tourists and business guests using meetings facilities] on how to control air conditioning and recycle glass, batteries and paper,” she says. “What is very exciting in this region is that if something is implemented it is implemented well and fast. “I am pleasantly surprised about how things are going in the UAE and this has encouraged our staff to recycle, source

Left: Qatar National Convention Centre Below & right: The Ritz Carlton, DIFC; Radisson Blu, Dubai Media City

local food and use technology to reduce water consumption. Water efficient showerheads, for example, can cut water consumption in half.” According to Rooney, responsibly managing hotel resources can attract ecologicallyconscious clients who are keen to uphold personal green standards during their stays. “The challenge for us is to be seen walking the talk and not just green wishing,” she says. “We chose Green Label (a certification awarded to products or services that have a minimal environmental impact) to raise awareness and we have been doing this before it became fashionable; we were the first hotel group to offer guests carbon-offset possibilities. In Dubai Media City we have solar panels and the waste water from the cooling plant is used to irrigate the roundabout.” According to some hotel operators, making a concerted effort rather than spending big can be an effective way to achieve sustainability. “As a luxury brand, the Ritz-Carlton aims to provide the finest personalised service and facilities, while keeping environmental conservation in mind,” says Christina Lopez, the hotel chain’s sales and marketing administrative assistant for the UAE. “We work in partnership with our hotel owners and our guests to implement sustainable environmental practices. We have a Community Footprints Programme that includes environment conservation as one of its pillars and involves our employees and guests. We also invest in equipment just to be green, such as waste compactors. Financial performance may be one of our key success factors, but not to the extent of making profit at expense of the environment.”

60-80% energy savings that Rezidor Hotels make each year through LED lighting

Mindful of the huge amounts of paper business professionals waste during meetings and conferences, Ritz Carlton encourages attendees to instead use USB sticks to collate information. “In this world of high technology and communication, we encourage our customers to save the paper that they are using during their presentations,” Lopez says. “Everyone used to print all the supporting documents for the presentations and the Power Point slides to follow the speaker. Now organisers prefer to have all the presentations on individual USB stickers so every attendee can have the presentation on their laptop and save it if required.” Whether Ritz-Carlton’s paper-saving initiative makes a big difference to the Middle East’s carbon footprint is unclear. But with several other hotels and convention centres introducing their own green measures, it appears the region’s reputation for eschewing ecologically-friendly practices is unwarranted. / 31

ADVERTORIAL / FAIRMONT HOTELS & RESORTS

UNIQUE PROPERTIES UNIQUE MEETINGS Judith LaBrie - Director, Sales & Marketing Global Events & Meetings about iconic properties, a century of customer Solutions - talks to care and Fairmont’s Global Events & Meeting Solutions (GEMS) service for meeting and event planners What hotels in the Fairmont portfolio are best suited to meetings? From Quebec to Cairo, Dubai to London and New York to Makkah, we offer planners and their clients extraordinary locations no matter where they may wish to meet. Whether set amid the snow-capped peaks of the Rockies at The Fairmont Banff Springs in Canada, the perfect pink Bermuda beach at The Fairmont Southampton Princess, the historic ambience of The Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai, or the luxury amid the wilderness at the Fairmont Zimbali Resort in South Africa, each property reflects the unique Fairmont Hotels & Resorts experience at destinations that are perfect for motivational incentive and meeting and conference programmes. In the Middle East, the Fairmont Nile City, Cairo, is equipped with the most advanced design and technology with 845 square metres, plus 450 square metres of outdoor space, dedicated for meeting and convention space,

comprising of 13 meeting rooms including a ballroom. Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi has a spacious 1,070-square-metre ballroom and additional flexibility is offered by the adjacent outdoor area. Six more meeting rooms up to 186 square metres can accommodate events ranging from an executive board meeting to a lavish convention. Hotels under the Fairmont banner offer guests an extraordinary place that is created by combining unique architecture and structure and locally expressive d cor and artistry. Add great service to this and the result is a successful meeting experience. Fairmont has over 100 years of history in hosting landmark events and meetings; the UN charter was drafted in the Garden Room at The Fairmont San Francisco while the newly opened Fairmont Paciﬁc Rim hosted the Olympic Committee during the 2010 Winter Olympics and Fairmont St Andrews in Scotland hosted international leaders during the 2010 G20 meeting.

This page (clockwise from top right): Makkah Clock Royal Tower Hotel; The Fairmont Dubai Opposite page (clockwise from top left): Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi; Fairmont Heliopolis and Towers, Cairo; Fairmont The Norfolk, Nairobi, Kenya.

What is the new service available to clients wishing to hold meetings at Fairmont properties? Global Events & Meetings Solutions (GEMS) service ensures all meeting planners have easy access to up-to-the-moment information about its respected portfolio of 65 meetings-oriented hotels and resorts in 12 countries. The GEMS department provides consultative services to groups of all kinds, whether the planner is charged with creating an international incentive programme, impressive product launch or a motivational sales meeting. Account representatives not only understand the general needs of each type of group event, they will also work with the individual planner to understand the speciﬁc goals of the event and delve into meeting details to ensure they recommend the right property and services every time. It is a ‘one-stop shop’ where one or multiple hotels can be sourced.

How user-friendly is this service for new meeting planners and event organisers? We understand that just like meeting planners themselves, no two meetings are the same. One quick toll-free call or email to Fairmont provides speciﬁc hotel details, recommendations and expedited proposals. In addition, we will recommend local experts including destination management companies to assist in locations where customers may not have expertise or local knowledge. We ultimately want to ensure an exceptional experience both at our speciﬁc hotel as well as in the destination itself. Busy with both strategic meeting goals and logistical pressures, we realise that planners need hotel partners to be quick, accurate and show a willingness to engage in the planning process. We provide the insight and the collaborative partnership for planners to succeed in today’s business environment. How does a planner submit an RFP for an event? GEMS can be accessed via toll-free numbers from UK, UAE and soon there will be a tollfree number from Australia or by emailing Meet@fairmont.com or through www. fairmont.com via the eRFP tool. Our account representatives take the planners’ brief, see what destinations and properties meet the criteria and swiftly revert with availability options and information about initiating the contracting process. For the less experienced planner, a call to the toll-free number will access a representative who will walk through the RFP process and understand the unique aspects of the event by asking the right questions and assisting the planner every step of the way. Experienced planners can submit online RFPs complete with programme description.

WE CATER TO EVERY POSSIBLE MEETING NEED. FROM VIP BOARD MEETINGS TO LARGE COMPANY MEETINGS AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN How long does it take to turn around a request? GEMS can provide 24-hour turnaround with on-target recommendations tailored to the needs of the group. We actually measure our hotels on their response time. In fact, we like to send an initial reply within the ﬁrst hour. While the planner may not get a full proposal immediately they can be re-assured that someone has personally received the request and is sourcing availability and rates. What kind of events can you assist with? We cater to every possible meeting need. From VIP board meetings to large company meetings and everything in between, our global sales representatives are ready to assist. How does GEMS distinguish Fairmont from other hotel meetings services? Basically, we take a tailor-made approach to providing a solution. We have a very collaborative approach and understand the need for specific hotel details, recommendations and expedited proposals. We know how busy meeting and event organisers get, so our goal is to make organising successful meetings quick and easy.

Does Fairmont have any green meetings initiatives to offer? Our Eco-Meet programme helps meeting planners by providing a meeting structure that encourages maximum environmental awareness for conference delegates. Eco-Meet consists of options that can be tailored,for example local and organic gourmet menus, disposable-free food and beverage service, and carbon neutral options. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts was honoured with the inaugural Green Supplier award, developed by IMEX and the Green Meeting Industry Council, which recognises environmental excellence and innovation within the meetings industry. } Global Events & Meetings Solutions Contact Information: KSA 800 897 1458 UAE 800 311 8812 Middle East ofﬁce 971 4 437 7474 UK 0808 234 3287 email meet@fairmont.com, visit www.fairmontmeetings.com

COMMENT

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Charlie Banks, event manager for Organise This, scrutinises sustainability practices in the Middle East’s meeting and exhibitions industry. It seems that when you travel to any event or exhibition, either as an organiser or delegate, you can usually see evidence of organisations implementing their ‘green’ credentials; recycling in airports and on the plane, in shuttle buses from the airport to the hotel or exhibition hall, or signs in your hotel room advertising towel reuse programs. But do you ever wonder about the waste created by the plethora of complimentary and individually-packaged items in the bathroom, next to the notice telling you that the hotel takes environmental responsibility seriously? Or how about when you dutifully put your clean towel to one side and not on the floor, only to find it has been replaced on your return? We can see evidence (or lack thereof) of sustainability in meeting spaces and conferences around the world. Some exhibition spaces in the Middle East advertise on their websites that they recycle waste and use low-energy lighting. They also claim to reduce lighting and power during set up and breakdown. As seasoned travellers and delegates (whom keep getting clean towels even without asking for them), are we convinced? Do we feel that when our backs are turned, old habits will ensue? Are some sectors paying lip service and claiming to be sustainable just to tick boxes and get a certificate? In the events industry there is a lack of education; management may see the benefits of implementing environmental measures, but if the information does not cascade down effectively, the staff on the ground are not being educated. They don’t know why they are being asked to flush the toilet only once and not three or four times, leave the towel where it is or segregate waste. Each venue and country is different with their own issues. For example, local infrastructure may not support recycling of waste streams produced during a large exhibition, or alternative power might not be an option due to financial restrictions. Perhaps one

of the biggest issues that the Middle East faces is the high-end delivery that it is known for and the perception that sustainability may cheapen the experience. However, not everyone feels this way and to assume all of your visitors do would be foolhardy. Identifying the main issues unique to a venue and creating realistic

ARE SOME SECTORS PAYING LIP SERVICE AND CLAIMING TO BE SUSTAINABLE JUST TO TICK BOXES?

objectives for that site or location creates an opportunity to implement positive changes that are within the planners’ scope. These positive changes could be educational, prompting an event planner to set up in-house training and webinars or attend other events on the subject. Establishing objectives might also encourage an organiser to adopt a framework in which to achieve targets. “The growth of international standards across the world such as the ISO20121 which is specifically for the events industry, shows that the sector takes sustainability seriously and through reporting, we can see actual evidence for the standard to be a business case,” says Rebecca Saunders from Positive Impact, a notfor-profit organisation in the UK that educates the events industry about sustainability. Some venues in the Middle East do advertise environmental policies on their websites, but there is little evidence of standards being adopted or reported. But with Qatar securing World Cup 2022, the Middle East now has a great opportunity to show the rest of the globe that sustainability is being taken seriously. With new venues required to host the football matches, the events industry will be looking to see if any green-build standards, such as BREEAM or LEED, will be considered alongside solar-power initiatives for operating the stadiums. With an influx of hundreds of thousands of fans during the tournament, will the waste generation, use of sustainable building materials and cleaner and easy transportation be catered for? And will the health and wellbeing of all those that work on the event, from the bid process to the post-event legacies, be factored in when planning the event? We will have to wait and see, but it would be a huge disappointment if those with the influence and power to lead sustainability failed to deliver. } Organise This is a UK company that acts as a sustainable practices consultant to the meetings and events industry.

For more information on the event sector supplement and how to become involved in the public commentary period or practitioners’ network, visit the website www.globalreporting.org or contact the consultants on this project by emailing admin@sustainableeventsltd.com

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The 7th International Travel Expo, Ho Chi Minh City Saigon Exhibition & Convention Center (SECC) – 799 Nguyen Van Linh, Dist 7, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

15 September – 17 September 2011

MICE REPORT / SEOUL

THE MUST GO ON Strained relations between the Koreas may have threatened to overshadow the Korea Mice Expo in Seoul. But no amount of political posturing could force the organiser to pull the plug. Faces etched with concern can be spotted among the delegates gathered at COEX exhibition hall in Seoul for Korea Mice Expo 2010 as news of an artillery gunﬁre exchange between South Korea and North Korea grips the city. Tensions are high following reports of four South Korean casualties and several injuries, arising from one of the worst skirmishes between the nations since the 1950-53 Korean War. Just hours before the show’s opening, media coverage reveals that North Korea has fired more than 100 artillery shells at Yeonpyeong Island after taking exception to South Korean naval exercises in a nearby disputed sea border. Fears of further trouble casts a shadow over Mice Expo, where attendees wait nervously to see if the row between two nations, long divided by a heavily-fortiﬁed military border, escalates. But Samuel Koo, president and CEO of Seoul Tourism Organization, is keen to calm nerves during his opening speech in the South Korean capital. “For those who live in Seoul, these occasional clashes or skirmishes are not uncommon, but they are not a regular occurrence either,” he says. “I think today things got a little bit more serious. This is extremely unfortunate for us as we 36 /

wanted to prepare a hot welcome for you. But I can assure you that the hostilities are now over and the alert that has been in effect has now been lifted. So we would encourage you to sit back and enjoy our wonderful city.” With North Korea understood to have some 5,000 multiple-launch rockets permanently fixed on Seoul, it’s unlikely the Mice Expo attendees will be completely reassured by Koo’s bullish rhetoric. But rather than dwell too long on events beyond their control, most accept they have little choice but to carry on as normal. While the conflict with the north has raised safety concerns, South Korea is generally considered an ideal destination to hold meetings and events. In particular, Seoul has been earmarked as a leading Asian city with the infrastructure, transport links and hotels to host the world’s most powerful figures. Less than two weeks before Mice Expo, Seoul staged the G20 Summit where political leaders, including US President Barrack Obama, British Prime Minister David Cameron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, met to discuss the global financial system and world economy.

Staging G20 and other prestigious events like the 1988 Olympic Games and World Cup with joint hosts Japan in 2002 has boosted the city’s kudos, according to Koo. “If you look at what happened to Pittsburgh after G20 (held in 2009) they signed up about nine very important international conventions and it went a long way to lifting this grey, steel-town image the city had,” he tells Meetme during a rare break from his speaking duties at Mice Expo. “In terms of marketing and projecting a city, this [G20] was very important.”

7th spot

Seoul’s international ranking for number of conferences held in 2009 / 37

Below: Seoul attracts millions of international visitors every year

The sentiment is echoed by Martin Sirk, CEO of the International Congress and Convention Association, who believes tourism authorities in Seoul have successfully marketed the city as a business and leisure destination since holding major worldwide events. Statistics from Seoul Tourism Organization showing the capital attracted eight million people between January and October 2010 adds weight to Sirk’s assertion. In 10 months, Seoul registered more arrivals than the 6.89 million and 7.82 million visitors reported for the whole of 2008 and 2009 respectively. On the business side, figures compiled by the Union of International Associations (UIA) show that the number of conferences held in Seoul has increased three-fold during the past 10 years. Ranked 24 in UIA’s list for 2000, the city is now 7th after hosting 347 events in 2009. Sirk says the city’s proﬁle has been further raised after staging the G20 Summit. “They [the government and tourism authorities] are planning to take advantage of G20 and one of the arguments they will use over the next two years is ‘it doesn’t 38 /

matter how big, complex or security conscious your event is, we have done something bigger, more complex and more difﬁcult, so we can handle it’. “As a demonstration of high-level competency for large complex events, you don’t have a better case study than G20; especially given its history of being a pretty dangerous meeting to host (summits in London and Toronto have led to violent clashes between protestors and police). There have been some very different G20 experiences over the years, so the South Koreans are no dummies and will use their example very powerfully.” But while industry ﬁgures wax lyrical about Seoul’s ability to attract top association conferences and corporate exhibitions, the city does have its drawbacks. With more than 10 million people packed into the capital, Seoul has already reached bursting point. The city is surrounded by mountains and barely has room for outward expansion, much to the chagrin of local property firms. Developing hundreds of apartment blocks and towers has provided short-term respite, but constructors know they can only build so high.

MICE REPORT / SEOUL

Where we need to invest harder is the construction of clean business hotels where there is an absolute shortage - Samuel Koo, president and CEO of Seoul Tourism Organization

INTERNATIONAL DISPUTES

In an already overcrowded city, ﬁnding space for new business hotels and conference centres is a tough challenge, admits Koo. Seoul has an estimated 25,000 rooms, most of which are completely booked out all year round. “Where we need to invest harder is the construction of clean business hotels where there is an absolute shortage,” Koo says. A further 15,000 rooms are expected to come online in 2011 to help alleviate the problem, the tourism chief adds, but he accepts further steps must be taken to accommodate more visitors. “Out of dire needs will emerge some ingenious solutions,” he says conﬁdently while discussing the city’s problems. “There is talk of building football stadiums, which when not occupied can be used for exhibitions,” Koo adds. Knocking down ageing apartment blocks to rebuild them higher and even encouraging families with spare rooms to host business and leisure travellers are further suggestions that have been mooted. They are, however, just ideas neither of which will likely be implemented anytime soon. Æ

7.82 million Seoul visitors reported for the whole of 2009

Tensions between the Koreas may be rising, but tourism chiefs insist visitor numbers to South Korea will not be affected long term. Nevertheless, some impact on arrivals is likely if recent international incidents across the globe are anything to go by. Weeks after the 7/7 London bombings, the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) forecast a 1.9 percent yearon-year decrease to 30.9 million for visitors to the UK. The body also said that outbound business and leisure travel would fall 2.3 percent to US$35.6 billion and US$178 billion respectively. “It is expected that the impact of the London bombing, much like that realised by the Madrid and Bali bombings, will continue into 2006 but will have completely dissipated by 2007, WTTC president, Jean-Claude Baumgarten, said at the time. “Of course this assumes that UK authorities undertake at least similarly strong measures of reassurance and encouragement to regain and rebuild visitor confidence and that no further events take place in the meantime,” he added. Similarly, other countries have suffered a slump in business and leisure travel at the hands of terrorists. A bomb attack in late 2002 saw Bali suffer a 20 percent slump (383,408) in foreign direct arrivals for the opening half of 2003, according to the Pacific Asia Travel Association. More recently, the US issued an advisory urging its citizens to beware of potential terrorist threats in Europe. Tourism officials were concerned the alert, issued in October 2010, would prompt Americans with European travel plans to change or cancel their flights. But Kevin Mitchell, chairman of the Business Travel Coalition, insisted corporate travellers would fly as scheduled providing the warning was not upgraded. “The biggest impact will be those people who right now haven’t yet made their plans,” Mitchell told the Associated Press. “They’re the ones who will forestall their decision until the situation is a little bit more clear.” / 39

MICE REPORT / SEOUL

“The shortage of trained personnel who can go out and engage in discussions with would-be event organisers and persuade them [to host events in Seoul] is another problem - Samuel Koo

Aside from limited space within the city and too few hotel rooms, Seoul’s meetings and tourism sector is also struggling to find fresh talent. A general shortage of skilled and educated graduates has dogged the industry for some time, Koo says, with no immediate resolution in sight. “The shortage of trained personnel who can go out and engage in discussions with would-be event organisers and persuade them [to host events in Seoul] is another problem. It’s the communication skills and experience that’s lacking. It’s about how we articulate the success story of the career path to young people, which we haven’t done because when we look at applicants for vacancies we get good people, but not exactly Harvard and Oxford graduates. That’s the main challenge.” One of the industry’s big selling points is having no age limit on how long people can work, according to Koo. “You don’t have to retire when 65,” he says. But typically modest wages are proving a stumbling block for attracting fresh blood. “We can’t quite tell people that the money is there, although those in the top-tier will get the wages.” While such shortcomings make unpleasant reading for Seoul’s meetings and tourism industry personnel, Robin Lokermann believes South Korea’s location is a bright spot. When speaking with Meetme, MCI’s president for Asia Pacific points to a shift in power from west to east for the meetings sector. “There is an enormous amount of infrastructure development and client demand for Asia,” he says. “Economic growth and the vastly-growing middle class attract more people, which is important for our sector because they develop communities, educate themselves and start connecting with others by attending meetings.” Lokermann also believes organisers behind medical and scientific association meetings and conferences are beginning to choose Asian locations like Seoul over US and European cities. “There are more 40 /

COEX CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTER A sprawling business and leisure hub in the heart of Seoul’s business district, COEX attracts more than 150,000 people a day. The Coex Convention and Exhibition Center (CCEC) is a four-floor meetings venue with more than 450,000 sq m of total floor space. It typically handles more than 200 exhibitions and 2,000 conferences each year. A south wing housing the centre’s two largest exhibition halls was added in 2000 prior to the Asia-Europe Summit. A new annex, complete with Grand Ballroom, Assem Hall, Auditorium and surrounding meeting rooms, has also been developed in recent years. Beyond the CCEC, the centre comprises Asia’s largest underground mall, an atrium, two hotels, a residential tower, city airport terminal and Hyundai department store.

COEX Convention and Exhibition Center

doctors being educated in China and India alone than the US and Europe combined,” he claims. “In five to 10 years most of the new scientific publishing will be done in Asia and not in the US or Europe.” Whether Seoul remains an attractive destination for staging exhibitions and conferences could depend on relations with North Korea; any further conflict would most likely prompt event planners to think twice before booking hotels and venues in the South Korean capital. Until such time, however, Seoul’s meetings industry looks set to continue drawing major events.

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PROFILE / ROB DAVIDSON

FIGHTING FIT Rob Davidson, meetings analyst and university lecturer, on growth in the Middle East, tackling the skills shortage and why the industry is still going strong amid tough economic conditions.

42 /

What are your thoughts on the meetings and exhibitions sector in the Middle East? It is very buoyant with a lot of construction on the supply side and extensions to existing venues. Middle Eastern countries are increasingly targeting China as a market, with Qatar and Abu Dhabi coming along and there is more professionalism in terms of marketing those places. People are beginning to understand that there is more to the Middle East. Dubai as a destination is marketing itself and going about it very professionally, looking at specific sectors aligned with those in China. They are taking that approach knowing financial companies are attracted to destinations which are successful in ﬁnance. Everybody wants to get into the Chinese market; it’s the one big market people are looking at. What is the general outlook for the Middle East in the coming year? It’s still on the upper side of a wave and that’s based on the interest that people are showing. You have the International Bar Association coming to Dubai in 2011 which is a big event; having one of our industry’s big prizes in town is something Dubai can use as a marketing tool for a long time. People like the security of places like Dubai and Abu Dhabi, although rising air and hotel fares could dampen interest. You believe the meetings industry´s performance is linked to how well other markets are doing. So why has the sector proved so robust when others are struggling? Corporate meetings have just become a way of life and we have become effective in persuading companies that for their internal and external communications, meetings have to be part of that mix. People have got used to going to meetings and it’s a brave company that says to their managers, ´guys we are not having a strategy meeting next year, we will have it round the board table upstairs´. That would go down very badly. Even for people who travel a lot on business and moan about airports and hotels, meetings are still the way to motivate them. Companies move away from that at their peril because people have come to expect and enjoy them. The up and coming generation expects face-to-face meetings.

Why are incentive trips still popular at a time when the global economy is still struggling? For a similar reason to why corporate meetings are; if it’s an annual incentive programme and you cut it that’s a terrible signal to send. In my report, you’ll see that incentives are becoming more business focused and almost invariably include a work element, whether it’s a team-building exercise, training or seminar on the last day. We are seeing incentive trips becoming one day shorter or companies using economy rather than business-class to travel to destinations. People are looking at costs and negotiating, but the encouraging thing is more incentive trips are taking place, with the ﬁgure expected to be up more in 2011. What can suppliers do to secure good rates in a buyers’ market? From the buyers’ side, part of it stems from waiting longer and using fewer suppliers to book venues, hotels or airlines. So, when buying from the same supplier, you are in a stronger negotiating position and we have seen a lot of that from buyers with procurement behind them. The scoop if anything is that this situation could change. We haven’t had such a big grow in supply in 2010, so not as many openings, but demand is on the upturn possibly leading to a power shift from buyer to supplier. You mentioned the industry needs everything possible to improve its image. Could you elaborate? That goes back to 2008-09 where there were those scandals about companies making a whole bunch of managers redundant one day and then going down to Las Vegas for a jolly the next and that looks bad. The press likes that kind of story. America in particular is very nervous about its image. To be in the news for the wrong reasons like being wasteful and extravagant is not what we want, so things like CSR intiatives are more positive and help the industry’s image. How can meetings industry professionals overcome the global skills shortage? We just need to respond by boosting the number of universities and training the managers of tomorrow. I get Koreans and Chinese every year

(Davidson lectures business travel and tourism at the University of Westminster in London) because they cannot study this industry at masters level in their own countries. We are moving from a situation where the employees in this field more or less drifted into it maybe from the hotel, catering or tourism side, to a situation where people are targeting this, saying, ‘I want to work in the events industry´. It’s becoming too sophisticated to rely on wellmeaning amateurs to get it right; the budgets are enormous and you need to be more scientific when making decisions. It can’t just be about seeing what worked last year. Not only the universities, but the associations need to boost education and we need more certification as well to show that the guy you’re dealing with has actually studied or passed some exams. At the moment, anyone can go home tonight and slap a sign on their door saying ‘Rob Davidson, events planner DMC’. It’s taken the world by surprise; this sudden realisation that the people we need to do these jobs have to come to us knowing the industry. We don’t want to recruit people and spend the first six months explaining the difference between an association event and a corporate event. Students from courses like mine will hit the ground running because they have been studying it for 12 months – we need much more of that. /V^ SVUN ^PSS P[ [HRL MVY [OLZL X\HSPÄLK Z[\KLU[Z to break into the industry? I would like to think in the next five years because there is momentum behind this now. In the next five years not being accredited will in some ways be a serious disadvantage because who is going to trust you with a massive budget if you cannot prove that you have a good track record and have actually studied the subject? Technology, law and regulations are changing all the time and people need to be on top of that. It’s not just a case of studying at university and getting a qualification because you need to be constantly investing in your own awareness and expertise, which is where associations and events have a role to play with their education programmes. Rob Davidson was talking to Meetme at EIBTM in Barcelona after presenting findings from his 2010 industry trends and market share report.

People have got used to going to meetings and it’s a brave company that says to their managers, ‘guys we are not having a strategy meeting next year, we will have it round the board table upstairs’ / 43

ANALYSIS / GOLF IN THE GULF

ACTION

Such is their popularity, Gulf golf courses remain a regular setting for corporate events and staff team-building sessions. But which venues offer the best facilities on and off the fairways? Meetme investigates. It was American author Mark Twain who famously disparaged golf as “a good walk spoiled”. Flagrantly critical of the sport, the writer clearly detested the idea of stroking white golf balls around a lush green fairway. So imagine his displeasure if during a visit to the Gulf someone suggested that he play a few rounds. While no amount of cajoling would convince Twain otherwise, this region is home to some of the world’s ﬁnest golf courses. It is, perhaps then, no surprise to ﬁnd that the sport ranks as a popular past-time for people living in the Gulf. Year-round sunshine coupled with excellent facilities have helped increase golf’s popularity 44 /

among Middle Eastern residents in recent years. And they are not alone, with the sport’s worldwide appeal regularly enticing an estimated 61 million people to golf courses. In the Gulf, it’s not just casual swingers that are taking to the fairways. Indeed, club members are just as likely to share courses with companies hosting corporate tournaments and golf days for clients or staff, as businesses like Dubai Golf will attest. Since starting out in the late 1980s, corporate events organiser Dubai Golf has seen demand for its services rise in line with the sport’s growing popularity. Typical client requests include organising golfing tournaments for

between 12 and 108 people, tutorials with instructors and par-3 events over nine holes. The company also arranges gala dinners, branding and prize draws during corporate events, and driving range sessions at Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club or Emirates Golf Club. Similarly, other golf event organisers that arrange dinners, tournaments and meetings in settings more eye-catching than your typically stuffy boardroom are experiencing increased demand. With several Gulf golf courses to choose from, event planners face a tough choice deciding which to book. But help is at hand, with Meetme taking to the fairways to see what’s on offer in the Middle East.

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ANALYSIS / GOLF IN THE GULF

DOHA GOLF CLUB Doha Golf Club boasts an 18-hole Championship Course, 9-hole Academy Course, huge driving range and putting green in scenic surroundings. Several artiﬁcial lakes, graceful landscaping and an Arabic-style clubhouse add to the course’s arresting qualities. Away from the fairways, Doha Golf Club has several options for meetings and conferences. The Al Majlis Suite can host small corporate functions, seminars and product launches. Seating styles range from boardroom and U-shaped to theatre, hollow square and herringbone, catering for between 18 and 50 people. A terrace area is available for attendees to take in views of the fairways and 9th and 18th holes. An intimate venue for dinners and banquets, The Gallery boasts meetings and conference facilities that incorporate state-of-the-art audio visual equipment. Its capacity ranges from 100 to 250 guests in a lakeside setting near the golf course. The Greens provides an ideal spot for al fresco dining during the cooler months, accommodating up to 1,600 people at the grass setting near the clubhouse. More intimate meetings, lunches and dinners are often held at the Fairways, which caters for between 14 ad 24 people. The room’s ﬂexibility allows for several seating arrangements including hollow square, banquet and classroom. The Chalet offers another option for small meetings and events, with capacity to handle between 60 and 150 depending on the seating arrangement. Guests using this facility will be treated to views of a majestic lake situated between the Championship Course’s 9th and 18th holes.

THE MONTGOMERIE DUBAI Dubai’s championship golf course, complete with wideopen turf, man-made lakes, landscaped gardens and bunkers, is a 265-acre sanctuary for golﬁng enthusiasts. Designed by professional golfer Colin Montgomerie, the course boasts 19 holes with varying degrees of difﬁculty to test all skills, whether you’re a novice or regular swinger. On the conference side, The Address Montgomerie has a 115-square metre meeting room with LCD televisions, data projector and balcony offering views of the course. The venue can accommodate 80 or 100 guests for banquets and cocktail receptions respectively. For event planners looking for something more intimate, banquets for 60 guests are available at The Academy restaurant, while networking drinks in the same venue can host up to 75 people. During the cooler months, The Lawn provides an ideal setting for al fresco shindigs involving between 250 banqueting and 350 cocktail reception guests. The 1,060-square metre grassed venue lies adjacent to the clubhouse and overlooks the 18th green. If that doesn’t appeal, then The Aquaviva Pool Deck might be more suitable. An open-air pool deck with views of the 18th green and the surrounding Emirates Hill Estate provides a scenic setting for up to 400 people. Staying outdoors, The Academy Terrace hosts banquets and cocktail receptions for up to 160 and 200 guests respectively. The location offers panoramic views of the Dubai Marina skyline.

265acres the size of the Montgomerie Dubai course

46 /

ANALYSIS / GOLF IN THE GULF

DUBAI CREEK GOLF & YACHT CLUB As the name suggests, this golf club is located in a creek-side setting in the heart of Dubai. The course is populated with fairways lined with date palms and coconut trees, attractive water hazards, shrubbery and plush greens. Originally opened in 1993, the golf course was modernised by designer Thomas Bjorn into a 6,800-yard, par-71 golﬁng haven some 12 years later. The club features a par-3 course for novices, driving range and practice facilities, all of which are ﬂoodlit for night time play. Away from the fairways, the Dhow sail-shaped clubhouse offers a quiet spot where guests can relax. Corporate events are naturally catered for, with gala dinners and cocktail receptions available. The golf club also hosts exhibitions, meetings and conferences, and product launches. Groups wishing to indulge in a few rounds of golf can book corporate events with tournaments, branding and banners and prizes arranged by the club. Dining at one of the club’s nearby restaurants can also be organised. Functions and events are held at the Clubhouse Terrace and Legends Terrace, which can hold up to 400 and 100 people respectively. Meanwhile, the Lakeview Patio, Golf Function Suite and Golf Function Suite Patio have capacity to handle 150, 60 and 80 guests. Close by, the Park Hyatt Dubai hotel has more than 1,000-square metres of meeting and banquet space, including an 828-square metre ballroom that can be divided into three separate rooms for between 10 and 500 guests. Other features include an executive boardroom, wireless internet, LCD projectors and built-in screens, and business centre. Outdoor events and cocktail parties in the hotel’s gardens or on terraces and patios can also be arranged.

ROYAL GOLF CLUB Having helped design The Montgomerie Dubai, professional golfer Colin Montgomerie is also responsible for creating the 18-hole, par 72 championship golf course at the Royal Golf Club in Bahrain. Event planners considering the Royal Golf Club as a venue for corporate events and meetings are promised some of Bahrain’s most “luxurious conference facilities”. Among them is The Marquee, a 300-square metre floor space that can be adapted for theatre or classroom-style conferences to accommodate between 84 and 150 guests. Break-out areas and partitions for smaller groups wishing to hold separate closed-off meetings within the venue can also be added. Boasting “stunning” views of the golf course, the circular-designed Majlis is ideal for roundtables and theatre-style meetings in a spacious and light setting. Buffets, sit-down lunches or dinners and conferences for between 90 and 150 people can be held at this venue. The club has two purpose-built conference rooms located side by side in the clubhouse, with each offering LCD projection equipment and balconies overlooking the course. A single board table set-up can accommodate 24 guests, while a theatre-style arrangement caters to 40 people. For something less formal and more fun, Royal Golf Club offers golfing clinics or tutorials to corporate groups. Several golf games and team-building activities are available, with PGAqualified professionals on hand to coach players. 48 /

150

guests can be catered for at The Marquee

The course at Al Badia Golf Club has 11 lakes, several ponds and streams and cascading waterfalls, creating a visually stunning environment

AL BADIA GOLF CLUB

ABU DHABI GOLF CLUB

An Arabian theme runs through this par-72 oasis-style golf course, designed by internationally-renowned golf architect Robert Trent Jones II. The 7,303-yard course has 11 lakes, several ponds and streams and various cascading waterfalls, creating a visuallystunning environment. While challenging for the seasoned golfer, Al Badia is also suitable for beginners. Each hole has four sets of tees for players with varying skill levels. Moreover, the whole 7,303-yard course or a 5,398yard circuit can be played depending on the player’s experience. If it’s a meeting or events venue you’re after then Al Badia Golf provides 2,811-square metres of indoor and outdoor space. Settings range from high-tech function rooms to lawns for open-air receptions that cater to a maximum 1,000 guests. The Shaheen venue, suitable for receptions, banquets and meetings for between 40 and 150 people, comes with cutting-edge audio visual equipment and a terrace for breakout space and pre-function gatherings. The two Houbara rooms are most commonly used for banquets, meetings and receptions for 30 to 100 people. Seating conﬁgurations include hollow square, U-shape and theatre. If required, the rooms can be divided into halves to host a meeting in one space and dining or breakout area in the other. Another option, The Boardroom, features traditional tables that can seat 12 in a formal setting for senior executive meetings, lunches or workshops. Event planners looking for an outdoor setting can book The Lawn, an open-air reception catering for up to 1,000. The crescentshaped grass terrace is nestled between the clubhouse and 9th hole and features views of cascading waterfalls.

A 27-hole championship golf course that sits 15 minutes from the city centre and 10 minutes from Abu Dhabi International Airport awaits visitors to Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Described by its owners as an oasis of tranquility in the desert, the course stretches over 162-hectares of land and features undulating terrain, palm trees, shrubs and saltwater lakes. A falcon-shaped clubhouse with outstretched wings is situated near the 18th green, overlooking the golf course. From the far end of the fairways the building cuts an impressive sight. Similarly to other golf courses in the region, Abu Dhabi Golf Club offers corporate and incentive packages. Tournaments and corporate branding, covering everything from shirts, caps and golf balls to medals and trophies, can be arranged. The club also enlists a PR company to publicise the event to local media. On the meetings side, the club has a two-storey event space for corporate functions and gatherings. A dining area catering for up to 100 guests is available on the ﬁrst ﬂoor, with an adjoining refreshment area and covered lounge terrace.

162 hectares

the landmass that Abu Dhabi Golf Club covers

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DESTINATION FOCUS / QATAR

50 /

GOLDEN

GOAL

Having won its bid to stage World Cup 2022, the hard work starts now for Qatar. More hotels, efficient transport links and an established infrastructure are just some of the challenges that lie ahead. But get that right and the state could be the perfect tourism and business destination. By Rob Morris. A nation that dared to dream the impossible pulled off a shock coup on December 2 when Fifa president Sepp Blatter named Qatar as hosts for World Cup 2022. Few gave a state half the size of Wales a prayer in its bid to stage the world’s biggest football tournament. But despite strong competition from the US, Australia, South Korea and Japan, a secret ballot of Fifa’s 22 executive members revealed Qatar to be the outright winner. Fifa’s decision has proved unpopular in many quarters, with sports figures, football fans and even US President Barack Obama openly critical. Opponents claim it is unfeasible to hold a tournament during a Qatari summer where temperatures can reach a scorching 50 degrees Celsius. They also say the country lacks the infrastructure and tolerance needed to accommodate

Left: Artist impression illustrating a football stadium for Qatar’s 2022 FIFA World Cup / 51

DESTINATION FOCUS / QATAR

“As the first World Cup held in the Middle East, this megaevent will spotlight the region in an extraordinary manner _ Corbin Ball, founder of Corbin Ball Associates

$14billion

value of football in the Middle East by 2022

52 /

thousands of fans throughout the month-long tournament. Indeed, critics believe demand for alcohol, coupled with potentially rowdy behaviour from fans, could clash with the Islamic nation’s conservative social outlook. Undeterred by the stinging criticism, World Cup bid team Qatar 2022 has put forward its case for hosting the event. Bringing together different cultures and dispelling derogatory Western perceptions of the region is perhaps the team’s most compelling argument. It also claims the infrastructure needed to host the event will be in place before the first ball is kicked. Commentators claim upholding this promise will require developing an efficient transport network and more hotels, both of which would likely boost Qatar’s meetings industry profile (Turn to page 24 for Sue Hocking’s thoughts on how a new convention centre and successful World Cup bid will help attract more events to the state). On the financial side, a report carried out by global advisory firm Grant Thornton insists staging a World Cup in Qatar would provide commercial and football development opportunities. According to the research, the value of football in the Middle East would grow 52 percent to $14 billion by 2022 and a further $10 billion by 2042. The report also said that football match attendances in the region would climb 13.4 percent, representing an additional 4.2 million spectators, while half the visitors to the World Cup in Qatar were likely to be women. “Grant Thornton’s report helps to quantify the significant commercial and football development opportunities for Fifa and football if the Middle East has the historic opportunity to host the Fifa World Cup in 2022. We can see many millions of new fans participating, watching and consuming football,” Hassan Al Thawadi, CEO of Qatar 2022, said in response to the research.

“We know the passion for football in the Middle East. The missing piece of the jigsaw is having the Fifa World Cup as the catalyst to unlock a whole new generation of fans and players,” he added prior to Fifa’s vote on where the 2022 tournament would be held. If opening up the Middle East to the world wasn’t persuasive enough for Fifa, then Qatar 2022’s case for making history by staging the World Cup for the first time in the region clearly was. But winning the hearts of the Fifa men was only the beginning; the team also needed to win minds by countering any potential problems raised by critics. That Qatar 2022 won the bid shows Fifa had no reservations about taking the competition to the Gulf state. Nevertheless, the fight to convince detractors they can stage a successful World Cup rumbles on. Searing temperatures remains the biggest concern, although Qatar 2022 insists all 12 open-air stadiums planned for the tournament will be air-conditioned, using climate controlled technology that emits zero carbons. As for infrastructure, rail and road links are being built for fans travelling between the seven cities hosting the games. A metro system, set to be completed in 2017, will connect to all stadiums, ensuring travel times of no more than one hour between each venue. Accommodation is also a big issue that Qatari authorities are keen to address. Qatar has about 50,000 hotel rooms – a figure set to rise to 95,000 by 2022. Whether that is enough to handle an expected influx of 400,000 fans remains to be seen, although it should prove more than adequate for tourists and business travellers visiting Qatar to attend conferences and events. Echoing this sentiment, Corbin Ball, founder of Corbin Ball Associates, believes additional hotels and a developed infrastructure will help bring more meetings professionals to the state. “As the first World Cup held in the Middle East, this global mega-event will spotlight the region in an extraordinary manner,” says Ball, who runs meetings, tradeshow and events technology website corbinball.com. “It will push the infrastructure to build out the hotel rooms, and this will leave a legacy where Qatar will be able to handle one of the world’s largest and most complex events. It will provide great publicity, helping drive more conferences and exhibitions to Qatar and the region.

Below: The concept for one of 12 football stadiums to be built for World Cup 2022 in Qatar Bottom right: New Doha International Airport

21%

expected growth of Qatar’s economy during 2011

“The World Cup brings people together on a global basis and, in some way, works for global understanding and peace. International meetings and exhibitions can do the same,” he adds. Qatar’s capacity to handle thousands of football fans in 2022 may be sketchy, but there is no question that a country with an economy projected to grow 15.5 percent last year and 21 percent in 2011 will spare no expense. With an estimated US$6.23 billion available to get the country in shape for 2022, Qatar’s government is pulling out all the stops. The projected capital spend seems an extraordinary amount during a period of global economic uncertainty, but analysts insist Qatar’s strong fiscal position reduces any potential risks. If anything, they believe speculating will make the Gulf state even richer. “It’ll be the mother of all economic booms,” George Nasra, managing director of International Bank of Qatar, told The National newspaper shortly after the World Cup announcement. “They have to invest a significant amount in infrastructure. This means transportation, electricity grids, water networks – even new cities. The country will have to go through a major change in infrastructure and maybe a new infrastructure, which will create significant opportunity for a range of companies - contracting companies, design firms, real estate companies and financing companies, among others.” Similarly, Marios Maratheftis, a Dubai-based economist with Standard Chartered Bank, believes Qatar’s economy will benefit from huge government spend. But beyond the World Cup, he questions whether the Gulf state will continue attracting enough visitors to warrant 95,000 hotel rooms. Speaking to Bloomberg, Maratheftis said: “Qatar would have to make a decision to become a tourist destination and they’ll have to come up with a plan on what to do with the hotels afterwards. Do they need to convert them into something else and what would that be?” With some 12 years to ready Qatar for the World Cup, the authorities must first concentrate on getting the infrastructure in place before worrying about sustaining tourism levels following the tournament. And suffer the country’s tourism industry might once the last football fan has gone home. But with a burgeoning events and meetings industry geared towards attracting more business travellers, Qatar hardly need fret. / 53

DESTINATION FOCUS / BEIJING

GOING FOR

GOLD

Being the capital of the people’s republic of China makes Beijing one of the most vital and important cities in the world for business. As the capital of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing is not just the centre of the country’s politics and culture but also one of the most important business cities around the world. China’s economic rise in the last decade has been well documented, with the country now holding increasing international influence that makes it the new superpower in global affairs – in politics and business. At the heart of these decisions is Beijing, so it’s no surprise to find a rapidly developing meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions industry fitting to such an important city. Home to more than 20 million people, this sprawling metropolis is the ultimate combination of ancient history and modern muscle. Ancient temples and beautiful gardens are treasured remnants of the country’s proud past, while office towers and cultural developments are clear signs of Beijing’s present and future. Rightly regarded as one of the world’s great cities, Beijing is famous for its art and culture. While Shanghai and Hong Kong may dominate in terms of economic importance, Beijing remains a bastion of China’s rich heritage. Visiting The Great Wall or exploring the palace complex of the Forbidden City are just two of the signature experiences that make a trip to Beijing truly memorable, and showcase its 3,000 year history. Hosting the 2008 Olympic Games was not without its controversies, but thrust Beijing onto the international stage. The games also left behind a legacy of improved infrastructure in terms of transport, venues and hotels that much improved the landscape for meetings planners. / 55

DESTINATION FOCUS / BEIJING

ﬁve million number of annual international visitors to Beijing

56 /

The booming economy and increased spending power of its residents has not been without negatives for the city. Beijing is known for its smog, not least caused by the huge surge in private vehicle ownership in recent years. While some industrial sites are being moved out of the city to reduce pollution, air quality is still an issue for visitors. Beijing Tourism Administration (BTA) is responsible for planning and promoting the growth of the tourist industry in Beijing. Following the 2008 Olympic Games, BTA used that momentum to develop events such as the Beijing International Tourism Expo and Beijing International Cultural Tourism Festival. The BTA is working hard to improve the quality of services available to visitors as more foreign tourists visit the city. With around 140 million domestic visitors each year, the ﬁgure of around ﬁve million international tourists is dwarfed in comparison, but a large percentage of those inbound visitors are attracted to Beijing for business and meetings.

MEETINGS & INCENTIVES OVERVIEW The China Incentive Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (CIBTM), is Asia’s largest business travel and meetings industry trade show, and held in Beijing for the ﬁfth time in 2010. Ofﬁcially supported by the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) and the Beijing Municipal Government, it is held at the China National Convention Center (CNCC). According to a report on China’s inbound tourism market by CNTA, business and meeting travellers account for 39.9 percent of all visitors. “With China being the most dynamic and the fastest-growing economy in the world, as illustrated by many multinational companies with their regional headquarters in Beijing, the country’s capital city is clearly the ideal location to support the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) sector in Asia,” says Jeffrey Xu, project manager, CIBTM.

Below left: National Stadium Below right: Beijing Theater and Great Hall of the People

“There is immense interest in the sector, both inbound and outbound, as local corporations expand globally and the world’s leading organisations increasingly focus on this part of the world and its abundant growth prospects.” Ms Gu Xiaoyuan, deputy director-general of BTA, also says that this is an exciting time for the development of the meetings industry in China as a whole and Beijing speciﬁcally, increasing the city’s brand awareness for meetings planners.

MEETING VENUES Home to CIBTM, China National Convention Center is a world-class facility, built for the Olympic Games. CNCC boasts a range of functional meeting and exhibition space and exciting surroundings in an unique environmentally friendly architectural design. CNCC officially opened in October 2009 for its originally intended function, having played a major role in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, where it was the main press centre and venue for hosted events. CNCC is located next to the Bird Nest (the China National Stadium which was built for the Olympics), and consists of the Convention Center, CNCC Grand Hotel, a five-star InterContinental Hotel and two office buildings. The centre itself has eight floors and also houses a shopping mall and subway station for excellent transport links to the city There are more than 70 meeting rooms at CNCC, and a 6,400 square metre plenary hall that can cater to 6,000 delegates. A 4,860 square metre ballroom can seat 3,000 delegates for banquets. The 23,000 square metre exhibition hall, with only three pillars, can be easily divided into four self-contained sections, each measuring 5,500 square metres. The lowest ceiling height is 10 metres.

CHECKLIST Destination overview: The capital of the People’s Republic of China, Beijing is a sprawling city. A city of rich history and culture, in recent years the skyline has been transformed as Beijing has grown on the world stage as a place of power. Improved infrastructure and facilities, especially after the 2008 Olympic Games, have made Beijing an increasingly attractive meetings and events destination, and it is home to CIBTM. Time zone: GMT +8 Population: 22 million Languages: Mandarin, with English rarely spoken except at international hotels. The main conference centres have live translation capabilities. Currency: Yuan (US$1.00=CNY6.63) Climate: Temperate, monsoon-influenced climate, with cold winters and hot summers. Average temperatures in January are -4 degrees Celsius, with July averaging 26. Prime convention centres: China National Convention Center (CNCC), Beijing International Convention Center (BICC) Meetings and events: CIBTM, 2008 Olympic Games Activities available: Cultural city tours, shopping, theatre, museums, dining, spas Signature experiences: The Great Wall, Forbidden City Unusual experiences: Tiananmen Square Transportation: Subway, taxi, train Getting around: Public transport infrastructure has improved and there are good links between the airport and main exhibition centres. However, heavy traffic and the large metropolitan area mean excursions could be time consuming. Cuisine: Diverse Chinese cuisine is available on every street corner, while quality international restaurants can be found across the city.

65 million

passengers handled by Beijing Airport in 2009

Flight connections: Beijing Capital International Airport handled more than 65 million passengers in 2009, making it the world’s third busiest airport. BCIA is utilised by more than 70 airlines with connections to 208 cities.

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DESTINATION FOCUS / BEIJING

Beijing International Convention Center is located in the Asian Games Village and has a floor space of 77,000 square metres

There are three ﬁve-star, seven four-star and more than 10 three-star hotels and apartments all within a kilometer of CNCC, accounting for more than 5,000 rooms. CNCC is located just 25 minutes from Beijing International Airport. Beijing International Convention Center (BICC) is located in the Asian Games Village and has a floor space of 77,000 square metres, comprising the Conference Building, the Chenxin House, the Chenyun House and the East Annex. BICC is one of the largest purpose-built facilities in China and has 50 conference halls and meeting rooms with capacity for 10 to 2,500 people. The exhibition halls can accommodate 300 standard booths. The Asian Games Village is a vibrant area which includes shopping and entertainment options as well as conference facilities. It is located 9km from the centre of Beijing and just 20km from the international airport. The Conference Building has a business centre, an audiovisual studio, a post ofﬁce, information counter, spacious 58 /

registration hall, public and VIP lounges and bars located on each floor. The halls are equipped with simultaneous interpretation systems and state-of-the-art communications and video conferencing systems. Opened in 1990, BICC has hosted some 1,000 international and domestic conventions, exhibitions and meetings each year. The adjacent Beijing Continental Grand Hotel merged with the convention centre in 2002, providing 538 four-star guest rooms on site as well as dining options.

EXPERIENCES Beijing is a great spa city, with the best of Asian traditional treatments and knowledge coupled with the luxury and reﬁnement of western spa practices. Beijing has numerous five-star hotels with signature spas, while more traditional massages, reﬂexology and wellbeing experiences can be found in independent spas and salons around the city.

Golf is a popular pastime in China and Beijing is no exception. There are many courses in and around the city but many of them are not easily accessible on a tight itinerary. One option located in the heart of the city is the Beijing CBD International Golf Club, which has an 18-hole, PGA standard course just 10 minutes from the central business district. History, culture and natural beauty are the main attractions for visitors to Beijing. With 3,000 years of history on show, it’s no surprise to hear the city described as an open-air museum. Grand temples, sprawling palaces and ancient alleyways make Beijing a great city for walking tours. Food is an important aspect of life across China and nowhere more so than the capital. Here visitors can ﬁnd an unparallelled array of traditional food on offer, though much would be considered a novelty for westerners. As well as the diverse Chinese cuisine, there are of course a multitude of multinational restaurants across the city, with all tastes accounted for. Shopping is another exciting activity in Beijing, especially away from the malls where atmospheric markets and stalls sell quirky souvenirs. Of Beijing’s many attractions, the most popular and well-known is undoubtedly The Great Wall. Located outside of the city, a trip to this man-made marvel is essential on any itinerary.

Built more than 2,000 years ago, this incredible, 370-mile-long fortification served to protect China from warrior tribes and invaders. Today, it is one of the country’s greatest tourist attractions. One of the finest sections of the Great Wall is located in Badaling, the most popular option if visiting Beijing, lying 70km to the north. The impressive Great Wall was built with bricks and large stones and is around six metres wide to allow access for horses. There are moats dug on either side and small holes were created to allow archers to shoot any unwelcome visitors brave enough to attempt to tackle this fortification. Badaling’s section of wall is incredibly popular with tourists and sometimes becomes crowded. An alternative, quieter section lies at Mutianyu which offers spectacular views of the surrounding mountains. In the historic centre of Beijing lies the Palace Museum, better known around the world as the The Forbidden City. Formerly the imperial palace, for more than 500 years this incredible walled wonder was the royal and political heart of China. There are 980 buildings within the complex which covers an area of 720,000 square metres. Declared a World Heritage Site in 1987, this stunning example of ancient architecture now houses an extensive collection of art and artifacts, especially from the renowned Ming and Qing dynasties. }

370 miles

length of the Great Wall of China

USEFUL CONTACTS Beijing Tourism Administration www.bjta.gov.cn China National Convention Center www.cnccchina.com Beijing International Convention Center www.bicc.com.cn / 59

DESTINATION FOCUS / OMAN

UNIQUE

OMAN Oman is building up its meetings and events credentials. The Sultanate hosted the 4th International Responsible Tourism in Destinations conference in October 2010, welcoming industry leaders and delegates to what was the first conference of its kind in the Middle East. December then saw Oman host the 2nd Asian Beach Games in cooperation with the Olympic Council of Asia. Two very different events that helped showcase not only Oman's meeting and event capabilities but also promoted two of its biggest attractions – eco-tourism and its Indian Ocean beaches. "We feel that our growing reputation for niche conferences has been given added profile by Muscat hosting the 4th International Responsible Tourism in Destinations conference in October," says Salem Al Mamari, director general tourism promotions, Ministry of Tourism, Oman. Oman's meetings and incentives industry is still a fledgling one, but the country has taken a measured approach to ensure its development in this field is also in keeping with its wider development plans. In 2009, Oman welcomed 1.6 million visitors, 20 percent, or 320,000, of whom were visiting for meetings and incentives. The 2nd Asian Beach Games was held December 8-16, 2010 and welcomed teams from 45 National Olympic Committees. The games encourage Asia's youth to participate in sport and celebrate the vast and varied cultures found across the continent. Teams competed in 14 sports disciplines: beach soccer, beach handball, beach kabaddi, beach sepaktakraw, beach volleyball, beach waterpolo, beach woodball, bodybuilding, jetskiing, marathon swimming, sailing, tent pegging, triathlon, and waterskiing. Oman built the one-million-square-metre Al-Musannah Sports City to accommodate the games. Al-Musannah Sports City is located 125 kilometres north of Muscat and features a four-star hotel, serviced apartments, an events plaza, an Athletes' Village, a range of retail and restaurant facilities, and a 400-berth marina. In addition, the organising committee also constructed a games command centre, information technology control centre, and international broadcast centre enabling media to share the beach action with the world. Various local beaches in the Muscat City area hosted competition venues. In total, the games welcomed 5,000 athletes and 500 media, officials and organisers. 60 /

The second largest country in Arabia, Oman is now flexing its meetings and events muscles, but with a focus on niche markets such as eco-tourism and sports entertainment.

125 km

The distance of Al-Musannah Sports City from central Muscat

/ 61

DESTINATION FOCUS / OMAN

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM The 4th International Conference on Responsible Tourism was held at the InterContinental Hotel, Muscat October 10-12, 2010. The conference was organised by the Ministry of Tourism in collaboration with the UNWTO and the International Center for Responsible Tourism, Leeds Metropolitan University. The conference reflected Oman's commitment to sustainable tourism development. Governments, the private sector, academic institutions and decision makers were brought together to share ideas, discuss new developments and directions on the principles and practices of responsible tourism in destinations. The conference was attended by several international organisations like UNWTO, UNEP, UNESCO and IUCN. Discussion topics focused on four interrelated themes: tourism, livelihoods, local economic development and human resources; responsible tourism in a world of ﬁnite resources; the responsible tourist, tangible and intangible heritage; and responsible destinations and marketing. The Sultanate of Oman's Ministry of Tourism is committed to safeguarding and enhancing cultural, natural and heritage values, and ensuring that all forms of tourism are conducted in a sustainable way. The Ministry has adopted the sustainable tourism principles developed by the UNWTO and encourages Oman's tourism businesses to adopt UNWTO and related guidelines and standards. In planning and developing infrastructure and services, consideration is given to social and environmental values, as well as to precautionary and preventative principles. Demand for eco-tourism oriented activities is also increasing. "This is very much part of a growing market trend. We offer eco-tourism products on a standalone basis as well as part of our round tour itineraries. Many of our itineraries feature the famous Turtle Beach nesting area and a chance to view the unique eco system of the mangroves," says Santhosh Kanakanadth of NTT Tours Muscat. Since its 2008 launch, the Ras Al-Jinz Scientiﬁc & Visitors Centre has also grown in awareness and popularity with its eco-friendly lodging option. It also offers privileged access to see endangered species of turtle bury their eggs on the beach, with young hatchlings facing a life or death struggle for survival as they make a desperate journey across the sands to reach the safety of the sea.

We offer eco-tourism products on a standalone basis as well as part of our round tour itineraries. Some itineraries feature the Turtle Beach nesting area - Santhosh Kanakanadth of NTT Tours Muscat

INCENTIVES

2008

The year Ras Al-Jinz Scientific and Visitors Centre was launched

The Sultanate's incentive tourism proposition remains focused on offering an authentic Arabian experience, along with an array of exciting, yet accessible adventure options. The chance to experience local culture ﬁrsthand with a wander through the lanes of an authentic local souk, a 4X4 drive up into the mountain mist, or an afternoon of team-building challenges on the desert sands make for a diverse collection of tailored delegate activities. "Unlike many competitors, Oman is giving more emphasis to pre-and-post-meeting tours and ensuring that meeting programmes involve a quality tour to some of our outstanding authentic attractions. Our focus is to ensure our guests leave here with a memory of Arabia, not the interior of a meeting room or convention centre," says Al Mamari. "We think the recipe is working as we see more requests for break-out meetings in historic houses, forts and castles. An international board visited a nearby castle and described the venue there as the 'ultimate board room'. I am pleased our beautiful, restored castles and majlis can be used in this way." The Sultanate's majestic mountain ranges provide a spectacular backdrop to the coastal cities and towns. This varied terrain makes Oman a great place for soft adventure and visitors can easily explore the low-lying foothills and 3,000-metre-high peaks. From summit to shoreline, activities are as diverse as the landscape and visitors can discover underground caverns, marvel at the colourful marine life, follow playful dolphins off-shore and watch endangered species of giant turtle lay their eggs. Æ

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DESTINATION FOCUS / OMAN

"Regionally, Oman is the only country that offers a real diversity of unspoilt, beautiful scenery and places to visit, ranging from spectacular mountain ranges to endless white sand beaches, verdant wadis, pristine deserts, old souks, forts, castles and thriving traditional villages. This, coupled with some world-class hotels, luxury camps and friendly people, makes Oman a unique and special destination," comments Sean Nelson, director of Hud Hud Travels. Visitors interested in culture, arts and architecture will ﬁnd that Oman has an array of exciting sites and attractions. With more than 500 ancient forts and castles, the country is a veritable treasure trove of discovery. Oman's location and temperate climate make it an exotic yet accessible option for European companies looking to inject a bit of sunshine into their business mix. Excellent land and air connections within the Middle East also ensure that it is an obvious destination for organisations closer to home.

MEETING PLACE Due for completion in 2013, the new Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, being developed by Omran, has been designed to enable the country to compete on an international level and give Oman conference space to match its future economic growth. The main buildings are supported by an expanse of retail, commercial and tourism spaces. This includes a large retail offering covering 150,000 square metres, a 70,000-square-metre business park and four hotels. On the ground, the Oman International Exhibition Centre, located adjacent to Muscat International Airport, also has plans to extend its facilities; and a new masterplanned convention centre, which will also boast two hotels, and have the capacity to host over 7,000 people, is also reportedly on the books with a tentative operational ready date of 2012.

VISION 2020 Through its Vision 2020 plan, Oman is diversifying its economy away from its heavy dependence on oil and gas production. "The Vision 2020 statement is a cornerstone document. It highlights the role of tourism as an economic sector to diversify the Oman economy from petrochemicals, as well as a platform to showcase Oman internationally and build relations that enhance Oman's economic and trade prospects as well," explains Al Mamari. Vision 2020 has five areas of focus for tourism. 1. Establish Oman as a regional travel & tourism hub 2. Increase the contribution of the tourism industry to GDP to not less than 3% 3. Increase participation of the private sector 4. Activate the private sector's role in the development of various tourism activities 5. Attract foreign direct investment (FDI) and increase the 'Omanisation' percentage of the industry to 80 percent "We focus on travel and tourism in order to diversify our sources of income. Oman's effective marketing and promotional campaigns overseas and attractive FDI environment are helping the industry to reach new heights," says Al Mamari.

64 /

INFRASTRUCTURE GROWTH Oman's infrastructure upgrades Ñ ﬁnanced as part of the government’s US$2.5billion (OR960 million) spend on hospitality and tourism projects Ñ saw the capital's international airport undergo a complete revamp in 2008. And Muscat International Airport is expected to ultimately boost the airport's capacity to 48 million passengers by 2050, with Salalah next on the list for development. New hotel product and upgraded meeting space is also attracting new business, buoyed by increased connectivity to international destinations. Currently there are more than 170 hotels and resorts in Oman with around 9,000 rooms. The aim is to have 18,000 rooms across the country by 2015. There are more than 50 new hotel and resort projects planned, adding 10,000 more rooms to Oman's hotel inventory. The Italy-based fashion house Missoni has named Oman as one of its next openings. With brands such as Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and Anantara set to enter the under-serviced market in the next few years, as well as other projects scheduled to come online by 2015, the depth and breadth of Oman's hospitality offering is ramping up. Oman's most high-profile development, The Wave in Muscat, is being developed by UAE-based Majid Al Futtaim Group of Companies and will add four hotels, beachfront villas, condominium towers, retail facilities, restaurants and a conference centre, spread over a development area of 2.5 million square metres. On the leisure side, the long-awaited Muscat Hills Golf & Country Club teed off for business in mid2009 and will be joined by a Greg Norman-designed Links course on The Wave in 2011. Oman's rapidly expanding menu of unique group experiences, combined with the Sultanate's ambitious mid-term development plans and its appeal to both regional and international decisionmakers, aptly demonstrates the Sultanate's preferred destination potential within the Gulf.

Where to find a deeper understanding of the importance of what you do.

IMEX isn’t just an exhibition about buying and selling. (Though the global meetings and events industry tells us we’re very good at that.) As thought leaders for the sector, each year IMEX opens up new dimensions of information, intelligence and ideas to drive the industry and your career forward. IMEX 2011, live in Frankfurt 24-26 May, will feature our most far-reaching New Vision education programme yet - seminars, forums and workshops from top experts on a huge range of subjects including future leaders, social media, environmental, technology and economic issues. IMEX will hone your business skills, giving you insight and opportunities to benefit from the global industry momentum. At IMEX 2011 you’ll meet more top people than anywhere else. The industry’s favourite show in the worldwide calendar will be buzzing with new contacts and great deals, as well as great thinking. Make sure you come to IMEX in Frankfurt in May. It’s for your enlightenment.

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COUNTRY FOCUS / OMAN

Steeped in rich history and heritage, Oman’s capital city Muscat is a glimpse of ancient Arabia.

GRAND MOSQUE

CITY TOURS

A tour of the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque in Muscat will provide any group with an insight into the Islamic faith, as well as exposure to impressive Arabian architecture. The site covers 416,000 square metres, while the mosque complex covers 40,000 square metres and can accommodate up to 20,000 worshippers. The mosque complex is made up of a main prayer hall, ladies prayer hall, covered passageways, a meeting hall and a library, which can hold up to 20,000 books. The interior is decorated with off-white and dark grey marble panelling clothed in cut tile work. Ceramic ﬂoral patterns adorn arch framed mural panels set in the marble, forming blind niches in a variety of classical Persian, predominantly Safavid, designs. The mihrab in the main prayer hall is framed by a border of Qur’anic verses and a gilded ceramic surround. The dome comprises a series of ornate, engraved stained glass triangles within a framework of marble columns, and a Swarovski crystal chandelier with goldplated metalwork hangs down for a length of 14 metres. The Imam will meet with small groups and, as well as taking them around the complex, will give a talk on the Islamic faith.

Taken as a Portuguese stronghold, with the two sentinel forts of Jalali and Mirani built in the 16th century to guard the deepwater approaches, Muscat finally became the capital of a unified Oman in the 18th century. Today, visitors can stroll through the atmospheric lanes of the old gated city of Muscat in the area around the Sultan’s palace. A guided walking tour or bus tour of the city provide a glimpse of ancient Arabia. From the heart of the city, Muscat sprawls through mountains and along the coast, including the fishing port and markets of Muttrah, the Ruwi commercial district, the government and embassy area along the coast, the bays of Al Bustan and Barr Al Jissah, and plantations of Seeb.

66 /

MUSEUMS Several of Muscat’s old houses have been converted to museums offering a glimpse of life before the doors to the wider world were opened in the last century. Prominent among these are the OmaniFrench Museum and Bait Al Zubair, the latter converted from a private residence in 1998 and now featuring a collection of antiques, weaponry, jewellery, costumes, domestic utensils and a historic town house. It is also available for private visits and lunch or dinner in the gardens. The museum is situated in Al-Zubair House, which was established by Sheikh Al-Zubair bin Ali in 1914. The museum has a comprehensive and well-documented collection of traditional artefacts from the past and present. It covers many aspects of Omani culture and customs found in the various regions of the country. Also on display is a set of rare photographic images of Muscat and several national occasions. The majority of the exhibits have been donated from private collections. Outside, a falaj runs through a reconstructed fullscale Omani village and souk.

SOUVENIR SEARCH Muttrah Souk is the most famous traditional souk in the country and the oldest in the capital. Rambling over a large area behind the Muttrah Corniche, the souk is a paradise for souvenir-hunting tourists. Entering the souk, you feel transported into an Arabian Nights fantasy, albeit a slightly modernised one. Frankincense, perfumes, spices, dates and antiques jostle for space with electronic products, fashion and toys. Exotic sounds, smells and ﬂavours assails the senses. The warren-like covered souk is a maze of alleys. Tucked away in one corner is the Gold Souk. Here, you can create your own jewellery, mixing and matching gold, pearls, precious and semi-precious stones, or choose from an array of ready-made jewellery.

However, if air-conditioned shopping is required, head back to the malls in Muscat such as Qurum City Centre, the Al Harthy Complex, Bareeq Al Shatti and Muscat City Centre. Jawharat Al Shatti is the home of the Heritage Gallery, a treasure trove of authentic craft souvenirs.

Left page: Muscat Mosque Above: Al-Zubair Museum Above right: Muttrah Souk

AL-MIRANI FORT The impregnable fort of Al-Mirani tops the western rocks of Muscat Bay, flanking Al-Alam Palace. It is thought to be named after one of its Portuguese inhabitants. The fort was originally built in the early 16th century by the Portuguese, who used it as their major headquarters during the 60 years of their occupation of Oman. Towards the latter half of the century they added more fortifications and towers to the fort. In 1610 a dock was constructed at the base of the fort, equipped with a low-level battering ram to repel attacks from passing ships. In 1650, Omani forces expelled the Portuguese, and gradually rebuilt and strengthened the fort into its present form. Notable features of the fort are its oval-shaped artillery tower, soaring upwards to a height of 26.5 metres from its rocky base at sea level, and a complex network of passages. The fort and its twin Al-Jalali, in conjunction with the formidable defences of Muttrah fort and a number of other fortified structures and watchtowers along the bay, made Muscat virtually unconquerable. They collectively supplemented the old city’s natural defences, the rocky hills surrounding the bay.

1650

When Omani forces expelled the Portuguese

BARKA BULLFIGHTS Barka is a small town about an hour’s drive northwest of Muscat that is famous for its bullfighting. However, the bulls at Barka are not subjected to the same fate as those in Spain. Rather, the Barka bullfights usually consist of two Brahma bulls going head to head in a makeshift ring for about five minutes, and the beasts are rarely seriously hurt. The attraction is the whole atmosphere that goes with the fights. Crowds of Omani men and boys gather, and while betting is strictly forbidden in Islam, competition still remains high. The bullfighting is also big business, with a winning bull being reportedly worth up to US$2,500. / 67

CASE STUDY / QMDI

SHIP SHAPE

QMDI's events team went full steam ahead and pulled out all the stops for the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition & Conference The event is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, Heir Apparent of The State of Qatar. Supported by Qatar Armed Forces, DIMDEX is hosted by Qatar Emiri Naval Forces. DIMDEX was launched in 2008 as a response to requests from the industry to have a deﬁnitive event to enhance co-operation among states, naval forces, international organisations and industries. It was also set-up to promote the updating of modern technological developments in the ﬁeld of maritime defence technology. Establishing the only comprehensive exhibition for naval defence in the MENA region further demonstrates Qatar’s position as a leading host in this dynamic industry and also as a world-class events destination.

PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES DIMDEX 2010 was the second edition of the bi-annual trade show serving the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. DIMDEX is the only maritime defence show in the region focusing on naval defence, coastal and maritime security. It provides a dedicated platform in the MENA region for all manufacturers and suppliers to showcase their latest naval technology incorporating warships, naval workboats and amphibious crafts, combat equipment, coastal security and sea-to-shore communication solutions. 68 /

DIMDEX 2010 featured four key elements which together provided a platform for global corporations to explore a multitude of business opportunities in the MENA maritime defence market. The 15,000 square metre exhibition area featured 143 international exhibitors from 26 countries with national pavilions from France, Germany, Holland, Sweden, UK, Italy, Korea, Turkey and Russia. The one-day Middle East Naval Commanders (MENC)

conference took place on the second day of the exhibition and was produced in partnership with RUSI (Royal United Services Institute for Defence and Security Studies) Qatar. The theme of the conference: ‘Delivering Security at Sea: Policy, Technology and Operations’ was presented by naval commanders from around the world, sharing their expertise on the geopolitical situation in the MENA region. Entry into the conference was free of charge for all DIMDEX attendees. There were 79 official VIP delegations from 52 countries flown in specially to meet exhibitors with a programme of appointments arranged through a delegation management system. Visiting warships are an essential component of DIMDEX and for the 2010 event nine navies sent 13 warships to support their national pavilion and country’s presence. The ships were berthed at Doha Commercial Port and open to attendees to visit throughout the three-day exhibition.

FACT FILE Client: Qatar Emiri Naval Forces Agency: Qatar MICE Development Institute Number of Delegates: 143 exhibitors, 9,050 attendees Venue: Doha Exhibition Centre Date: March 29-31, 2010

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES The full hosting of the VIP delegations is an integral element of DIMDEX and significant resources are put into the management of the VIP delegation programme. Due to the seniority of delegations, their commitment to attend DIMDEX is often received very late which created many challenges in terms of facilitating last-minute travel, accommodation and visa arrangements. Despite this, 79 delegations from 52 countries attended DIMDEX 2010 as the guests of the Qatar Emiri Naval Forces. Shipping of exhibitor products within this industry creates an enormous challenge due to security. Working with an internationally

renowned freight forwarding and site handling agent, along with local government liaison, facilitated the efﬁcient operation of customs clearance to ensure that international exhibitors received their products in good time and without difﬁculty.

VERDICT The second edition of DIMDEX in 2010 saw a 100 percent increase in net exhibition area from the inaugural 2008 event along with a 50 percent increase in visitor attendance. Over 80 percent of exhibitors rated the show as satisfactory and above, and the quality of visitors as good and above. }

/ 69

VENUE PROFILE / GRAN VIA

GRAN VIA EXHIBITION CENTRE Amid the hustle and bustle of EIBTM, Sonia Graupera, guest events manager for exhibition organiser Fira Barcelona, ﬁnds time to talk about Gran Via Exhibition Centre’s best features and facilities.

What’s unique about this venue when it comes to big events? It’s close to the airport and the city centre. It’s very easy to walk through the venue and find stands for the specific sectors you are interested in. We have two entrances which can both be used for exhibitions. We don’t have many conference rooms – a couple more would be perfect – but what we have is enough for our needs. The newest European venues in Munich, Leipzig and Milan are very similar to ours with well thought-out structures for people’s convenience. Sometimes we have two or three exhibitions taking place at the same, so we’re flexible because we can host 70 /

them in different places throughout Gran Via. Two new pavilions are under construction and they will be ﬁnished in February 2011. Next September, we will have the biggest exhibition in Europe, ITMA, which is an international textiles conference over 100,000 square metres. We are proud of this venue because it is very functional and useful for organisers. What facilities does the venue offer? The halls and convention centre have removable walls and different layouts, so we can have conferences for 2,500 people or for a cardiology or respiratory congress, for example, with halls one, two or three providing purpose-built rooms. The biggest can handle 3,500 people over 5,000 square metres.

What is the ideal event to stage at this venue? I love big medical conferences because the money the people spend in the city is a nice amount. Lots of evening events are held in special venues that offer good catering, which is great because we are here for the city. We are part of the city and have some responsibility to bring in money and fill hotels and restaurants. We also have good professional exhibitions, such as one for the swimming pools industry. It isn’t the most well-known, but it’s good because people from 55 countries spend five days in Barcelona. What’s the largest capacity event or exhibition Gran Via can stage? We can hold events over 198,000 square metres of space, but in terms of people it’s difficult to say. There is a car show that can handle 50,000 to 100,000 people a day, while the professional exhibitions can receive up to 100,000 visitors over five days. And on a single day, 30,000 to 40,000 people can attend certain events here. At the last EIBTM, there were around 7,000 per day, which was about 800 fewer than expected because of flight cancellations at Gatwick Airport and Munich Airport.

FACT FILE As one of the biggest and most modern facilities in Europe, The Fira de Barcelona’s Gran Via exhibition centre is highly-rated by organisers, exhibitors and visitors from across the world. Designed by Japanese architect Toyo Ito, the venue was created to be both aesthetically arresting and environmentally friendly. It stands as an efficient yet creative location for exhibitors and visitors. The venue has 198,000 square metres of exhibition space distributed over eight halls, and a huge car park that can accommodate 5,000 vehicles. The Gran Via Conference Centre is located in Hall 8, covering 14,000 square metres of space and featuring multipurpose meetings rooms. Each can be divided into smaller spaces, creating flexible areas for between 100 and 3,000 delegates. Plans to extend the venue are in the pipeline, with several more multipurpose meeting rooms mooted. Two new pavilions, which along with other developments will increase the venue’s floor space to 240,000 square meteres, have also been green-lit. But plans for a new auditorium have been shelved due to the economic crisis. At the time of going to press, Gran Via had 33 confirmed events for 2011 including Mobile World Congress, Eco City & Industry, motor sector event Salon Internacional del automovil and Infarma, a European pharmacies and medicines industry fair. In 2010, the venue played host to more than 50 exhibitions and tradeshows.

How big is your events division? If you count everyone on the sales side, it’s four people. My responsibility is to fill Gran Via and I am the first person to contact when people are looking at Barcelona and this venue. Once they like the venue, the process is passed on to a project manager who takes care of everything the client needs. Aside from constructing new pavilions, are there any other plans for the venue? No. We had plans to build a new auditorium but that stopped one year ago (because of the economic crisis). It’s not massively important from a sales point of view to have this, but it would help provide many more conference rooms for congresses. I’d like to see a floor with more conference rooms, but even without these we’re still doing well. In mid-2012, we will have metro stops [linking Gran Via] to the city centre and the airport. It will be very close to the airport with about eight subway stops, so you should be in the terminal at this venue in 15 minutes. Contact: +902233200 www.firabcn.es / 71

TOM ROWNTREE InterContinental Hotels Group / Vice President / Brand Management for EMEA

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB IN THIS INDUSTRY? Aged 16, I embarked on a two-month internship at Chester Grosvenor Hotel in the sales and marketing department, which resulted in the director offering me a Saturday job. I worked in this role for twoyears, focusing on administrative tasks and site inspections. Prior to my internship, I had undertaken several summer jobs across various sectors such as banking and real estate, but it was the hospitality industry that proved to be my passion. The industry is exciting, varied and constantly challenging and it wasn’t long before I realised that becoming a hotelier was what I wanted to do. WHAT WAS THE MEETING INDUSTRY LIKE WHEN YOU TOOK UP YOUR FIRST ROLE? The meetings industry was always appealing and rewarding, but it was certainly much more traditional 17 years ago compared to where it stands today. Similar to most industries, the use and presence of technology was limited and of less relevance and importance than it is today. The events themselves were also more formal and included board meetings, gala dinners and banquets. HOW HAS THE MEETINGS SECTOR CHANGED SINCE THEN? The meetings sector has undergone a marked shift. Technology now plays a crucial role at all stages, such as responding to inquiries, gathering information, developing proposals and presenting interactive floor plans. The internet has enabled great efficiency in responding to both business and customer requests. The scope of demand has also changed immensely with the emergence of more diverse needs and venues that stimulate thinking and offer delegates a break from the usual. WHAT WAS YOUR OBJECTIVE WHEN YOU FIRST JOINED YOUR CURRENT COMPANY AND WHAT HAVE YOU ACHIEVED? I joined the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) almost 13 years ago, and my objective was to learn from the best. IHG is a company with an excellent international reputation focused on delivering high-quality products and services to millions of individuals around the world. My journey with the company has seen continuous career developments and milestones. Starting off as the assistant director of sales at InterContinental Muscat, I have since experienced a variety of different roles and responsibilities, each as exciting as the previous. WHICH FAMOUS PERSON DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE AN INSPIRATION AND WHY? Without a doubt H.E Sheikha Lubna Bint Khalid Al Qasimi, UAE Minister of Foreign Trade, is one of my all time inspirations, predominately for the support she has given to the UAE agenda and for the accomplishments she’s achieved. Sheikha Lubna is the first woman to hold a ministerial post in the UAE, an achievement in itself. In addition, I have seen her on a number of speaking panels, where her phenomenal character really comes out. With vision, inspiration and confidence, Sheikha Lubna has a great impact on the world stage. 72 /

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO FUTURE HOTELIERS AND MEETINGS INDUSTRY PERSONNEL? I am guided by four key elements in my life, and believe that people should follow them, whether in the hotel industry or not. - Set your vision and work hard towards it with the belief that you can make it happen - Understand your customers and focus your efforts on them - Remain current and embrace technology and trends - Emotional intelligence is important. Self awareness is key and its clear that people who really make it in our industry are those that have high emotional intelligence combined with leadership skills WHAT WOULD YOU BE DOING IF YOU WEREN’T WORKING IN THIS INDUSTRY? The hospitality industry is challenging, exciting, and diverse. I cannot imagine working in another industry that provides the same level of variety and scope as this one. WHAT ARE YOUR INTERESTS AWAY FROM THE OFFICE AND HOW DO YOU LIKE TO RELAX? I like to travel and experience other cultures whenever the time allows. Luckily, my job gives me an opportunity to do so every so often. In addition to spending as much time as I can with loved ones, I also make an effort to spend some time at the gym or at the running track to burn off energy, but probably not as much as I should.

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