GIBTM_DAY1_March2013

MARCH 25 – day one | March 26 and 27 – day two and three

The official show daily for the Gulf Incentives, Business travel & Meetings Exhibition 2013

SHOW OF STRENGTH

inside

GIBTM gears up for its best show yet with participants projecting increased meetings business in the year ahead

04 Welcome to GIBTM

06 Exhibitor news

16 Today's education seminars 18 Inside GIBTM's brand new feature area, Event Camp Middle East 20 Lois Hall shares everything you

need to know about the show 22 How Abu Dhabi's drive for business

events is coming into its own 23 Charting a record year for ADNEC 24 Focus on exhibiting destinations

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The Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) opens on a very positive note today with a host of new exhibitors as well as long-term participants coming to the show with an increased appetite for business as the region surges ahead of international counterparts in terms of growth.

The host destination of the UAE has reported its best ever tourism performance with the seven emirates welcoming over 14 million visitors and hotels registering healthy occupancies year-round in 2012.

Being revealed today in a special session at 13:00 at the Knowledge Hub is the seventh edition of the IBTM Middle East Meetings Industry Research.

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24 DON’T MISS…

The launch of the IBTM Middle East Meetings Industry Research, which is taking place in the Knowledge Hub at 13:00 TODAY

The findings provide a snapshot of the outlook ahead for the regional meetings industry from both the buyer and supplier perspective and the bigger picture is definitely positive for the Gulf.

“We have been very encouraged by both spend and volume of events reported by respondents, as well as the projections for the year ahead. Come and be part of our session this afternoon to find out more,” said Lois Hall, Exhibition Manager at GIBTM. At the same time, new meetings facilities opening across the region will support further industry growth, with the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman being three key markets delivering a major infrastructure boom according to Reed

Travel Exhibitions (RTE), organiser of GIBTM. “Saudi Arabia and Oman are building and expanding convention facilities, helping to further establish the region as a meetings industry hub,” said Hall.

Abu Dhabi has made its intentions to support the growth of the exhibitions and conferences industry clear by launching the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau earlier this month, while in neighbouring Dubai, the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) has almost doubled its meetings capacity.

Elsewhere in the Gulf, where the meetings and incentives industry has strong growth potential, major infrastructure projects are underway including the expansion of Riyadh International Convention and Exhibition Centre (RICEC) where demand for events from an ever wider range of business sectors is rocketing.

According to a recent STR Global report Riyadh will transform into one of the fastest growing cities in the hospitality market in the Middle East.

Oman is also surging forwards and earmarking the meetings and incentives industry as a key growth market with the development of the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC) to be ready in 2016. The new facility has already been shortlisted for a major event soon after opening (see page 13).

ABU DHABI’S WINNING APPROACH to business

Further enhancements to Advantage Abu Dhabi revealed Abu Dhabi means business – literally and metaphorically – at this year’s edition of GIBTM as it enters the show with lots to shout about. From the newly announced Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau (see page 22) to enhancements to its Advantage Abu Dhabi incentive programmes revealed today.

Advantage Abu Dhabi has been given a boost with the introduction of 13 structured offerings designed to enhance the emirate’s appeal amongst sector-specific bookers.

Wide-ranging incentive offers include welcome dinners at host hotels, city tours and evening functions right through to experiences at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, desert safaris, meeting packages, golf rounds, cultural education sessions and even event logo development. These are just a selection of the incentives on offer.

To qualify, organisers must hold an event in Abu Dhabi that has a minimum of 50 paid room nights

during this year or next and the number of incentives on offer for a single event is on a sliding scale according to the number of paid room nights.

According to Abu Dhabi Tourism & Cultural Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), The Advantage Abu Dhabi upgrades are aimed at securing quick wins for the emirate among

the Arabian Gulf’s corporate sector.

“The emphasis at GIBTM will very much be selling in to the trade and media a new compelling range of support activations which will significantly increase Abu Dhabi’s appeal as a regional corporate business events and incentives hub,” said Mubarak Al Nuaimi, Director Promotions & Overseas Offices, TCA Abu Dhabi.

“What is standing out is how much more there now is to the emirate in terms of infrastructure and capabilities which will be evident via the stakeholder promotions being mounted at our GIBTM pavilion,” added Al Nuaimi.

“Abu Dhabi is now a place which corporate meetings delegates can get out and explore making heightening any event’s experience potential. Hence, the upgraded incentives include a broader selection of activities, excursions and teambuilding activities.”

| welcome |

welcome to abu dhabi

I would like to bid all those involved in GIBTM – whether exhibitor, visitor, hosted buyer or media – the very warmest of welcomes to a destination which is now prioritising the business events sector as never before.

Most of you will have heard of our new Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau, our dedicated, one-stop resource to assist planners and organisers in bringing their event to our destination.

The creation of this new entity sends a clear message of the importance we place on your business.

Over the past 18 months Abu Dhabi has made significant inroads into the international convention market and our efforts continue unabated.

The global congress segment has been recognised by ourselves and our stakeholders as vital to our long-term tourism sustainability. This means you are appreciated as vital stakeholders in our onward progression.

We hope during your visit to GIBTM that you have time to gain a greater understanding of our ambitions, our destination and its increasing attributes.

The growth of GIBTM, which is apparent from the many countries and organisations represented at this 2013 edition, is an indicator of how far our regional meetings industry has evolved over the past seven years since the show was first launched. From small beginnings, the industry is maturing region-wide with facilities on a par with the best in the world and a service level which is keenly focused on consistent improvement – a trend that will continue.

Outbound too, the sector is showing increasing maturity

with the region now having a solid, indigenous corporate base on which to build.

I look forward to the outcomes of the show in terms of business achieved, ideas sparked, research revealed and the confirmation of an overriding commitment to this most resilient of sectors.

Have a very pleasant and productive stay in Abu Dhabi and at GIBTM. GIBTM show dailies published on behalf of:

HH Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority

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We have a number of exciting events and initiatives lined up this year including MPI, SITE and ICCA industry association education programmes; a series of interactive business travel management sessions hosted by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE); insightful Arabic language seminars conducted by local cultural expert, Ali Al Saloom, plus the all-new Event Camp Middle East,

Gateway House, 28 The Quadrant, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1DN, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 20 8910 7711, Email: gibtm@reedexpo.co.uk Web: www.gibtm.com GIBTM is owned and protected by Elsevier Properties SA and used under licence.

Reed Travel Exhibitions/Reed Exhibitions is a registered trade mark of Reed Elsevier Group PLC. “Hosted Buyer” is a registered trade mark of Reed Exhibitions Limited.

Published by: Nicholas Publishing International P.O. Box 500573, Damac Executive Heights, Office 704, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 4 4243600, Fax: +971 4 432 7505 Email: meet@npimedia.com Web: www.meetmiddleeast.com © Copyright This show daily is published under licence by Reed Exhibitions Limited. The copyright in the design and content of the show daily is owned by Reed Exhibitions Limited or its licensors.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form, by any means – electronic, photocopying or otherwise – without the prior permission of Reed Exhibitions Limited.

open for business A very warm welcome to the seventh edition of GIBTM. This year’s show already looks set to be our most successful yet, with more participants than ever before – including a fourfold increase in European participation – and exhibitors, buyers and visitors from across the industry predicting good times ahead for the region’s MICE and business travel sector.

Confidence that more meetings and events will be booked in 2013, and budgets will increase, is supported by findings of research houses such as YouGov, with nearly half (47%) of all UAE and KSA travellers surveyed claiming they expect to increase their level of business travel in the next 12 months.

Up-to-the-minute insight into market conditions and sentiment will be revealed in the highly anticipated IBTM Middle East Meetings Industry Research, which will be unveiled at a special session at 13:00 today.

®

European Market Focus Hour and inaugural GIBTM PechaKucha20x20 Challenge.

If you are attending GIBTM as one of our hosted buyers, join us at the stunning Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara tonight for the GIBTM Hosted Buyer Welcome Reception from 18:30pm.

For our valued exhibitors, visitors, hosted buyers and media professionals, on Tuesday, March 26, from 18:30 to 21:30, join us

at the GIBTM Networking Reception at the Emirates Palace hotel – don’t forget to bring your name badge.

I would like to take the opportunity to thank His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), for his continued patronage, as well as the support of our distinguished partners – the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Etihad Airways, The Vision Destination Management Company, ACTE, SITE, ICCA and NPI, our global media partner and publisher of meetme and the official GIBTM show daily.

On behalf of the GIBTM team and Reed Travel Exhibitions, I wish you a successful week of business both on the show floor and at our social networking events.

Lois Hall Exhibition Manager, GIBTM

Show Daily Team: editorial Group Editor Faye Rowe faye.rowe@npimedia.com Contributors Sarah McCay Will Rankin Kay Wicklow studio Senior Art Director Andrea Tempesta Art Editor Kerri Bennett Senior Designer Prachi Bhaumik Contributing Designer Hiral Kapadia Photographer Adham Sneeh Production Coordinator Naveed Aziz Production Co-ordinator Carol Milan advertising Advertising Manager Irene Fernandez irene.fernandez@npimedia.com International Sales Manager Rose D'Souza rose.dsouza@npimedia.com publishing Publisher Rob Nicholas rob.nicholas@npimedia.com Visit NPI at stand F50

| EXHIBITOR NEWS |

Leading the way in business travel education ACTE delivers a comprehensive series of sessions for corporate travel planners The latest statistics show that business travel budgets are on the rise and more business people in the region are travelling. Recognising the growing need to build awareness and education for this important sector, GIBTM has teamed up with the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) to create dedicated education sessions for the business travel industry.

Three sessions taking place in the Knowledge Hub will see senior industry leaders share valuable insights and practical tips on how to make the most of a business travel programme in the Middle East.

“There is a real hunger in the market for this type of knowledge,” said Caroline Allen, Regional Director Europe & Middle East, ACTE. “We put peers together in a room to share examples of best practice in effective management that they can take back to their organisations and elevate work to the next level. We bring all parties to the table to find solutions together and gain a greater level of understanding by seeing issues from all angles.”

The sessions are timely considering the findings of YouGov’s ‘Travel Oracle’ report. Gauging UAE and KSA traveller attitudes and habits, the research reveals more than two in five travellers reported an increase in business travel

budget in 2012 (42% compared to 35% in 2010 and 41% in 2011).

Nearly half of respondents (47%) expected to increase their business travel in the next 12 months.

Looking ahead, statistics from research house Euromonitor International reveal steady growth increases in business arrivals across four key MENA markets (the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Morocco) between now and 2016.

The first ACTE education session taking place today from 16:00 to 17:00 features Chris Pouney, Director of Severnside Consulting sharing insights from his recentlyreleased white paper entitled Optimising Business Travel in the Middle East.

“The paper, which was released towards the end of 2012, provides useful information on understanding trends and will give attendees a clear picture of what business travel looks like in the Middle East. In turn, this will help them to create an effective business travel programme that adds value to their company,” said Allen. “A free copy of the white paper will be sent to each person who attends the session.”

Additionally, all those attending an ACTE session will receive a certificate of competence on understanding corporate travel management in the Middle East to show that they have reached an advanced level of knowledge.

ACTE Session 2 - An Interactive Panel Discussion: How to Maximise your Middle East Travel Management Programme, is taking place on March 26 from 10:00-11:00 while Session 3 – Unearthing Savings: Consolidating Business Travel Management, Meetings & Conferences is happening later that day, from 13:00 to 14:00.

“We would like to encourage all those who are interested in the topic to come along and get a certificate,” said Allen.

ACTE, a non profit global trade association, will be holding its next session at Fairmont the Palm, Dubai on 21 May. For details contact Caroline Allen by emailing callen@acte.org.

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The Vision Destination Management is looking to capitalise on the networking opportunities at GIBTM. “GIBTM represents an important platform for The Vision to connect with existing and new partners worldwide and to present new ideas on our destinations,” said Director of Operations Anwar Abu Monassar, who has been attending GIBTM since the show’s inception.

As the official ground handler for the event, The Vision Destination Management is able

Meetings IN mind The meetings business is top-of-mind for Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort, which is aiming to increase its MICE business by 15-20 percent this year. “Part of our strategy will be to attract new business by offering special promotional rates and discounts during soft periods,” said Khaled Amer, Director of Sales & Marketing.

Visit Stand B10

Casting the net Net Tours $ Travel is launching new products into the market at GIBTM including a VIP Shopping Consultation service. The company, which has sealed the ground handling for Italy’s MATTEL incentive based out of The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal, is also embarking on renovation of its desert camps.

Visit Stand B10

OM innovates Stavros Kleovoulou, Founder of OM Destination Management, a Cyprus based DMC is showcasing new and innovative ideas at GIBTM. The company is also announcing the launch of a new division under the name OM VIP Luxury Travel.

“OM VIP Luxury Travel’s attention is unique and personal, delivering an exquisite and first class service," he said. "Following our fundamental philosophy, ‘everything is possible’, we will seek to ensure every requirement is met as

seamlessly as possible and design the ultimate luxury trip in Cyprus. OM VIP Luxury Travel guarantees unforgettable experiences, blending originality with unusual settings, our local knowledge and networking, coupled with the rich history of the island.”

OM provides full destination mana­ge­ment services including incentive trips, conference organisation, product launches, special and themed dining events, VIP services and more.

Visit Stand D61

TAP THE APP

All things IBTM are just a tap away with the new IBTM Event App

Caroline Allen

THE VISION takes pro-active approach TO THE MARKET Anwar Abu Monassar

News in brief

Stavros Kleovoulou

to demonstrate its planning, execution and professionalism throughout the show.

“Each event offers the opportunity to enhance our reputation of being a reliable partner and strong support to the destinations where we operate,” says Monassar who counts a pro-active and problem-solving approach as a vital part of the offering. “Since the beginning, The Vision Destination Management took off thanks to its full commitment in delivering on its promises.”

Visit Stand E50

Research has shown that the average smartphone user has over 60 Apps installed on his or her phone and that one in seven people now own a smartphone (in the Gulf that figure is likely to be even higher).

People want a quick and easy way to access information and event attendees are no exception. This is why, in 2012, the IBTM portfolio of events launched a multi-event App designed to aid those visiting any one of its six global meetings and events expos.

The App, created using Genie Mobile’s platform, was a first for the industry and is designed to enhance the experience of the attendee before, during and after the show. The software provides users with access to essential tools and information at their fingertips, such as a full event schedule, personalised agenda, exhibitor listings, floorplan maps, social networking, speaker listings and much more.

“When considering the attendee experience, it is highly essential that short, sharp pieces of information

about the event can be easily accessed by the touch of a screen. It’s what everyone now expects and is used to in everyday life,” said GIBTM Marketing Manager Victoria Blake. “Last year proved to be a fantastic introduction to what our App can offer and this year we have certainly taken our event App to a new level.”

The IBTM multi event App, which includes this year’s GIBTM App, gives attendees quick access to easy-to-read information. The navigation and floorplan tool helps users find their way around the show floor.

There’s also a bookmarking system designed to make favourite seminar sessions, exhibitors and speakers easily accessible

at any time. This year also sees the launch of the diary matching feature, which allows Hosted Buyers and Exhibitors to view their appointment schedules complete with stand locations and timings.

The IBTM event App is used as a further tool to help remind people of important information, sessions and networking opportunities.

Through messaging, personal scheduling and interactive discussions taking place through an App, attendees find it easier to stay informed which, in turn, improves their return on investment.

For your full event schedule, personalised agenda, exhibitor listings, floorplan maps, social networking, speaker listings and lots, lots more, download the free GIBTM App today!

Don’t miss tonight’s Hosted Buyer Welcome Reception taking place at the Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa by Anantara from 18:30 to 21:30. Open to Hosted Buyers only. Remember to wear your GIBTM name badge.

The official show daily for the Gulf Incentives Business travel & Meetings Exhibition

| EXHIBITOR NEWS |

New routes and record numbers

Air Arabia is set to fly even higher in 2013

Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier in the Middle East and North Africa, has reported that it carried a record 5,301,484 passengers in 2012, a 13 percent growth compared to the previous year.

In 2012, the airline launched flights from its primary hub in Sharjah to nine new destinations – Kazan, Taif, Salalah, Ufa, Odessa, Erbil, Astana, Basra and Rostov. The airline also increased frequencies to many existing destinations including Moscow, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Doha, Kuwait and Najaf, as well as Karachi, Peshawar and Delhi. In addition, the airline has continued its expansion from hubs in Morocco and Egypt reaching a global network of 83 cities.

“Air Arabia continues to witness significant year-on-year growth in passenger numbers, and this demonstrates the growing popularity of the airline’s value for money services,” said Adel Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia. “As a pioneer in the low-cost space, we will continue to set the standard for the low-cost travel segment, offering great fares to an ever growing range of destinations.”

Air Arabia took delivery of six new aircraft in 2012 as part of an order for 44 aircraft placed in 2007. The delivery of the 44 new aircraft will be completed by 2016, and will more than double the size of Air Arabia’s fleet.

In January 2013, the airline took delivery of its first Sharklet

equipped aircraft from Airbus, and became the first airline in the Middle East to operate a Sharklet equipped A320 aircraft.

The airline is due to receive five more aircraft this year.

On March 11, 2013 Air Arabia also initiated its first non-stop service to Baghdad, its fourth destination in Iraq and 83rd worldwide. The airline has started three weekly services between Sharjah and Baghdad that will be increased to five weekly services in the coming weeks. The full schedule is available on www.airarabia.com.

“It has been three months since we launched our last destination in Iraq and we are delighted to spread our wings further into the country, with the launch of services to the capital city," said Adel Ali, Group Chief Executive Officer, Air Arabia.

“Iraq is a market of focus for Air Arabia and today’s announcement further reiterates the commitment that we place on serving the Iraqi market.”

With an approximate population of 7.3 million, Baghdad remains an important city to connect to from Sharjah. With the launch of the new service, Air Arabia will now operate 23 weekly services to Iraq, making it one of the growing markets for the carrier. In addition to Baghdad, Air Arabia currently offers non-stop services to Basra, Erbil, and Najaf.

Visit Stand E10

Belgrade, Serbia

SerbiA's eco innovations Serbia is exhibiting for the first time at GIBTM, spurred by the increasing strength of its connections with the Middle East that are bolstered by direct flights via Qatar Airways and FlyDubai.

As one of the fastest growing convention destinations in the EU, Serbia Convention Bureau (SCB) is highlighting the desti­nation’s unique range of incentives, including cruises along the Danube river, archeological sites and fortresses, train journeys that take in the stunning landscape and various nature resorts and spas. As the economic hub of southeast Europe, it comes as no surprise that Serbia provides a variety of venues with excellent connections.

Combining sustainability and innovation with meetings is a key focus for SCB in 2013. The bureau unveiled its Strawberry Energy Concept at EIBTM 2012. Developed by the National Tourism Organization of Serbia, the solar energy charger allows delegates to re-charge their mobile devices, check emails thank to its free Wi-Fi zone and browse pictures of major venues and hotels in Serbia.

It also offers a chance to have some fun with puzzles to solve and networking opportunities under the shade of the treeshaped structure.

Digital savvy delegates can download the Serbia Destination mobile App, which

unveiling a fresh new look

Technology Zone pushes all the right buttons Back by popular demand, GIBTM’s Technology Zone is showcasing the industry’s most technologically advanced products designed to improve the meetings experience.

Among the exhibitors is DoubleDutch (Visit Stand E60), which is showcasing its range of branded mobile Apps.

“We hope to generate leads and meet event organisers who would be interested in working with us,” said Victoria Makras, Event Marketing Manager.

Dubai-based Matrix Audio Visual and Entertainment (Visit Stand F61), which prides itself on it creative and contemporary ideas is providing the technical and production services to the Hosted

Buyers Welcome Reception at the Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Resort by Anantara tonight.

“With full responsibility for stage, screen, sound, lighting and entertainment at the reception, the Matrix staging will illustrate how state-of-the-art AV can set the tone and pace for any event,” said CEO Rajesh Pereira.

Debuting at GIBTM this year is QuickMobile (Visit Stand F64), which produces a range of mobile solutions especially for the meetings industry.

“It is evident that mobile technology is impacting all aspects of our lives and is transforming the event industry with its inherent capabilities to connect and engage,” said President and CEO, Patrick

Enchanted Island Resort, Seychelles

Payne. “Whether it’s increasing participation, building loyalty or generating revenue, meetings professionals leverage our mobile solutions to create richer experiences, extending events into year-long conversations and fostering lasting relationships with their audiences.”

is ideal for meeting planners and tourists alike.

Established in 2007, SCB has worked hard to rapidly improve its ICCA ranking within six years by establishing key partnerships with relevant stakeholders, creating an association programme with representatives from scientific institutions in the country and developing marketing strategies to promote Serbia as an attractive destination that offers great value for money. In 2011 Serbia took the 42nd place in the world, and 24th in Europe (with 55 meetings held), while Belgrade, Serbia’s capital, is among the top 50 meeting destinations in the world.

Visit Stand D60

It's out with the old and in with the new as JA Resorts & Hotels highlights a fresh new image at this year's GIBTM. The company, which has over 30 years' experience in hospitality, kick-started its strategic rebranding process in late 2012

by replacing its former name, Jebel Ali International Hotels, with the new name and logo.

Developed in conjunction with branding agency Interbrand, it was important that the new look retained the company’s traditional values and passion for heartfelt hospitality. It’s hoped the new identity will provide a consistent and engaging message for the group to develop in international markets.

David Thomson, Chief Operating Officer of JA Resorts & Hotels, who has been with

the company for over a decade, said: “Essentially, we’ve not moved too far away from the experience that was already on offer. We’ve simply aligned our approach across all properties, so even if you stay at our hotel apartments, our beach resort, or our new four-star hotel, you’ll receive the same high standards of service excellence and genuine attention. JA Resorts & Hotels, as an experience, is all about casual luxury and heartfelt hospitality, an assurance that we guarantee at any one of our resorts or hotels”.

The first property to open under the new JA Resorts & Hotels brand is the Ocean View Hotel on ‘The Walk’, JBR. The family hotel has 338 rooms, all of which have sea views, as well as six restaurants and bars, a gymnasium and temperature controlled infinity pool.

The second project on the horizon is the opening of the Enchanted Island Resort, the group’s first international property outside of the UAE. The luxurious Seychelles hideaway, due to open later this year, features ten spacious villas circling the perimeter of the five acre island.

Visit Stand D10

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| EXHIBITOR NEWS |

Rotana’s show of support

Le Royal Meridien Abu Dhabi

Region’s largest hotel group makes its mark at GIBTM with major presence The Majestic Arjaan

by Rotana

One of GIBTM’s biggest supporters, Rotana has over 40 properties exhibiting this year. On top of providing attendees with all the latest news from its current portfolio of over 85 properties in MENA, the leading hotel management company

will be giving updates on its bullish expansion plan.

Recent news includes the company’s first hotel opening in Bahrain. The Majestic Arjaan

by Rotana, which opened on March 13, is located on the island of Muharraq, just a few minutes from the city of

Manama. Developed with both short- and long-term guests in mind, the property offers 128 suites and marks the 11th opening under the ‘Arjaan Hotel Apartments by Rotana’ brand.

Rotana has also announced that it is expanding into Turkey with two new hotels in Istanbul in partnership with Turkish group Dap-Yapi. The Tango Arjaan by Rotana and Burgu Arjaan by Rotana will add 410 rooms to the company’s portfolio and represents a bold move outside its core region.

Selim El Zyr

On completion, the Burgu Arjaan by Rotana – divided into two connected towers, Burgu 1 and Burgu 2 – will have a total of 222 rooms while the Tango Arjaan by Rotana will be a 188-key hotel. The two Burgu towers, with 111 rooms each, will share facilities including a business centre, restaurant, health club and indoor and outdoor pool as well as five to six meeting and conference rooms.

Selim El Zyr, President & CEO of Rotana, said: “Arjaan Hotel Apartments by Rotana are designed to close the gap between hotel and home and we are entering the vibrant Turkish leisure market for the first time with this concept. The new properties will represent a milestone for Rotana – the Tango Arjaan by Rotana and Burgu Arjaan by Rotana will

be the first step in taking our brand, which is already iconic in the Middle East and Africa region, to the wider world.

“The Tango Arjaan by Rotana and Burgu Arjaan

by Rotana also make great economic sense for both residents and investors. With the ‘Rent while you are away’ scheme, which is common worldwide but is yet to gain ground in Turkey, the properties provide an alternative source of income for owners.

The weekly, monthly and annually rented apartments will be operated and managed by a professional system and apartment owners will have the choice of an extra income by renting their places through Rotana to immediately begin earning returns on their investments,” he added.

Visit Stand D40

Athens aims to please First time exhibitor at GIBTM hopes to entice Gulf buyers in 2013 Athens Convention Bureau

Athens Convention Bureau is exhibiting for the first time at this year’s GIBTM to promote its congress credentials to the Middle East.

“Athens is an ideal congress destination combining stateof-the-art infrastructure, excellent facilities and venues that are easily accessible from all over the world together with world class cultural attractions, modern amenities, diverse entertainment and natural beauty,” said Marketing and Sales Director Alexia Panagiotopoulou. “Additionally, Athens is at the crossroads of three continents and the entry point to Europe. A city with a history stretching back more than 30 centuries, with an Olympic heritage and expertise in organising large-scale conferences and event, Athens has multicultural mentality close to that of eastern Asian countries.

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We believe that we possess all the necessary attributes to satisfy even the most demanding needs of conference and meeting organisers.”

The bureau’s main aim for the event is meeting with Hosted Buyers in order to familiarise them with the city’s unique cultural and business tourism attributes. Among the highlights Athens Convention Bureau

are 44 world class museums and UNESCO World Heritage sites including the new Acropolis museum, 40 conference and exhibition venues and more than 379 conference rooms.

Athens is also the only European Capital with 15 Blue Flag beaches and marinas and more than 50 kilometres of coastline.

“Our goal is to showcase the competitive advantages that Athens has as a destination, generate business leads and establish long-term channels of cooperation to boost the meeting industry of Athens,” said Panagiotopoulou.

Athens Convention Bureau is a division of the Athens Development & Destination Management Agency and offers a wide range of services to help interested parties bring their meetings and events to Athens and the surrounding area.

Visit Stand D64

Martin Sirk and Gamal Sadek

ICCA IN the region Recognising the market growth for international association meetings in the Middle East, the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) has opened a new Middle East Regional Office to boost its development.

ICCA President Arnaldo Nardone said: “The opening of the new regional office in the Middle East isn't simply a move to deliver better services to our existing members in this region, but a recognition that the international association meetings market is continuing to evolve, and it is in the growth of regional meetings in the Middle East that we anticipate some of the most dramatic future developments. There is going to be more business for our existing members in the Middle East, more new events to identify and add to the ICCA Association Database, more new infrastructure developments, more understanding of the strategic importance of association events by city and national governments, and more interest in ICCA by potential

new members. It is strategically important for ICCA to build a long-term presence in the Middle East market.”

Mr. Gamal Sadek from the Al Ketbi Consultancy has been appointed ICCA Regional Director for the Middle East at the new Dubai-based office, bringing a wealth of experience to the new role.

GIBTM marks Sadek’s first official event as an ICCA representative. He said: “My top priority is to make sure that every ICCA member in the Middle East knows that they’ve now got a friendly point of contact to help them get the maximum value out of their ICCA membership, to make them aware of how to use the ICCA network, the database, and the full range of ICCA services.”

Don’t miss the ICCA hosted ‘The Middle East Going Green’ seminar’ where the environmental impact of meetings will be discussed with suppliers and planners. The session is taking place today from 11:30-12:30 in the Knowledge Hub. Visit Stand D72

Showing off a facelift Le Royal Meridien Abu Dhabi will be spreading word of its new refurbishment at this year’s show and promises planners a complete refresh of its guest rooms, suites and public areas by the third quarter (Q3) of this year.

“A new dedicated Royal Club Lounge is to be added as well as a new restaurant by a worldrenowned chef,” said General Manager, Shaun Parsons.

The property is also revamping all its restaurants, including Al Fanar, the UAE capital’s only revolving and licensed restaurant and Irish outlet PJ’s in order to elevate the hotel’s F&B to a higher level for foodies. The opening of a branded restaurant will be announced soon.

The lobby is also included in the refurbishment plans and will be transformed into a ‘hub’ for guests and visitors as per Le Meridien signature lobby spaces.

“The market has been curious about the refurbishment plans for months but GIBTM will give us the chance to talk more openly about the new product and exhibit renderings and designs of the soonto-be property enhancements,” said Parsons.

Le Royal Meridien Abu Dhabi is an established meetings destination in the capital with an extensive portfolio of events space suitable for a total capacity of 1,300 people. The largest meeting space is the Liwa Grand Ballroom with its own grand entrance.

Visit Stand B10

Get the inside scoop on the show and latest industry developments, by joining the GIBTM group on LinkedIn.

| EXHIBITOR NEWS |

Yas widens ITS appeal New facilities broaden the island's attraction An aerial view of Yas Island

Yas Island is boosting its credentials as a draw card for sports, shopping and entertainment enthusiasts from around the world by adding even more attractions to its roster.

Its recent openings, Yas Beach and the Yas Waterworld waterpark, are enhancing the island’s reputation as a standalone leisure destination, with interest from Russian and German markets on the rise.

Bruno P. Wiley, Sales Director of Yas Waterworld & Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, the island’s two headline attractions, said: “It’s a huge transformation on three months ago and what is even better is how all the stakeholders are now coming together to ensure a more coordinated approach to sales.”

The upcoming Yas Mall, due to open later in 2013, is expected to further build the island’s appeal as a year-round destination.

Hotels on Yas Island are already starting to benefit from the developments.

“The opening of the beach has been a major breakthrough for us. We are now getting serious leisure guests from Russia and Germany,” said Andy Nightingale Director of International Sales, Rotana.

Actively promoting Yas stays as a leisurhe product is InterContinental Hotels Group, which operates the Crowne Plaza Yas Island.

“The beach has sealed it for many operators. This, now combined with the Yas Express complimentary bus services, the golf course, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, Yas Waterworld and the concerts at the Du Arena makes us a serious leisure contender,” said Sayed Tayoun, Area Director of Sales & Marketing Abu Dhabi, IHG. The 2,500 hectare project, developed by Aldar Properties, also features Yas Marina Circuit, the first Links golf course in the Middle East, a world-class marina, seven hotels and several other exciting venues.

Visit Stand B10

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts rolls out new meetings programme Known for its strong Swiss heritage, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts is unveiling its new Meetings & Events programme at GIBTM, which is designed to provide planners with a bespoke product that makes the most of each individual property and its location.

The programme focuses on three key principles including “Food for thought”, featuring healthy, seasonal fare, live cooking stations, menus adapted for special diets and special touches such as Mövenpick ice cream stations.

The second USP is a streamlined event organisation service called “Thought-through service”, which aids the creation of quality events, custom-made to suit each individual’s requirements. This is supported by dedicated meetings consultants that remain the client’s point of contact from start to finish.

Meeting concierges are also on hand to assist with any requirements during an event.

Lastly, Mövenpick’s meeting spaces are now able to be transformed into unique locations capable of accommodating bespoke event concepts. Known as “Inspirational environments”, settings can range from an ancient amphitheatre

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highest quality facilities, and services underpinned by personal attention. During this, our first GIBTM, we hope to make new contacts, encourage potential club members and petition interested parties for future events,” said José Antonio Sánchez, Sales & Events Manager, Ascari.

“At Ascari, you can reward or cultivate the loyalty of your clients or guests by arranging for them to drive on our spectacular circuit.”

The high-security site offers four different tracks, indoor parking for 300 vehicles, a clubhouse with a terrace and swimming pool, a restaurant, a conference

in Petra to an historic cave in a restored water tower in Hamburg, depending on the client’s needs.

“Trade shows such as GIBTM are a good indicator of the year ahead for the industry and a key platform to explore business opportunities and strengthen relationships with MICE specialists from around the globe,” said Toufic Tamim, Vice President Sales & Marketing – Middle East, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts. “We would like to take this opportunity to assess the incentive market for the year ahead, find out key information about the needs and requirements of the market and obtain leads that ideally will then convert into business.”

Also on the agenda for Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts are details of a number of new properties set to open soon.

“We started 2013 on a high note with the opening of the Mövenpick Hotel Apartments The Square Dubai in January,” said Tamim. “The hotel is located in Al Mamzar in Dubai’s eastern district of Deira and features 180 deluxe, serviced hotel apartment suites. We are very pleased to be the first international hotel company to operate in this area. During the remainder of this year, we expect to open two more hotels, another one in the UAE and also one in Saudi Arabia.”

The Mövenpick Hotel Jumeirah Lake Towers is set to be the company’s sixth

hotel in Dubai, offering 168 rooms and 307 apartments, as well as a private residence club.

Mövenpick Hotel Riyadh will be its tenth hotel in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is scheduled to open in Q4 2013. The hotel will have 433 rooms and suites, four speciality restaurants, 14 conference rooms, a ballroom for up to 1,200 guests and a swimming pool.

“2013 is shaping up to be a significant year for the Middle Eastern MICE industry and expectations are high that there will be an increase in intra-regional corporate meetings, improved incentive business, as well as strong performances from the Russian and Indian incentive market mainly to the UAE,” said Tamim. “India alone achieved a significant 12.5 million outbound travellers last year and the potential is significant.”

Another key focus for the company is putting strategies in place to develop the Chinese incentive market.

“This has the potential to triple within a few years,” said Tamim. “We have already opened our sales office in Shanghai, translated our website into Chinese and are planning various workshops and road shows throughout China.”

Visit Stand D50

Hosted Buyers with an interest in Europe should join the Market Focus Europe initiative on Tuesday March 26 from 08:00 to 09:50 in the Event Camp Theatre.

This private networking opportunity is designed for buyers looking to meet specialist European market exhibitors.

Business on the podium Named after legendary two-times F1 world champion, Italian race driver Alberto Ascari, Spain’s Ascari race track, exhibiting for the first time at GIBTM, is the longest in the world at 5,425 metres.

Located in the Ronda Mountains of Malaga, in southern Spain, it is intentionally devoid of advertising hoardings commonly seen at other tracks and its Paddock S53 concept aims to marry leisure and business.

“As well as indulging the needs of motorsports lovers, we cater for private corporate events and promotional presentations. We offer the

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts's outside catering in Petra, Jordan

hall, a meeting room, Wi-Fi internet connectivity, a heliport and an internal and external shuttle service.

“If you wish to experience excitement at a new level in the company of your clients, partners or friends, Ascari is the ideal place. Here, the facilities and personalised attention are all geared towards making your event a complete success,” said Sánchez.

The site lies just 40 minutes from the resort town of Marbella, with its beaches, golf, marinas, four- and five-star hotels and world-class leisure facilities. It is one hour from Malaga and Gibraltar airports.

Visit Stand C50

Aerial view of Ascari

The official show daily for the Gulf Incentive Business travel & Meetings Exhibition

| EXHIBITOR NEWS |

Countdown to debut IBTM India

Setting Site on objectives

Reed Travel Exhibitions is set to launch the first edition of IBTM India which will take place at the Grand Hyatt in Mumbai from 12-14 September 2013.

Bringing together meetings and business travel buyers and suppliers for three days of business, education and networking, the first instalment of IBTM India will attract 100 participants from international and Indian hotels and venues, national/state tourism boards, travel and destination management companies and airlines. Technology and event management companies will also be represented.

Hosted Buyers at the event will be comprised of top level decision makers from key markets around the world, including corporate meeting, associations and event planners, all of whom will be pre-qualified to ensure they are planning to place business in India.

Craig Moyes, Portfolio Director, IBTM Meetings and Events Portfolio, Reed Travel

In 1973, Site’s founders set out to create a global community representing incentive travel and motivational experiences professionals. As Site celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2013, the association has achieved that preeminent position in the industry and looks forward to continuing to enhance its buyer/ supplier networks, educational events, and platforms, such as GIBTM, to share knowledge and build business relationships.

“This is an exciting year for Site as we celebrate ‘40 Years Forward'," said Site President David Sand, CEO of Uwin Iwin Incentives, South Africa.

“Throughout 2013, we will recognise and emphasize Site’s mission to create a global community of incentive travel and motivational experiences professionals. My goal as President is to ensure that we bring to the table the diverse voices of Site members worldwide and that we work together to meet the needs and expectations of our global membership.

Craig Moyes

Exhibitions said: “We are very excited to be launching IBTM India in just six months time.

India holds enormous potential for the MICE industry with a projected GDP growth of over eight percent in the next five years. The world’s third largest economy is also showing an increase in outbound business, estimated in 2010 to be worth some US$600 million for the sector, with projections of a 13 percent increase in the coming years. As Mumbai is the business hub of India and we believe that it is the perfect location to launch the newest IBTM show. " Visit the website at ibtmevents.com/IBTM-India.

Site celebrates 40th anniversary at GIBTM and emphasizes growth in the UAE

Site anniversary celebration in Egypt

The UAE continues to grow in importance as an incentive travel destination. I look forward to greeting Site members at GIBTM and at the many Site events being held throughout the year, culminating with the Site Global Conference 2013 in Orlando, Florida in the US in December.”

Site’s mission is to elevate the knowledge of industry professionals on what makes an incentive experience meaningful, motivational and memorable and, in this anniversary year, the association plans for even greater strides. Through education initiatives such as Global Education Week and the Certified Incentive Specialist (CIS) program, as well as established programs like the Site Crystal Awards, the association recognizes and elevates quality in motivational experiences.

“The Site UAE Chapter’s participation in GIBTM provides us with the opportunity to educate potential members in the region about the benefits of being a Site member and also introduce the key objectives of the local chapter,” said Site UAE Chapter President, Sian Thomas, Director of Group Sales for The Address Hotels + Resorts. “We hope to attract a wider spread of members through Abu Dhabi, Dubai and the rest of the UAE.” Visit Stand E70

David Sand

| EXHIBITOR NEWS |

The perfect 10

An incredible 10+ million visitors welcomed to the UAE’s leading tourism destination in 2012 Dubai passed the 10 million visitor mark for the first time last year as the emirate experienced an impressive surge in visitors, especially from the GCC and Russia.

Saudi Arabia became Dubai’s number one visitor source market for 2012, overtaking both India and the United Kingdom as citizens from the GCC state came en masse to the UAE emirate with numbers rising 30 percent year on year.

Overall, the emirate recorded a 9.3 percent rise in hotel guests and cruise passengers in 2012 to 10.16 million people.

"This growth is due to a number of factors including the city-wide destination management strategy, our world-class infrastructure, our location at the crossroads of East and West, and our unrelenting efforts to enhance our diverse and compelling tourism offer," said Helal Almarri, Director General of Dubai's Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM). There were also increases in the number of nights people stayed in the emirate, their average length of stay and hotel revenues.

"The growth across each indicator is a welcome

confirmation of Dubai's everincreasing appeal and a testament to the aggressive marketing and promotional agenda of DTCM in positioning Dubai as the major tourist hub of the region and a global destination of choice," said Almarri.

Hotel guests increased 9.5 percent to 9.96 million, and the number of nights they stayed climbed 14 percent.

"The increasing average length of stay and the rising number of hotel apartments is evidence of a growing trend in people and families visiting Dubai for longer periods; historically the city was seen by some markets as a stopover destination but in recent years it has become the destination," said Almarri.

Hotel revenues rose as a result of the extra nights by almost 18 percent to AED18.82 billion (US$5.12 billion), while the number of hotels also climbed to 599 properties from 575. Openings included Fairmont The Palm, JW Marriott Marquis Hotel Dubai and Jumeirah Creekside.

Additional rooms did not force down room rates, which rose on average from AED563 in 2011 to AED588 last year.

Saudi Arabia was Dubai's largest source market with 1.13 million visitors, followed

by India, the UK, the US and Russia. China was the 10th on the list of top visitors, but the number of visitors from the country climbed by 28 percent last year alone.

Dubai hopes to grow the number of tourists from China, the world's second-largest economy, who spend about AED202 billion (US$60 billion) a year worldwide, through additional marketing initiatives.

Almarri said the rise in visitors was partly linked to increasing cross-border trade and investment ties with countries such as China. "As these links continue to develop, visitors from these nations will continue to rise," he said.

"It's encouraging to see that visitor numbers from all of the markets in which DTCM has a representative office continue to swell, demonstrating the role that our overseas offices play in helping to drive growth in both intra-regional traffic and in arrivals from other key source markets such as India, the UK, the US, Russia, Germany and China," he added.

Visit Stand D10 The Dubai Fountain

Mezzoon ballroom, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers

Jumeirah's pedigree

Jumeirah at Etihad Towers' meeting expertise showcased at GIBTM GIBTM is proving an important platform for Jumeirah at Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi to promote its luxurious facilities and meetings expertise.

The hotel team is highlighting the conference centre with its 1,900 square metre Mezzoon Ballroom featuring panoramic views of the Arabian Gulf, 13 meeting rooms and spacious pre-function areas, as well as a bridal suite, chairman’s suite and a business centre.

Underscoring the meticulous planning that has gone into the hotel’s conference centre is its elevator – which is

capable of lifting automobiles and other large, heavy items to the Mezzoon Ballroom.

But perhaps the ace in the hotel’s pack is Abu Dhabi’s newest, highest, luxury venue, the Observation Deck at 300.

Standing 300 metres tall, the deck offers stunning views of the UAE capital’s corniche, skyline and the Arabian Gulf and is available for private functions. The property is also promoting Scott’s Terrace as another unique venue boasting views over the Arabian Gulf.

“Our focus will be on communicating our unique products

and services for hosting successful luxury events, where event planners are able to co-ordinate with us with full confidence and peace of mind that their event will maintain and further promote the integrity of their client’s brand and goals,” said Doris Greif, General Manager, Jumeirah at Etihad Towers.

Greif also said the property’s MICE team will be promoting a new concept in private event packages called “Above, Besides and In Water”, offering a variety of options for casual, outdoor events.

Visit Stand B10

Istanbul boasts seven purpose-built convention centres and will stage the FDI World Dental Congress in August this year bringing around 15,000 delegates to the city

Leaning towards meetings

it's The Real deal Spanish football club Real Madrid C.F. is attending GIBTM in order to promote its corporate hospitality offering, Área VIP. It's hoped the venue will be well received in the region, where football is incredibly popular and followed with a passion.

Michael J. O’Donnell, Área VIP / Corporate Hospitality, Real Madrid C.F. describes it as “an exclusive milieu from which to follow a football game while enjoying catering and hostess services”.

“We will be exhibiting at GIBTM to make prospective

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Real Madrid C.F. Área VIP

Santiago Bernabéu Stadium

clients aware of how simple and easy it is to book tickets for hospitality seats and private boxes,” said O’Donnell.

Real Madrid’s focus during the event will be to highlight the hospitality options available and demonstrate the ease of becoming a hospitality client at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

“We will discuss the different options clients have of buying tickets for every match of the season,” added O’Donnell.

Emirates, the Dubai-based airline, is an official partner of Real Madrid C.F, its sixth major European club team partnership.

Visit Stand D70

The Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi is aiming to meet key decision makers at this year’s GIBTM in order to consolidate its reputation as a premier business destination in the capital for luxury accommodation, conferences and exhibitions.

Located in the iconic Capital Gate building, which leans a record-breaking 18 degrees, the hotel is part of ADNEC. “Abu Dhabi is consolidating its position regionally in terms of meetings, conferences and incentive groups, with numerous conferences planned for 2013 such as Cityscape, Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference and many more,” said General Manager Ashwini Kumar. “This has a positive impact on our overall performance and Abu Dhabi as a

Ashwini Kumar

meeting conference destination, as we have just experienced with the World Future Energy Summit and IDEX. “During our presence this year at GIBTM, we will continue to increase awareness about our location as the only five-star hotel situated at the exhibition centre. As such, we would like to encourage decision makers of key global events to take advantage of ADNEC, the largest

event space in the Middle East.

We will also actively communicate this year’s summer package, which all five Hyatt hotels in the UAE are collectively promoting as one.”

The hotel also aims to focus on the leisure market, which is expected to increase due to the opening of Yas Waterworld and the new upmarket hotels opening on Saadiyat Island.

Kumar added that Etihad Airways is putting initiatives in place to encourage the number of stopovers for passengers travelling through Abu Dhabi, resulting in an increase in demand for Abu Dhabi hotels.

“As the furthest leaning man-made tower in the world, this undoubtedly is one of our unique selling points. We hope to put this iconic building on the world map,” he concluded.

Visit Stand B10

The official show daily for the Gulf Incentives Business travel & Meetings Exhibition

| EXHIBITOR NEWS |

Oman enters final bid stage The Sultanate squares up to some of the world's best convention destinations as an IAHR finalist Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre

With an increased focus on business tourism, Oman is actively targeting the meetings industry as a key growth market ahead of the 2016 opening of the US$857 million (OAR330 million) Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre (OCEC). The hard work is already starting

to pay off and the sultanate has recently been selected as a finalist to host the 37th annual congress of the International Association of HydroEnvironment Engineering and Research (IAHR), which would bring 1,500 delegates to the convention centre in 2017.

Competing against some of the world’s best convention destinations including Turkey, Singapore, India, Malaysia and South America, winning the bid would mark the Middle Eastern debut of the congress.

“We have received an excellent response and support

from IAHR members who have welcomed Oman’s bid to place a global spotlight on fields related to hydro-environmental studies and open new avenues of collaboration in the Middle East and North African region,” said Dr. Mahad bin Said Baawain, Chairman of the IAHR Middle East North Africa Collaborative Committee and Director of Centre for Environmental Research and Studies at Sultan Qaboos University.

The opportunity to bid for the conference was identified during the launch of OCEC at EIBTM in 2011 and is one of many leads for large-scale conventions on the agenda. Venue manager AEG Ogden is receiving positive feedback so far.

“We have enormous confidence in Oman as a convention destination, but we cannot bid for these events alone,” said AEG Ogden’s

Group Manager, Convention Sales Development, Rochelle Uechtritz. “They must be supported by the Omani member, association or society to become the local host. That support will again be crucial in another bid soon to be lodged soon for a world medical congress for 3,000 delegates in 2018.”

The rest of the pre-opening phase of OCEC will be spent identifying and targeting more potential congresses that are suited to the sultanate’s key economic sectors.

Under development by tourism development and man­ a­gement entity Omran, OCEC is located in a natural wadi, just 10 minutes from Muscat International Airport and will house a tiered auditorium seating 3,200 people with 22,000 square metres of exhibition space, 14 meetings rooms, two ballrooms and four hotels.

Visit Stand E20

News in brief the event manager's app Psideo is showcasing its event Just the app management application, To check anspecifically event which hasout been management application designed by event management designed byatevent management professions, the B-Com professions, visit the Psideo stand Event Technologies stand in the in the Technology Technology Zone . Zone on the show floor.

The software can be used to Its software, B-Com, can be manage all aspects of events, used manage all aspects of from to planning to delivery, events, planning to of delivery, meetingfrom the requirements meeting even the the mostrequirements demanding of the most eventdemanding organisers. event organisers and communities.

B-Com Managing Director, B-Com SandrineManaging HaemmerliDirector, said: Sandrine Haemmerli “To promote B-Com insaid: the “To promote B-Com in the we Middle Middle East and beyond East and beyond we will Event be will be presenting B-Com presenting Event TechnologiesB-Com this year again at Technologies yearstand again GIBTM. Visitorsthis to our canat GIBTM. howmeets B-Com discoverDiscover how B-Com the meets theevents needsprofessionals of the most needs of demanding events professionals by helping them to manage and them manage every everyhelps aspect of antoevent, aspect of events from planning from planning to delivery and to delivery andanalysis. post-event analysis, post-event In turn, this giving delegatesthe thebest best event offers delegates event experience, whileminimizing minimising experience, while costs, andmaximizing maximisingreturn return on costs and investment. on investment."

Visit stand StandF65 F65 Visit 0

A PLACE TO INSPIRE AND A SPACE TO SUCCEED Imagine your next event at a place where delegates can engage, connect and be inspired by a country that has been trading for more than 5,000 years. This place is in the city of Muscat, Oman’s new home for business.

Surrounded by nature it overlooks a wadi that is a haven for Oman’s exotic birdlife, yet is within a precinct with everything you need to host a successful event.

The place is the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre, set to become an iconic landmark for the Sultanate of Oman and ideally positioned only 10 minutes from Muscat International Airport.

Due for completion in 2016, this world-class facility is perfectly suited to host global conferences and exhibitions, as well as significant international, regional and national events.

Experience a warm Omani welcome; explore its beauty, diversity and opportunity, as we open Oman to the world of business events.

Proudly managed by AEG Ogden

| EXHIBITOR NEWS |

Wind in your sails Add Impact to your next event with a traditional pursuit

Impact Event & Destination Management's Arabian Dhow Sailing Race

Dubai-based Impact Event & Destination Management is planning to create waves at GIBTM by highlighting a unique team building and incentive experience that draws on the rich heritage of Arabian dhow racing.

While these traditional sailboats have plied Gulf waters for hundreds of years, Impact's new Arabian Dhow Sailing Race means customers can now climb aboard to take part in a whole new raft of experiences.

The new activity, which aims to provide a unique flavour of the Gulf, can accommodate up to 120 participants making it ideal for large groups.

“This unique, truly authentic adventure experience gives our clients the fantastic opportunity to actively encounter a traditional Arabian sport, while simultaneously enjoying a thrilling team building event,” said Alberto Cavallo, Managing Director. Impact

“We can customise this experience to accommodate corporate groups where different companies or units can compete for success.

Alternatively, we can arrange this outstanding event for incentive groups that are looking for a truly unique destination experience.

“Our authentic Arabian Dhow Sailing Race event offers a real local experience and helps strengthen communication skills, teamwork and co-ordination, while encouraging delegates to step outside of their comfort zone, all in a controlled environment.”

The event is one of many unique, creative solutions Impact offers to clients looking for unconventional destination experiences.

As for the company's aims at GIBTM, Cavallo said Impact hopes to “meet new potential customers with real interest in our destination and generate group leads for Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Oman”.

Visit Stand D10

Business boost for Doha Crowne Plaza Doha, The Business Park is exhibiting for the first time at GIBTM and the new property has plenty to offer meeting planners.

“The hotel opened in November 2012 and we are the first Crowne Plaza in Doha,” said Adam Harvey, Director of Sales & Marketing.

“We have a dedicated Events Centre with two ballrooms and multiple meeting rooms that accommodate different sized meetings and events.”

Inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, the hotel is located in the heart of Doha’s banking district just two kilometres from Doha International Airport.

The property has 378 rooms including 288 hotel rooms and suites and 90 one- and two-bedroom resident suites.

Commenting at the grand opening, hotel owner H.E. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad

Bin Abdullah Al Thani said: “Since it was signed in 2008, we have eagerly anticipated the opening of this hotel. We started out with a vision to develop a hotel that would offer unparalleled meeting and conference facilities and exciting new restaurants for the booming Doha market. This hotel does exactly that and under IHG’s management we’re certain it will be a success.”

Owned by the Trans Orient Establishment, Crowne Plaza Doha, The Business Park

was signed in 2008 and began construction in mid-2009. It offers six food and beverage outlets including Rodizio, a Brazilian churrascaria restaurant and Aramede, a Mediterranean all-day dining restaurant. There’s also a rooftop swimming pool, fitness centre and spa.

The hotel’s iconic glassdomed meeting venue, The Event Centre, is situated in the middle of the park complex and contains two state-of-theart ballrooms.

Visit Stand A10 Crowne Plaza Doha, The Business Park

Ask Ali

Cultural & Tourism Consultant Ali Al Saloom, founder of AskAli.com, shares his advice on doing business in the UAE and the Gulf

Q. What are the average business hours in the UAE? The government works from Sunday to Thursday, 08:00 to 16:00 and some entities until 17:00. Some operate double shifts which start from 07:30 to 13:30 and then re-open from 17:00 to 21:00. Opening hours at shopping malls throughout the day are roughly from 10:00 to 22:00.

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fast fact

Jordan’s Queen Alia International Airport is launching a new US$750 million terminal capable of handling nine million passengers annually, up from the current 3.5 million

News in brief TRAVELSHOP's arabian debut Georgia-based Travelshop by SC Travel is embarking on its first foray into the Middle East with its inaugural attendance at GIBTM. Jointly exhibiting with Georgia National Tourism, the company has seen a significant increase in business from Iran and Iraq, and is confident about expanding into the region.

As part of its expansion, Travelshop is also hoping to connect with new markets including Asia. “I am truly happy and optimistic about attending the fair for the first time,” said Nick Manjgaladze, Tourism Council member and General Manager of Travelshop. “I am absolutely sure that it will be interesting and insightful for us.”

Visit Stand E65

Hungary at GIBTM Prompted by the attraction of new markets, Budatours participates at GIBTM

András Hertzka

Budatours, a destination management company and incentive travel agency based in Budapest, Hungary, is participating at GIBTM for the first time this year.

András Hertzka, Director General of Budatours, said: “So far, the largest source market for our premium incoming clients has been Europe, but this year, we are attending GIBTM for the first time promoting our services to a new audience. We are here to highlight the attractions of Hungary, in particular its capital Budapest, as a great destination for meetings, incentive trips, congresses and exhibitions for partners in the Middle East.”

The wide range of premium category hotels and the large variety of facilities suitable to host exhibitions and

conferences along with the vibrant city famous for its hospitality, restaurants, sightseeing and shopping make Budapest a premium destination for this segment," said Hertzka.

“By attending GIBTM, we would like to put Budapest on the map for incentive tourism in the Middle East and at the same time ‘get a foot in the door’ with our company in the region. We think the mixture of modern conference facilities, historic architecture, cultural diversity and popular destinations and programmes in and around Budapest will attract many partners from the region who were unaware of the potential of Budapest.”

Budatours specialises in destination management, offering a wide range of services for this segment: “We are able to offer complete packages including travel arrangements, luxurious transportation, congress management, premium hotels at lower prices, first class restaurants and individual programmes in and around Budapest suited for any needs your company might have,” added Hertzka.

Stand E61

EIBTM in demand

Middle East exhibitors buoyed by hosted buyer statistics

Plans for EIBTM (www.eibtm. com), the leading global event for the meeting and events industry, are well underway with key exhibitors already rebooked to attend in 2013 including Jordan and Abu Dhabi. The event, confirmed to remain in Barcelona until 2016, attracts over 15,000 industry professionals and exhibitors from over 90 countries worldwide.

EIBTM provides exhibitors with a unique opportunity to carry out business face-to-face with global Hosted Buyers that have proven international purchasing budgets. With over 34 percent of those buyers who placed business stating that they did so in the Middle East/North Africa, there's even more reason for the region to take part and expand their global business.

Graeme Barnett, EIBTM Exhibition Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions commented, “EIBTM brings together the world’s

leading meetings industry suppliers and allows them to showcase their products to an audience of senior level buyers who are attending to place international business. This creates a platform for exhibitors to increase their exposure to the meetings industry in a very targeted way and provides opportunities to develop new, profitable business contacts across the globe.”

EIBTM 2013 will take place from November 19-21, a week earlier than in previous years. Companies interested in exhibiting at EIBTM 2013 should email the sales team at eibtm@reedexpo.co.uk.

Applications for the EIBTM Hosted Buyer Programme will be open from June 2013 onwards, however please visit www.eibtm. com to register your interest and be the first to know when online applications are open.

EIBTM

|THE LINE- UP |

GIBTM 2013 Professional Education Programme

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KNOWLEDGE HUB2013

Welcome to the GIBTM Knowledge Hub education programme. Aimed towards senior executives in the meetings and events industry, this year's sessions will deliver up-to-date regional content designed to offer the best in industry relevant education. Attend this world-class educational programme and learn cutting edge techniques in delivering the ultimate experience to your delegates and clients. All sessions take place in the Knowledge Hub on the show floor.

MONDAY MARCh 25 Time

session information

10.00 - 11.00 SITE SESSION Around the World in 60 Minutes: Exploring Incentive Trends Across the Globe David Sand, Global President for Site, has served on the international board for the past three years. During this time his personal interactions with markets around the world and serving with international board members has given him global insight to the many trends and challenging dynamics of today’s global incentive climate. He will share with us an 'around the world' summary of his personal insights and some of the latest Site Foundation research from a participant point of view.

SESSION – The Middle East going ‘Green’ 11.30 - 12.30 ICCA Today’s international association meetings market seems to be dominated by buzz words like ‘sustainability’, ‘green initiatives’ and ‘corporate social responsibility’. Is this a trend worldwide or just a passing phase? Come to this seminar and find out what initiatives organisations in the Middle East have developed to reduce environmental impact. The session will cover how ICCA Middle East member organisations are marketing their sustainability programmes and whether clients specifically ask for sustainability programmes and, if so, what the feedback is from clients.

Moderator: Steen Jakobsen, Wonderful Copenhagen Convention Bureau, Denmark Panellists: Trevor McCartney, Qatar National Convention Centre, Qatar Salma Ghuznavi, Head of Research, Dubai Convention and Events Bureau, the MICE division of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing

13.00 - 14.00 LAUNCH

OF THE IBTM MIDDLE EAST MEETINGS INDUSTRY RESEARCH 2013 The annual IBTM Middle East Meetings Industry Research (in association with meetme and The Right Solution) has become a key tool in providing analysis and review of the meetings and events industry in the Middle East. This regional and global outlook will provide an insight into responses from suppliers and clients in the meeting industry, highlighting today’s business climate and pockets of strength and growth along with signs of market weakness in destinations and sectors.

Presenters: Rob Nicholas, Managing Director, Nicholas Publishing International (NPI),

meetme and Lois Hall, Exhibition Manager, GIBTM, Reed Travel Exhibitions

14.30 - 15.30 MPI SESSION - Flash Forward 2030 - The Value of Connection An interactive session for meeting professionals looking at key social media trends and their implications on business practices. The session draws together some of the latest findings from MPI’s research on the future of meetings including results on social media live tracking of events around the world and future and social media expert perspectives. The session is full of practical tips and examples to highlight how meeting businesses and professionals can make the most of the opportunities ahead.

• Take away insights into the latest social media trends and research • Receive hands-on experience on how to understand the current and future value of connection • Learn about the practices from innovators in and out of industry Speakers: Michelle Lanham, Lecturer, UK Centre for Events Management at Leeds Metropolitan University and Dr Emma Wood, Reader in Festivals and Events Marketing, UK Centre for Events Management at Leeds Metropolitan University 16.00 - 17.00 ACTE – Session 1 Hear from the Author: Optimising Business Travel in the Middle East Attendees of this session will receive a free copy of the white paper and ACTE session 1 certificate. Find out how international and local corporations leverage their managed travel spend and understand more about supply chain dynamics, connectivity and opportunities.

Chris will share ideas for buyers to take back to their organisations to get more value from the travel programme and for suppliers to learn how to support buyers in their goals.

Speaker: Chris Pouney, Severnside Consulting Ltd

Shuttle-bus Services Complimentary shuttle bus services are provided to and from the venue, official hotels, receptions and the airport for all GIBTM participants including visitors, exhibitors and Hosted Buyers.

Official Hotels Pick up times from/to the official hotels will vary, so please check the information board/desk on arrival.

Time and Date Transfer Route Monday March 25 08.00 - 09.30 18.15 18.15 21.30

From official hotels to ADNEC From ADNEC to Hosted Buyer welcome reception (invitation only) From ADNEC to official hotels From Hosted Buyer welcome reception to official hotels

Tuesday March 26 08.00 - 09.30 18.15 21.30

From official hotels to ADNEC From ADNEC to GIBTM networking function From GIBTM networking function to official hotels

Wednesday March 27 08.00 - 09.30 13.15 13.30

From official hotels to ADNEC From ADNEC to official hotels From ADNEC to Abu Dhabi Day (invitation only)

Airport services Services will run at regular intervals between the times specified.

Monday March 25 08.00 – 15.00

From Abu Dhabi International Airport to ADNEC

Tuesday March 26 09.00 – 16.00

From the airport to ADNEC and ADNEC to the airport

Wednesday March 27 10.00 – 15.30

From the airport to ADNEC and ADNEC to the airport

Transfers from/to Dubai GIBTM is pleased to provide a daily coach transfer service from/to Dubai for all event attendees. Please look out for the GIBTM branded coaches and arrive 10-15 minutes before the departure time. Places will be provided on a first-come-first-served basis.

Monday March 25 08.15 Pick up from the parking area of Dnata Emirates Group Centre, Deira 09.00 Pick up from the entrance of Radisson Blu Hotel City and transfer to ADNEC 18.15 Departure transfer from ADNEC to Dubai and drop off at Radisson Blu Hotel City and parking area of Dnata Emirates Group Centre, Deira Tuesday March 26 08.15 Pick up from the parking area of Dnata Emirates Group Centre, Deira 09.00 Pick up from the entrance of Radisson Blu Hotel City, and transfer to ADNEC 18.15 Departure transfer from ADNEC to Dubai and drop off at Radisson Blu Hotel City, and parking area of Dnata Emirates Group Centre, Deira Wednesday March 27 08.15 Pick up from the parking area of Dnata Emirates Group Centre, Deira 09.00 Pick up from the entrance of Radisson Blu Hotel City, and transfer to ADNEC 13.00 Departure transfer from ADNEC to Dubai and drop off at Radisson Blu Hotel City, and parking area of Dnata Emirates Group Centre, Deira

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| feature |

Join the digital revolution at Event Camp Middle East

A brand new feature area of GIBTM, Event Camp Middle East 2013 (ECME13), provides visitors and buyers with an opportunity to experience, learn and interact with like-minded professionals in a digital environment The newly-introduced Event Camp, taking place on the show floor, will deliver real life case studies, strategies for leveraging social media and new technologies designed to inspire meetings industry professionals with a series of seminars each day. It is being streamed live on the internet, allowing people all over the world to take part in this hybrid event.

Organiser Paul Cook, Managing Director of UK-based event planning enabler Planet Planit, said: “I first came across the idea after following the hashtag #eventprofs on Twitter. It became clear that people talking about the events industry online wanted to meet in the real world and Event Camp evolved from that. The first event was held in New York in February 2010 and it grew from there.”

Those attending the early Event Camps brought the latest gadgets and gizmos with them, lending the event a technological edge from the start.

“Event Camp is a growing global movement,” said Cook. “We held Event Camp Europe in September 2011 and now, thanks to Reed Travel Exhibitions’ forward thinking, we are bringing it to the Middle East. It’s brilliant to be recognised by the company.”

Cook said Event Camp is full of people who want to try out different things, adding “there’s a great camaraderie".

All GIBTM attendees will have access to ECME13, which is supported and sponsored by ShowGizmo, Catertainment and Saville Audio Visual.

With sessions taking place on Monday and Tuesday, the footage will be available online for the rest of the year.

Key sessions include the augmented reality focus presented

by Tom Wood, Founder & President of Kudan on Tuesday March 26 at 14:15. Catch Paul Cook later that day at 15:15.

“Our partnership with ShowGizmo to introduce Event Camp Middle East to Abu Dhabi highlights GIBTM’s

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ECME12

The official show daily for the Gulf Incentive Business travel & Meetings Exhibition

Industry advancements in the areas of venue Wi-Fi, the increase in smartphone numbers, the rise of social media, sustainable practices and ever-increasing ROI demands makes the perfect storm for event Apps to be at the forefront of events in the Middle East this year Josh Dry

dedication to driving the events industry forward, both regionally and globally, through innovation. This brand new co-location feature will add to the education aspect of the event, meeting the desire of MICE professionals to learn about new technologies,” said Lois Hall, Exhibition Manager, GIBTM. App developer ShowGizmo will be on hand to showcase the value of the technology specifically for event planners and attendees.

“Event Camps were established to connect event professionals with the latest and greatest trends in the event world – exactly what we love to do,” said Josh Dry, ShowGizmo’s Marketing Executive. “As part of the Event Camp movement, designed to help share the latest trends and technologies with the events industry, we will be doing our part at GIBTM to help grow the industry around the world, with specific reference to demonstrating the potential of event Apps for events of all types.”

The question is whether the region is ready for high-tech Apps like this, however, Dry is convinced: “2013 is definitely the year. Recent event industry advancements in the areas

event Camp Middle East 2013 sessions at a glance: Monday 25 March 14:15 – live Ali Sabkar, Founder & President of Social Media Club Bahrain 14:45 – virtual Craig Rispin, Business Futurist and Innovation Expert 15:15 – live Moez Galibdin Leading Digital Marketing Consultant

Paul Cook

of venue Wi-Fi, the increase in smartphone numbers, the rise of social media, sustainable practices and ever-increasing ROI demands makes the perfect storm for event Apps to be at the forefront of events in the Middle East this year,” he said.

ECME13 participants’ networking and knowledge sharing experience will also be enhanced thanks to a relaxed atmosphere fitted with quirky furniture designed to bring a sense of the outdoors in. The space will be kitted out

by GIBTM’s official furniture provider, Catertainment.

15:45 – virtual Steve Mackenzie, Vice President, Etouches Tuesday 26 March 2:15pm – live Tom Wood, Founder & President, Kudan 14:45 – virtual Adi Ben-Nesher Social and Innovation Expert 15:15 – live Paul Cook Creator of Hybrid Event Centre 15:45 - virtual Liz King Founder of the Planner Collective and Co-founder of PlannerTech

|comment |

illuminating the industry

With a variety of new initiatives in education, technology and business travel, this year’s GIBTM provides added value for all those participating, says Exhibition Manager Lois Hall

B

usiness travel to the Middle East and corporate budgets are on the rise. This isn’t a marketing campaign message from the GIBTM team, but a promising reality, supported by newly released market statistics.

Research firm YouGov’s latest Travel Oracle report, which gauged UAE and KSA traveller attitudes and habits, shows business traveller movements are on the up.

Additionally, business travel budgets have jumped from 25 percent in 2010 to 42 percent in 2012. Almost 50 percent of survey respondents are set to travel more in 2013.

Euromonitor International research backs this up with recently released statistics reporting steady growth increases in business arrivals across four key MENA markets – the UAE, KSA, Egypt and Morocco – between now and 2016.

Our exhibitors are telling the same story reporting positive prospects for 2013, from

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Abu Dhabi, Oman and Turkey are all forecasting robust growth in meetings business, with significant infrastructure investment in new venues, airports, hotels and convention centres. This surge in business confidence has seen enquiries for GIBTM 2013 rise, with a fourfold increase from the European market Lois Hall, Exhibition Manager, GIBTM

Europe to the Far East. Abu Dhabi, Oman and Turkey are all forecasting robust growth in meetings business, with significant infrastructure investment in new venues, airports, hotels and convention centres.

This surge in business confidence has seen enquiries for GIBTM 2013 rise, with strong support from the European market – a fourfold increase, in fact – as exhibitors recognise the event as the leading platform for business travel in the Middle East.

Convention and tourism bureaus from Athens, Serbia, Georgia, Madrid, Hungary and Marmara join Spanish motor racing venue Curcuito Ascari, and Turkey’s Cnidus and Adile Sultan Sarayi on the show floor this year, alongside 17 first-time exhibitors from Europe. San Francisco Travel is also debuting at the show.

However, it’s not just an upswing in market movement that has brought new exhibitor business to our door. New initiatives for

GIBTM 2013, such as the Event Camp Middle East programme, are already attracting industry attention.

A global education initiative, Event Camp allows visitors and buyers to experience, learn and interact with their peers through real life case studies, social media strategy insight and new technology briefings.

Technology is an agendaleading topic for us throughout the show’s three days.

Our partnership with mobile App provider ShowGizmo will communicate the busy calendar of seminar sessions and exhibitor events straight to your smartphone. Event Camp will run as a ‘hybrid’ seminar; the live event from the show floor will be streamed simultaneously via the internet to a global audience of top meeting and business travel professionals.

Added value through educational seminar sessions is another key hook for exhibitors and visitors. This year we will once again present

a series of interactive business travel management seminars, hosted by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE).

Chris Pouney, Founder of bespoke business travel management company Severnside Consulting, will discuss his recently released white paper, Optimising Business Travel in the Middle East. An interactive panel discussion, “How to Maximise your Middle East Travel Management Programme” – promises an in-depth presentation on how business travel and meetings managers can collaborate to leverage consolidated spend while making time and cost savings.

More than 300 exhibitors and 2,800 industry professionals will meet on the show floor this week. The future of the region’s corporate and meetings landscape is bright and GIBTM’s standing as the region’s leading business platform for the industry assured.

Driving Business in the Middle East at Yas Marina Circuit

Team Building

Meeting Rooms

Corporate Driving

The region’s most modern full service venue Conveniently located between Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Yas Marina Circuit is the newest addition to the UAE’s unique event venue offering with an unrivalled passion for delivering first-class events. Known throughout the world for the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix,

Yas Marina Circuit provides the region’s most modern full-service venue for a range of events from trackside team building days to large-scale conferences or exhibitions both indoors and outdoors. Yas Marina Circuit is a venue like no other – Drive your Business with us!

“Our attendees were amazed by the venue, It was very special for our overseas attendees.”

Karen Sloan - Head of Events, Etihad Airways

Visit us at GIBTM or visit www.yasmarinacircuit.com for more information.

FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR ABU DHABI

With a vision to make the top 50 International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) destinations for association meetings by 2018, Gillian Taylor, Manager of the newly-opened Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau explains how the emirate’s drive for business events is coming into its own researching opportunities and business development. The bureau is linked to TCA Abu Dhabi’s ecosystem, marketing, promotions, PR and media departments, with a dedicated Business Events person in each of our 10 overseas offices.

Gillian Taylor

TCA Abu Dhabi has had a dedicated MICE/Business Events department for some years. Is the establishment of the convention bureau a rebranding of that department or is this something entirely new?

The bureau is a logical evolution of the former Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority's Business Tourism Department. We see more operational efficiencies in having a dedicated bureau, which is currently staffed by the former department’s team and will be expanded.

The bureau has been under consideration for some time and has been subject to detailed research and feasibility studies which clearly showed that a dedicated bureau would better serve the very special needs of the business events sector.

We have stated our belief in the economic and socioeconomic benefits this segment can bring to Abu Dhabi and now wish to better support and activate the sector to its full potential. The infrastructure is now in place throughout the emirate and the destination is highly price competitive. With strong congress credentials now under our belt, the timing could not be better.

What is the structure of the new department and who are the main players?

The bureau comprises three departments – one dedicated to conferences and exhibitions, the second for corporate meetings and incentives and a third dedicated to

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How will having a convention bureau assist the efforts differently to what TCA Abu Dhabi has been doing before?

Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau is a one-stop-supportshop, offering free advice, help with planning and local knowledge. Key assistance includes researching bid opportunities, assisting with a tailored bid strategy to ensure competitiveness, providing destination promotional collateral and boosting delegate numbers through the authority’s international offices.

The Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau team can provide coordination with local partners and help arrange introductions to key Abu Dhabi stakeholders, secure support from mainline industry and tourism leaders and assist with government liaison, researching appropriate venues, offering PR and marketing support and providing innovative activities and pre- and post- conference ideas.

The bureau’s groundbreaking Advantage Abu Dhabi incentive scheme is aimed at catalysing and seeding

Abu Dhabi's impressive skyline

innovative and viable business events aligned to the Abu Dhabi Government’s 2030 Economic Vision. The bureau now also has its own dedicated website – www. abudhabi-cb.ae – allowing organisers to apply online for incentive support.

Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau still falls within the organisational infrastructure of TCA Abu Dhabi. The bureau will therefore work with our overseas offices and on-theground representatives in a network which now takes in the UK and Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, India, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, the US and Australia. Our plan is to have dedicated MICE personnel in all these offices. Many already have this function but, where it does not already exist, it will be put into place within the next 12 months. The overseas offices have set KPIs for the MICE segment in terms of delivering solid leads and developing strong relationships with the sector.

What would you describe as Abu Dhabi’s major USPs for attracting large conventions to the capital?

Price competitiveness, excellence of infrastructure, innovative venues, quality of service and governmental support as well as the ‘One Destination’ approach of bringing many stakeholders

HE Jasem Al Darmaki, Deputy Director General, TCA Abu Dhabi and HE Ali Saeed Bin Harmel Al Dhaheri, Managing Director, ADNEC launch the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau

together from project support and enhancement.

The increasing room stock has made the destination highly competitive from local, regional and international perspectives – this is a USP we are stressing in all our bids, collateral and promotion. This is further enhanced when viewed along with the level of service and infrastructure standards provided.

How many RFPs does TCA Abu Dhabi typically respond to each year? What do you expect the win rate to be?

In 2012 we evaluated 70 Advantage Abu Dhabi submissions for conferences and exhibitions. In regards to bids in 2012, we had five major wins, which represents the majority of those we bid for.

Regional events are becoming larger and more important.

How much business do you expect to come from the

region and internationally in the short and medium term?

We are focusing on quick wins in the regional market for 2013 and 2014. We hope to achieve this through upgrades to our initiative for corporate meetings and incentives with a goal to support 25 events in 2013.

Long term, on the international conferences and exhibitions front, we have a goal of winning six bids in 2013, eight in 2014 and 10 in 2015.

Medical and pharmaceutical events seem to be on the rise.

Do you have any percentages of business that you expect to secure from certain sectors over the next few years?

Certainly our Advantage Abu Dhabi for corporate meetings and incentives will focus on these sectors and we intend holding face-to-face meetings with these companies encouraging them to have their regional or AGMs in Abu Dhabi now. We anticipate higher percentages from these businesses as a result.

ADNEC only recently added a convention element to its offerings. Do you think the new facilities are enough or do you anticipate more being required in the future?

ADNEC has always targeted conventions but is now even better placed with the ICC (International Convention Centre) Abu Dhabi, offering fully flexible, tiered seating for up to 6,000 delegates in addition to its ample, dedicated conference and meeting rooms. ADNEC is going through a transition process to better facilitate conventions and is transacting its own assessments to constantly improve its offering.

Can you provide some examples of how the convention bureau will be working with the private sector to attract these major events?

We are working closely with Etihad Airways on a number of bids – indeed our joint submissions have already been successful in attracting the World Travel & Tourism Council’s Global Summit this April and the UK’s Institute of Travel and Tourism’s annual conference in June. We were previously successful in working with Abu Dhabi Airports Company in attracting the Routes Development Forum to the emirate last September.

Is the public transportation infrastructure sufficient at the moment in the capital to support a mega-event?

For all mega events we work very closely with the Department of Transport to ensure transport requirements are met. This often includes the provision of shuttle bus services from major convention hotels.

Do you anticipate more lower grade accommodation being necessary to support this sector considering Abu Dhabi has one of the most top heavy hospitality infrastructures in the world at the moment?

We believe we have the range of accommodation options required by big events. In any case, our rates are extremely competitive and offer outstanding value for money when you consider the level of facilities and services provided.

We currently have 137 hotels and hotel apartments throughout the emirate, of these 19 are three-star hotels, six are two-star and a further six are one-star and 20 hotel apartments fall into the standard category. Recently opened in the Capital Gate district, close to Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre are the Premier Inn and the Centro Capital Gate, both offering affordable accommodation options. Also close to ADNEC are the recentlyopened and value options of the Ibis and Novotel.

The official show daily for the Gulf Incentives Business travel & Meetings Exhibition

| venue profile |

the host with the most Posting yet another record year in 2012, the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) is showing its strength in luring big business to the UAE capital

It has been another landmark year for Abu Dhabi’s exhibition centre. According to statistics released by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company earlier this month, the number of visitors hosted at ADNEC and the Al Ain Convention Centre grew to 1.4 million during 2012, compared to around one million during 2011. The number of events rose to 360 in 2012 from 232 the previous year, representing an increase of 55 percent.

At ADNEC, 22 congresses and conferences were hosted with key events such as the Abu Dhabi Book Fair attracting 250,000 attendees and the World Ophthalmology Congress 2012 attracting 120,000. In total, the centre hosted 111 special events and corporate meetings, 33 exhibitions and four live events.

The results have been hard won, however, with the venue intent on boosting its appeal by collaborating with strategic partners to attract local and international conference organisers to the emirate and drawing on its unique location and ability to match the expectations of customers to secure bookings.

Its efforts have paid off with interest from new, high quality events in key sectors including healthcare, petrochemicals, renewable energy, education, technology, employment, construction and contracting helping to fill up its calendar.

Further highlights from 2012 include the World Future Energy Summit and Expo and the 79th Annual UFI Congress, which made its debut in the Middle East. The largest edition of the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC 2012), a key industry event, also took centre stage at the venue in 2012.

Perhaps the icing on the cake is the prestigious awards and certifications received by the venue, including ISO 9001:2008 certification, Best Purpose Built Venue Award at the Middle East Event Awards and the Sheikh Khalifa Excellence Award – Gold. ADNEC was also named the World’s Leading Meetings and Conference Centre for 2012 at the World Travel Awards (WTA) for the second conse-cutive year.

Its achievements come hand in hand with the rapid growth of the corporate meetings and events industry in Abu Dhabi, which is expected to generate a direct economic impact of around AED5.1 billion (US$1.4 billion) annually by 2020.

ADNEC has been a lynchpin of this development with its economic contribution to the UAE capital estimated at around AED2.3 billion (US$625 million) in 2011 alone. In addition, the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, the capital's main policymaking body, ranked ADNEC third most active contributor to the

capital’s economy, after national carrier Etihad Airways and sovereign wealth fund Mubadala.

“ADNEC is a crucial component of the government’s vision for the future of the emirate.

We work shoulder-to-shoulder with the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority to accelerate the growth of the business tourism sector and position the emirate as a leading MICE destination,” said Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Chief Commercial Officer at ADNEC. Participating in GIBTM shows its dedication to its longterm goals.

“Abu Dhabi recognises the growing importance of business tourism and the MICE industry within the global tourism landscape. ADNEC’s support to the Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) comes as part of this commitment,” said Al Dhaheri. “GIBTM is considered a prominent exhibition in our annual calendar as it promotes Abu Dhabi to both regional and international visitors. The event offers a dynamic platform for regional event centres, hotels, tourist destinations and suppliers to interact with event organisers and procurement officials from the MICE sector. We also expect this year’s show to record more success than the previous editions in terms of delegate and visitor numbers.”

Versatile space With total indoor floor space of 73,000 square metres, ADNEC is the largest exhibition centre in the Middle East – it is also one of the most technologically advanced.

Conference facilities comprise two luxurious sevenmetre high conference rooms, both suited to a full range of meetings, corporate functions and conferences.

Conference Rooms A and B are equipped with the latest audio-visual technology and can hold up to 800 and 400 delegates, respectively.

The centre also features a multi-purpose hall that can host gala dinners and wedding receptions for up to 700 guests; 20 meeting rooms and 12 halls that offer event organisers inter-connected and flatroofed space, with endless possibilities for exhibitions and events.

The latest addition to ADNEC’s expansive facilities is the International Convention Centre (ICC) Abu Dhabi, a flexible venue ideal for large meetings and conferences, offering tiered seating for up to 6,000 delegates.

The scope of ADNEC’s facilities allows it to host indoor, outdoor and marine events simultaneously. A marine facility connected to the ADNEC hall by a pedestrian bridge offers a deep channel that can accommodate military ships, huge yachts and offshore equipment.

Space, flexibility and contemporary style have

all contributed to making ADNEC one of the most sought-after venues in the region. “ADNEC is customerfocused,” said Al Dhaheri. “We bring international conferences and congresses to meet the needs of our customers.”

Accommodation options are growing in line with expectations. Indeed, as part of the ongoing development and expansion of the facilities and hospitality services in the vicinity of ADNEC, the total number of hotel rooms serving the site was increased to 1,232 towards the end of 2012.

This year, the area will see the entry of more rooms with the launch of Capital Centre Arjaan by Rotana and Capital Centre Rotana. All this puts ADNEC in a strong position to cater for the growing needs of regional and international business travellers.

“Our mission is complemented by the launch of initiatives such as the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau recently set up by the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority. The bureau will serve as a valuable tool in developing business activities across the emirate in an efficient, effective and transparent manner. As a crucial enabler, the bureau will help attract noted international events to Abu Dhabi and link industry specialists at conferences,” said Al Dhaheri.

As part of its contribution to the emirate’s 2030 economic blueprint, ADNEC aims to increase its share of

Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri

business generated through conferences by 50 percent over the next five years.

A key future diary date is the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX), which will take place at ADNEC from February 22-26, 2015. The biennial event attracted 1,112 exhibiting companies from 59 countries and over 80,000 attendees in 2013 and is expected to carry on growing.

“While we are confident our facilities and integrated approach to the bidding process make us and Abu Dhabi a strong global player in the conference industry, there can be a lead time of three to four years between winning a bid and hosting the conference. The fruits of our labour over the next 12-18 months are likely to emerge in 2016 and beyond,” said Al Dhaheri.

Visit Stand B10

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| destination profiles |

Abu Dhabi The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, main entrance

Abu Dhabi benefits not only from exhibiting at GIBTM but also being the host city for the event, enabling delegates to witness first-hand some of its flagship meeting facilities.

“The staging of GIBTM is important to Abu Dhabi on a number of levels. It delivers exhibitor and visitor spend to the destination, allows us to demonstrate our surging business events credentials and gives our stakeholders the chance to meet with some of the most influential buyers from the region and around the world,” said Gillian Taylor, Manager, Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau.

“This year in particular we are promoting the newly-launched Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau and its aims. We are launching an upgraded version of our Advantage Abu Dhabi meetings incentive programme – we believe it is extremely compelling, particularly for the local market, and has been designed to deliver some shortterm gains to the destination.”

Abu Dhabi launched its convention bureau earlier this month. The new entity, which sits within the Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), is targeting six major business wins for 2013, eight for 2014 and 10 for 2015.

The launch of the new entity follows a detailed economic impact study commissioned

by TCA Abu Dhabi that showed 19 percent of international business events visitors coming to the emirate were international and not resident in the UAE. These visitors spent AED10,000 (US$2,723) per event while domestic visitors spent AED640 (US$174).

In 2010 the total economic impact of business events on Abu Dhabi was AED2.4 billion (US$653 million).

Abu Dhabi’s conference and convention credentials are stacking up, with the emirate now holding a busy forward calendar for events booked into 2015.

Last year saw ADNEC hosting the 18th World Routes Development Forum attended by 3,000 leading aviation executives. In April 2013, Abu Dhabi will also host the 13th World Travel & Tourism Council's Global Summit with some 1,000 tourism leaders due in the UAE capital.

In November this year, the emirate will host the International Conference on Neurology & Epidemiology

(ICNE), welcoming 800 of the most eminent medical practitioners in these specialised fields.

The conference follows the 2012 World Ophthal-mology Congress at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC). The congress attracted upwards of 10,000 delegates and was the largest convention ever staged in the emirate.

ADNEC, which opened in 2007, offers 73,000 square

Bahrain’s current landmark meetings and exhibitions venue is the Bahrain International Exhibition and Conference Centre (BIECC), located in downtown Manama. The 16,000 square metre hall enjoyed consistent traffic through 2011, according to Bahrain Exhibition and Convention Authority (BECA), which runs the BIECC. BECA works to promote Bahrain as a conference destination both locally and internationally. The authority also administers the various exhibitions and conferences that take place at BIECC. BECA also works with the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry to support and encourage local traders who wish to organise or participate in domestic and international exhibitions.

Additional exhibition and conference space is provided by many of Bahrain’s hotels.

The Gulf Hotel offers 4,780 square metres of meetings space spread out over 29 flexible venues. Its convention centre also includes a space to hold theatre-style conferences for up to 2,200 attendees.

The Crown Plaza Bahrain, located centrally in the diplomatic and banking area of Manama, just ten minutes drive from the international airport, offers 14 meeting venues and a total meetings space of 2,932 square metres.

It can accommodate events for up to 1,700 delegates.

Plans are in place to further extend Bahrain’s meetings and exhibition space. In August 2010, BECA; Mumtalakat Holding Company, the government investment fund; and the Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry formed a joint venture to oversee the development of Bahrain Expo City, or expo Bahrain.

metres of indoor event space.

The facility stages around 100 exhibitions, conferences, live events and weddings and sees 1.8 million visitors every year.

The Abu Dhabi pavilion at GIBTM also includes a number of new-to-market products.

“The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, for instance, is focusing on winning large residential conferences and is looking to double the number of weddings it hosts. The Grand Millennium Al Wahda – one of the emirate’s

largest hotels, with 850 rooms – says its 2013 focus will be on new feeder markets, such as India, which, in January this year, surpassed the UK for the first time as the emirate’s largest international source market for hotel guests,” Taylor explained.

The Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority is exhibiting at GIBTM alongside partner hotels and destination management companies. Visit stand B10.

World Ophthalmology Congress at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)

BAHRAIN Bahrain World Trade Center at sunrise

It is a big year for tourism in Bahrain as The Arab League’s Council of Arab Tourism Ministers officially named capital city Manama the 2013 Capital of Arab Tourism on February 25.

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Throughout the year, Manama will push ahead with tourism and cultural projects, including opening the Bahrain National Theatre and developing the Bab al-Bahrain area.

The Kingdom has been working to expand its cultural appeal with sell-out concerts from international stars such as Andrea Bocelli and Julio Iglesias underlining Bahrain’s diverse cultural offering.

The aim is to present a more rounded tourism offering that can compete with its fast-developing neighbours.

Business tourism will remain an important segment in this.

According to the Oxford Business Group’s Bahrain 2012 report, an important part of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce’s ove all strategy for the 201012 period was to promote the Kingdom’s meetings segment as a way to diversify the country’s tourism offerings.

The conference facility will be located next to the Formula One track in Sakhir.

Preliminary plans for Bahrain Expo City include 145,000 square metre of flexible space and a capacity to accommodate events for 5,000 delegates or up to 30,000 exhibition visitors. Completion is scheduled for 2015.

Further commercial development in the kingdom will include the former Pearl Roundabout, now known Rooftop views of Manama

as Al Farooq Junction, being developed as a major investment zone. Meanwhile, Manama Central Market is set to undergo a US$500 million redevelopment that will include four 28-storey office and shopping towers, a new market, a heritage village and a five-star hotel.

The Kingdom of Bahrain, Ministry of Culture, Tourism Sector, is exhibiting at stand B40.

The official show daily for the Gulf Incentives Business travel & Meetings Exhibition

| destination profiles |

CZECH REPUBLIC Arguably the birthplace of the meetings industry: the Czech Republic hosted the world’s very first trade fair in Bohemia in 1754. The central European country remains an important destination for business events.

Its most recent meetings credentials include hosting the NATO summit in 2002 and the IMF meeting in 2000.

Sharing its borders with Germany in the west, Austria in the south, Slovakia in the east and Poland in the north east, the Czech Republic is at the heart of Europe.

The country is connected to cities throughout Europe via road and rail while Prague International Airport, the second largest airport in Central Europe, is connected with 120 destinations around the world.

More than eight million tourists visit the country every year, while the Czech Republic is rated as the 31st most popular meeting destination worldwide and the 19th in Europe by ICCA. The number of congresses held in the Czech Republic has been increasing in recent years. While in 2007, 97

events were held here (only 11 of which were outside Prague), in 2011 the number climbed to 122 meetings (98 in Prague and 24 in regions).

The capital city of Prague is the 14th congress destination in the world, having hosted 98 large-scale meetings in 2011.

“The good position of Prague on the chart is certainly positive. However, our aim is to also keep increasing the number of events held in other regions. Currently, our department of the Czech Convention Bureau has ten regional partners, and we believe that through cooperation with them we will manage to increase the number of meetings held in other regions,” explained Rostislav Vondruška, General Manager, Czech Tourism.

Czech Tourism launched the Czech Convention Bureau (CVB) in 2010. Its objective is to “shelter individual regional congress bureaus and help them to fully exploit the whole congress potential available in the Czech Republic.”

The bureau has also been developing the “Candidacy campaigns” project, which requires searching for potential contacts and co-operating

with international associations, such as ICCA. For meeting venues, the Czech Republic offers congress centres, hotels and a number of unusual venues ideal for accommodating bigger or smaller groups.

Planners can host a gala event at a castle or chateau, a

in 2012, a rise of almost 10 per cent compared with the previous year's total, DCEB’s role is to ensure that a substantial percentage of that business is meetings related.

According to the most recent ICCA statistics, 34 international association meetings were held in Dubai in 2011, with DCEB claiming business leads and conversion rates were up over a third year-on-year.

2012 figures look set to continue that upward trend. At the end of 2012, the emirate hosted the Conference on International Telecommunications, the Global Standards

Symposium and The World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly. All three events brought in more than 11,000 delegates to Dubai.

In 2013, SIBOS (the organisation which controls SWIFT codes for financial transactions) will bring 8,000 delegates for its congress.

Championing Dubai’s cause as a world-class meetings destination is the Dubai Bid Alliance (DBA). Formed in 2009 by DTCM, the DBA is chaired by Jerad Bachar, Director, DCEB, and comprises the Dubai World Trade Centre; Emirates Airline; one representative from each of the five, four and three-star hotels in Dubai; one representative of a hotel apartment in Dubai; one from a Destination Management Company (DMC) and representatives from local Professional Congress Organisers (PCO).

The Dubai World Trade Centre offers more than one

vampire dinner, a show in an old factory production hall, a Celtic feast on a meadow or even organise a James Bondthemed evening for delegates.

The country offers 235 hotels with facilities that can cater for large conferences. According to the CVB, 2,780 other hotels have facilities catering for

smaller conferences, seminars and other events.

The country also offers a number of large convention centres, including the Prague Congress Centre, Aldis Congres Centre in Hradec Králové, the Congress Centre in Pilsen and the new multifunction hall GONG at the

lower area off Vítkovice in Ostrava. From an incentives perspective, the Czech Republic offers 12 UNESCO World Heritage List sites.

Czech Tourism – Czech Convention Bureau is exhibiting at GIBTM. Visit stand D51.

River Vltava, Prague

DUBAI Dubai’s meetings and incentives industry celebrates a decade of success this year, as the emirate’s hardware and professional approach continues to impress international planners.

Founded in February 2003, the Dubai Convention & Events Bureau (DCEB) is the meetings and incentives division of the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), a not-forprofit government body whose aim is to increase Dubai’s share of business and sport events.

With the emirate receiving more than 10 million hotel guests and cruise passengers World Congress of Cardiology at DWTC

Convention Gate

million square feet (305,000 square metres) of exhibition space. Linked to the Dubai Metro, and with 622 hotel rooms on site with the Ibis and Novotel brands, the DWTC is at the hub of Dubai’s meetings industry.

DCEB returns to GIBTM 2013 with clear business goals for the exhibition.

“The appointment calendar is filled with strong prospective buyers who have interest in bringing events to the region.

This year seems encouraging with more end-user clients in addition to agencies and contracted PCOs. Our objective is to secure at least three new events from clients who we have been in discussions

with and who are attending the show,” said Bachar.

While Dubai may have historically focused on the international market, regional business is also important for the emirate. “We have witnessed some well organised, first time events that have built a good foundation for return in future years. These regional events are certainly important for all GCC countries to cultivate in order to build a stronger grassroots industry. The international events are important to bring significant direct economic impact and build our reputation, however, the regional events market will continue to grow and influence the industry significantly,” Bachar added.

The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) is exhibiting at GIBTM alongside partner hotels and destination management companies. Visit stand D10.

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Dynamic locations with many possibilities.

Meydan offers a rare combination of large, contemporary and flexible venue options alongside 5 star accommodation at The Meydan Hotel. A prestigious location with breathtaking surroundings that is only 10 minutes from both the heart of Dubai business districts and the airport.

72 interconnected Grandstand Suites host from 20-250 people, while beneath Meydan’s iconic crescent roof, the famous Sky Bubble can cater for over 4,500. Rooftop terraces provide unique and multifunctional outdoor spaces for conferences or receptions on any scale.

The Falcon Lounge, Parade Ring, Tiered Restaurant, Turf Lounge, Receiving Barns and an indoor food court with 32 units, all offer unique opportunities for event planners.

The Ballroom, with the capacity to host 400 people, is a lavish yet versatile space that can be adapted to your requirements. It is the ideal choice for when you want to make a great first impression. Outdoor spaces include the super-flexible blank canvas of The Apron, a vast trackside location ideal for concerts, live events, sporting events and larger functions.

Also just a short drive away, the sister hotel Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa, is an oasis for business meetings, conferences, corporate events, product launches and team building activities.

The four falcon meeting rooms are ideal for board room style meetings while Endurance City, adjacent to the resort, is a multi-purpose venue featuring indoor and outdoor meeting spaces up to 3000 guests.

Only 45 minutes from Dubai International Airport, this leading desert resort will redefine the way you do business.

For more information and to find out how we can make the most of your meeting or event, please contact The Meydan Hotels team on: +971 4 381 3333 or events@meydanhotels.com www.meydanhotels.com

The official show daily for the Gulf Incentive Business travel & Meetings Exhibition

egypt With more than 7,000 years of history, and home to the last remaining Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Egypt boasts a fair amount of experience at welcoming visitors, whether for business or leisure.

The fourth most popular meeting destination in Africa, according to ICCA, this North

African country ticks all the tourism boxes, with world-class corporate facilities complemented by ancient treasures, exotic beach resorts, championship golf and luxurious spas.

Around 10 million tourists visit Egypt each year and Egypt continues to invest in infrastructure. Some 6,855 hotel rooms are set to come online

Temple of Hatshepsut, Luxor - Egypt

in the next five years, according to HVS International, while modernisation continues at Cairo International Airport.

Terminal 3 has opened with a capacity of 22 million passengers a year, while Terminal 2 is expected to re-enter operations this year with a capacity of 8.5 million passengers.

The Egyptian Tourist Authority brings together certified travel companies and service and infrastructure providers to provide a complete picture of the country’s meetings credentials to planners. A convention bureau is planned.

Meetings hardware includes the Cairo International Conference Centre (CICC), which covers an impressive 30 hectares. Of this, 58,000 square metres is flexible convention and exhibition space, divided into five halls. CICC also offers a business centre, a mobile interpretation unit, and three large boardrooms with a capacity of 50 persons. Located at the Red

Sea, the Maritime Sharm El Sheikh International Congress Centre offers one large hall for up to 2,000 people, 11 meeting rooms and six VIP rooms.

Also on the Red Sea, the Port Ghalib International Conference & Exhibition Centre boasts a ballroom that spans 6,000 square metres and is able to seat up to 2,000. The centre also has 20 breakout rooms.

On Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a conference centre designed to host international symposiums and events, offers meeting facilities for up to 2,500 delegates.

For incentive groups Egypt can offer something for everyone. Cairo-based groups can enjoy a visit to the Khan El Khalili souk in Cairo, a cruise down the Nile, or the worldfamous Pyramids at Giza.

The ancient sites of Thebes, Valleys of the Kings and Queens, Luxor and Aswan also attract corporate groups.

The Sphinx of Giza

One of the best ways to see all these sites, and ensure you have a captive corporate audience, is to charter a Nile cruise.

More than 250 floating hotels provide touring experiences along the Nile, with international names such as Mövenpick, Oberoi and Sonesta chartering some of the biggest vessels.

Floating hotels follow two main routes: the most

popular tour is the stretch between Luxor and Aswan, while the second most popular is between Aswan and Abu Simbel. The journey can take anything from four to six days.

The Egyptian Tourist Authority is exhibiting at GIBTM with partner hotels, DMCs and other tourism organisations.

Visit Egypt at stand E40.

georgia Tbilisi, Georgia

Located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Georgia offers a unique and diverse meetings and incentives product that combines its many attractions – the Caucasus mountain range, Black Sea coastline, curative climate and mineral waters, national parks and UNESCO Heritage Sites.

In 2011, Georgia welcomed 2.8 million international travellers, an increase of 39 percent over 2010 figures. 2012 figures are expected to achieve 4.3 million, a further 56 percent growth, putting Georgia’s tourism development well ahead of global increases.

However, only eight percent of arrivals to the country are for business or professional purposes. Georgia is now looking to expand its meetings and incentives market.

The country offers 1,051 accommodation units, offerings 34,751 beds. Currently, the seaside region of Ajara and the capital Tbilisi dominate the Georgian hotel market.

Tbilisi boasts several international brand hotels: Radisson Blu Iveria, Tbilisi Marriott, Courtyard Marriott,

Freedom Bridge, Tbilisi, Georgia

Sheraton Metekhi Palace, Holiday Inn and Citadines to name a few. Several other international chains are expanding in the city as well.

Sheraton and Radisson Blu hotels have recently opened while Kempinski, Hilton, Holiday Inn, The Ritz-Carlton and Marriott all have projects under construction.

Georgia’s air links are also being developed. The country offers two international and one domestic airport. Turkish company TAV Airports Holding Co. operates Tbilisi and Batumi International Airports. Mestia Airport (Queen Tamar Airport) was officially opened in 2011.

Meanwhile, Kopitnari International Airport (Kutaisi)

opened at the end of 2012 with the launch of flights by low-cost carrier Wizz Air from Kutaisi to Kiev. The company is the third LCC in the Georgian market after Pegasus and FlyDubai.

In 2012, Qatar Airways entered the market by opening the route Baku - Tbilisi.

Qatar is the first of the major Gulf carriers to serve Georgia and is the second Middle Eastern carrier in Georgia after FlyDubai.

For incentive groups, Georgia is rich in natural and cultural resources, with subtropical marshes, semi deserts, lofty alpine zones and snowy peaks. For rest and relaxation, Georgia offers 103 resorts and 2,400 springs.

Georgia has two sporting events in its forward calendar, with the Youth Olympic Festival and the UEFA Super Cup both taking place in 2015.

More than 4,000 athletes from 49 European countries will participate in the Olympic Festival taking place in Tbilisi. Renovation of the city’s sporting infrastructure is underway, and an athletes’ village under construction.

For this single event the city of Tbilisi is expected to host more than 10,000 visitors, of which approximately 5,000 will require three-star hotel accommodation and about 200 visitors will need fivestar hotel accommodation.

The UEFA Super Cup is an annual football match between the winners of the Champions League and the Europe League. The game will be held at the newly renovated Mikheil Meshki Stadium.

This event will gather football fans from all over the world.

The Georgian National Tourism Administration is exhibiting at GIBTM with partner organisations. Visit Georgia at stand E65.

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indonesia

Welcome Monument Roundabout, Jakarta

With a meetings industry spanning more than half a century, Indonesia offers experience, professionalism and world-class hardware set against a backdrop of 17,000 tropical islands.

Bandung, the capital of West Java, was the venue of the historic first AsianAfrican Conference in 1955, while Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, hosted the acclaimed World Ocean Conference in 2009.

Today, the Asian archipelago is ranked as the 46th meetings destination worldwide

and 11th in Asia Pacific and the Middle East by ICCA, having hosted 51 meetings in 2011.

The country attracts more than eight million tourists a year.

With state-of-the-art facilities, there are many venues in Indonesia equipped to host large international conferences, world-class exhibitions and entertainment performances. Jakarta, Bali and Manado are the preferred cities for meeting planners.

For incentives, planners can choose from a number of natural attractions, including

Mt. Krakatau, Lake Toba and the colourful underwater world of Raja Ampat and Wakatobi. Endemic wildlife includes the Komodo dragon, orangutans and tarsiers.

The capital city of Jakarta is not only the seat of government but also a business, commerce and entertainment hub.

Balai Sidang Jakarta Convention Centre has been operating for 20 years and has held more than 6,000 events, from world conventions, regional conferences, theatrical performances, jazz festivals, concerts, fashion shows, product launches, business meetings and banquets.

Offering 26,500 square metres of flexible space, the facility offers sound, lighting, and communication facilities and ethernet access throughout.

Manado, the capital of the province of North Sulawesi, offers a stunning underwater landscape and great mountain panorama.

In the last two decades,

tourism activities have grown significantly. The city has expanded its attractions – drawing mainstream tourists, but also utilising its natural splendours as a backdrop for meetings and conventions. In 2009, Manado hosted the World Ocean Conference, a prestigious international event that confirmed Manado not only as an excellent diving destination but also as a centre for marine science research.

Manado was also the venue for the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) held in January 2012.

The Madrid Visitors & Convention Bureau (Madrid V&CB), established in January 2012 and including the Madrid Convention Bureau (established 1984), is responsible for promoting the city globally, to attract both business and leisure tourism, and assist travellers.

In 2012, Madrid confirmed 14 new events booked for the city, which will attract

16,000 professionals. In addition, four large meetings are scheduled for 2013 and 2014.

This year will see Madrid welcome the IEC 2013 (the International Egg Commission) and the INNA 2013 (the International Association of Financial Auditing Companies).

The Pan-American Congress on Intensive Care Medicine, which will attract 3,000

Facilities include the Novotel Manado Golf Resort and Convention Centre. Part of the Grand Kawanua International City, the convention centre can accommodate events for up to 2,500 delegates.

Some 176 hotel rooms complement meeting facilities.

As one of the world’s most exotic and diverse destinations, Bali boasts an impressive range of internationalstandard meeting facilities.

The Bali International Convention Centre is located at the southernmost tip

Scuba diver at a coral reef in Manado, Sulawesi, Indonesia

of the island, 10km from the international airport.

Facilities include 17 meeting rooms, 2,700 square metres of exhibition space, and a 506-seat auditorium.

Bali Nusa Dua Convention Centre (BNDCC) offers 25,000 square metres of flexible meeting space complemented by 70,000 square metres of tropical gardens.

Both convention centres are located in the resort of Nusa Dua, and therefore benefit from having 4,000 hotel rooms, an 18-hole golf club and other event spaces, such as an amphitheatre, all in close proximity.

Nusa Dua is a self-contained tourism estate. Hotels include the Grand Hyatt, the Westin Resort, the Laguna Resort & Spa, and the Nusa Dua Beach Hotel & Spa.

The Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy of Indonesia is exhibiting at GIBTM. Please visit stand F20.

madrid Madrid, home to the UN World Tourism Organisation, is the capital city and largest city of Spain and the third largest city in Europe.

Its tourism credentials are impressive. Not only is it home to the UNWTO, it is also the most touristic city in Spain, the third in the EU and the seventh most touristic city in the world, with 9.7 million arrivals in 2012.

Madrid’s attractions include the Royal Palace, Teatro Real (Royal Theatre) and the Cibeles Palace and Fountain.

A European hub for business, the city is also a popular meetings and incentives destination. It is rated as the sixth most popular meetings destination in the world, and the fifth most popular in Europe by ICCA. In 2011 it hosted 130 meetings.

Royal Palace, Madrid

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attendees, and the Congress of the International Society of Peritoneal Dialysis, which will attract 2,000 participants, will be held in 2014.

Business tourism represents 40 percent of the city’s total revenue from the tourism sector. As part of its 2012-2015 Strategic Tourism Plan, Madrid aims to promote specialised products and services offered in conference tourism, as well as work on the establishment of new management tools, and the consolidation of the Ambassadors Programme to increase Madrid’s network of industry professionals.

Memorable meeting spaces in Madrid include the Hotel Ritz, which offers a range of beautifully presented rooms. The hotel’s Salón Real is a popular choice for product launches, fashion shows, wedding celebrations and black tie balls.

Sports enthusiasts might find that Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium helps them achieve their business goals. The stadium offers a range of meeting facilities and can cater

to events for 10 up to 80,000 (for home games). Its venues can hold presentations for new products, conventions, meetings, lectures, galas, concerts, or even matches on the pitch. Spaces include the Presidential Balcony, which can hold up to 600 guests.

The Bernabéu has attracted big names such as American Express, MercedesBenz and Kellogg’s for meetings and incentives.

Madrid’s tourism and sporting prowess are now set to come under scrutiny as the city puts itself forward to host arguably the largest event in the world – the 2020 Olympics. Madrid has been selected as a candidate city, competing against Istanbul and Tokyo for the honour to stage the global sporting gathering.

The International Olympic Committee will elect the host city on September 7, 2013 at the 125th IOC Session in Buenos Aires.

Madrid Visitors & Convention Bureau is exhibiting at GIBTM. Please visit stand D70.

Qatar, the ultimate authentic experience.

Qatar – where you can follow in the footsteps of Arabian legends. Marvel at the breathtaking architecture of the past, present and future. Unwind on the golden sands of the Arabian peninsula, with its deep blue sea gently lapping at your feet.

qatartourism.gov.qa

| destination profiles |

qatar Qatar is investing heavily in its tourism infrastructure in a bid to offer a well-rounded leisure and business tourism product, with US$65 billion earmarked for development between now and the hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Before the 2022 kick-off, Qatar plans to add 85,000 new hotel rooms in order to cope with the predicted 3.7 million annual tourist arrivals the state hopes to welcome by 2022.

New inventory already includes the 2012 opening of the St Regis Doha and new InterContinental Doha The City, as well as the country’s first Hilton hotel. A second Four Seasons hotel is currently under development, while budget brands are set to appear on the market – a Premier Inn opens on the city outskirts later this year.

Air links are also being added. The country’s national

The planned Lusail city development

carrier, Qatar Airways will launch six new routes in H1 2013. These new route additions come ahead of the opening of the Hamad International Airport (formerly known as the New Doha International Airport) being developed five kilometres east of the current airport.

Further transport development includes the new US$14 million Doha metro network, which has broken ground.

Meetings infrastructure has also been a central component of Qatar’s development. According to the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), 95 percent of arrivals to Qatar are business travellers.

The Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC) opened its doors in December 2011 by welcoming 5,500 delegates and press attending the 20th World Petroleum Congress. Since then, the centre has seen steady business, and hosted the United

Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP18/ CMP8) at the end of 2012.

QNCC offers 40,000 square metres of exhibition space without pillars, divisible into seven halls. The building can host conferences or gala dinners for up to 10,000 guests.

Other facilities include a multi-purpose hall for 4,200 guests, a 2,500-seat auditorium and a 500-seat theatre.

Currently under development by Qatari Diar, The Doha Exhibition and Convention Centre (DECC) will offer up to 90,000 square metres of convention space. Located in the West Bay area of Doha, DECC will be connected to the Sheraton Park through an underground tunnel.

Alongside its meetings venues, Qatar is also busy developing its sports stadia, ahead of hosting the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup. The country will be the first Arab state to host the World Cup.

InterContinental Doha The City

Qatar already has the experience and credentials to take on the football event. The state hosted the 2011 Asia Cup and in 2006 was host to the Asian Games, which included more than 30 athletic events.

QTA sees GIBTM as an allimportant event to showcase Qatar and all its stakeholders as it develops a new tourism strategy for the country

that looks to raise awareness of all that Qatar has to offer in the region and further afield.

QTA is working to ensure that it guides the sustainable development of the country's tourism infrastructure to international standards in every way to boost the meetings sector.

Qatar Tourism Authority is exhibiting at GIBTM. Visit stand A10.

san francisco The San Francisco Bay Bridge at sunset

Tourism is San Francisco’s major industry, generating almost US$8.5 billion in economic activity, supporting more than 71,400 jobs, and contributing US$524 million to the General Fund.

San Francisco welcomed 16.35 million visitors in 2011, an increase of 2.7 percent from 2010, according to the San Francisco Travel Association.

San Francisco International Airport (SFO) offers non-stop flights to more than 31 international points on 30 international

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carriers. The Bay Area's largest airport connects nonstop with 75 cities in the US on 15 domestic airlines.

The city offers more than 33,600 hotel rooms, top restaurants, and special event facilities.

With tourism as a staple revenue earner, the city continues to invest in developing its infrastructure, with funding recently approved for the US$500 million expansion of the Moscone Centre. The expansion will add approximately 400,000

square feet (122,000 square metres) to the convention centre, including 80,000 square feet (24,000 square metres) of adjoining exhibition space, essential for attracting larger conventions.

“San Francisco has already lost meetings representing US$2.057 billion in direct spending as a result of space limitations for meetings with dates between 2010 and 2019. The existing three-building configuration of Moscone Centre is effectively filled to capacity,” said Joe D’Alessandro, president and CEO of the San Francisco Travel Association.

“Therefore, it is impossible to significantly grow the San Francisco convention market without providing additional meeting and exhibition space – especially contiguous exhibition space.”

The Moscone Centre currently hosts one million visitors each year and generates more than US$1.6 billion in visitor spending.

The centre is located near hotels, restaurants, museums, attractions and public

transit options. Moscone offers nearly one million square feet (305,000 square metres) of meeting and exhibition space including more than 100 meeting rooms, three ballrooms and more than 120,000 square feet (36,500 square metres) of pre-function lobbies.

Green meetings are also advocated in San Francisco.

The 2003 expansion of the Moscone Centre included important resource-efficient design features, high-performance windows and lighting systems that exceed Title 24 Energy Efficiency standards, a full-time air-quality technician on staff, and one of the nation's largest municipally-owned rooftop solar installations.

Construction of the expansion is anticipated to begin November 2014 with completion slated for 2018.

The San Francisco Travel Association is the official tourism marketing organisation for the City and County of San Francisco.

Away from the exhibition floor or convention room, delegates can take in the Golden Gate Bridge, or enjoy

some of the city’s dining, shopping, cultural attractions and natural beauty.

Attendees can explore Haight-Ashbury, Mission District, Japantown and dozens of other cities within the city; the world-renowned San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SF MOMA) and a host of other art and cultural institutions.

Incentive groups can get behind bars with a visit to renowned island prison Alcatraz. Through special

San Francisco Cable Car, California Street

advance arrangements with the National Park Service, private events can be held on the island after hours.

Other incentive options include a cable car dinearound, with a progressive dinner aboard a fleet of motorized cable cars. You can recreate an American-style "sock hop" or create a 50s-style diner, with waitresses on skates.

San Francisco Travel Association is exhibiting at GIBTM at stand E73.

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