Interest in the meetings industry on the rise in the Middle East

UAE a top MICE destination in the region

Abu Dhabi, 28 December 2011 - Abu Dhabi and Dubai have been named the top MENA Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) destinations according to the 5^th Middle East Meetings Industry Research report, undertaken by Reed Travel Exhibitions and meetme magazine in March 2011. The report highlighted the rapid expansion of the industry in the UAE and predicted continuous growth. Up-dates and new developments both in the region and globally will be presented at the Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) 2012. Set to be held from 26 - 28 March 2012 in Abu Dhabi, GIBTM, a REED Travel Exhibitions event, provides the ideal networking platform for the international meetings and events industry.

Dubai is a key MICE destination ranked among the top 10 most popular business destinations in 2011⁽⁴⁾, followed by Abu Dhabi, which is currently attracting 27 percent of events staged in the region. The capital is anticipated to attract 48 percent of events planned in the MENA region in 2012⁽¹⁾.

Lois Hall, REED Travel Exhibitions Manager GIBTM said: "The UAE and wider Middle East region has received a huge amount of investment in the Meetings and Events industry over recent years and we are now seeing the results. The Middle East has witnessed 38 percent growth in indoor exhibition hall space over the past 5 years.⁽²⁾ The region has succeeded in attracting high profile local and international meetings and events and now needs to focus on encouraging repeat bookings."

Globally, the MICE industry has also experienced steady growth, for example Asia has achieved a growth rate in indoor exhibition halls of 20 percent over the past 5 years.⁽²⁾ New MICE hubs are also emerging including Malaysia, which attracted over 1 million international business event visitors last year.⁽³⁾ The Malaysian government has been supporting the MICE industry via the Tourism Ministry and has allocated US$ 16 million to finance business tourism events in 2011.⁽³⁾ The Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) will be participating in GIBTM 2012, allowing delegates to find out more about this growing MICE destination.

India is participating in GIBTM 2012 through the India Tourism Authority proving that the MICE industry is growing worldwide. Advanced technologies and facilities, personalized services and rich cultural heritage, make India an increasingly appealing MICE destination. India is globally connected to a network of over 50 international airlines and several domestic airlines, which provide convenient connectivity within India.

On a regional basis, Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tourism Sector is one of the exhibitors debuting at GIBTM 2012. Kuwait's Five-Year Plan (2010-2014) includes numerous mega projects such as the new business hub (Silk City) with estimated cost US$77bn, a 25km causeway railway and metro system and additional spendings on new cities, infrastructure and services; particularly health and education.

"GIBTM attracts support from a wide range of local, regional and international organisations, indicating its importance as the only proven platform in the Middle East to access the growing Meetings industry. Destinations like India have begun to market MICE products to specialised agencies and the corporate world at large. The MICE industry holds enormous potential for any country. It is estimated that a person travelling to a country for a conference or convention spends anywhere four to eight times more than a normal leisure traveller," concludes Lois Hall.

Joining India Tourism Authority, Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tourism Sector and Malaysia Convention Bureau are other exhibitors at GIBTM 2012 including Bahrain Tourism Company, Cyprus Tourism Authority, Dubai Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing, Lebanon Saad Transport, Moevenpick Hotels & Resorts, Oman Tourism Authority, Rotana Hotels & Resorts, Seoul Convention Centre, Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA), Silversea Cruises, and Sri Lanka Convention Bureau amongst others.

Held under the patronage of Chairman, HH Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, GIBTM 2012's distinguished industry partners include Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), ADNEC, Etihad Airways and The Vision Destination Management Company. Meetme, published by NPI, is a global media partner and publisher of the Official Show Daily publication.

More information on the event, exhibitors, hosted buyers' required qualifications, partners, networking and educational opportunities is available on www.gibtm.com.

-Ends-

(1) REED Middle East Meetings Industry Research Report 2011

(2) www.ufi.org

(3) Malaysia Convention and Exhibition bureau (MyCEB)

(4) STR Global (www.str.com)

For media enquiries, please contact:
Andrea Krenn
Action UAE
Phone: 00971 4 390 2974
Mobile: 00971506949810
Email: andrea.k@actionprgroup.com

About GIBTM:
GIBTM forms part of the Reed Travel Exhibitions portfolio of Global Meetings and Incentives Events along with AIME (www.aime.com.au ), EIBTM (www.eibtm.com), CIBTM (www.cibtm.com) and AIBTM (www.aibtm.com).

GIBTM (www.gibtm.com) is the annual global meetings and incentive exhibition held in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

GIBTM is ABC Audited every year to guarantee that the number of visitors promoted is completely accurate and are unique attendees only.

About Reed Travel Exhibitions:
Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) is the world's leading provider of exhibitions in the travel and tourism industry. Its wide-ranging portfolio of events around the globe covers leisure travel, luxury travel and the meetings and incentives industry.

The 12 events are; World Travel Market (WTM), Arabian Travel Market (ATM), International French Travel Market (IFTM), La Cumbre, International Golf Travel Market (IGTM), International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM), International Luxury Travel Market Asia (ILTMA), Asia Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo (AIME) (owned by Melbourne Convention Visitors Bureau), the Global Meetings & Events Exhibition (EIBTM), Gulf Incentive Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM), Americas Meetings & Events Exhibition (AIBTM) and China Incentive Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (CIBTM).

RTE is a business unit of Reed Exhibitions. In 2010, Reed Exhibitions held more than 460 events in 36 countries bringing together more than seven million people from around the world generating billions of dollars in business.

Reed Exhibitions is owned by Reed Elsevier, the world's leading provider of professional information and online workflow solutions.

© Press Release 2011