Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) is set to host the seventh Gulf Incentive Business Travel and Meetings (GIBTM), a key annual event dedicated to the development of the MICE industry in the Gulf and Middle East region.

ADNEC’s role as event hosts will effectively highlight Abu Dhabi’s status as one of the premier conference and exhibition destinations in the world. It will also reiterate its support to the recently instituted Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau. Part of Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, this bureau will promote Abu Dhabi’s credentials as a global event and exhibition destination.

Running from 25 – 27 March, GIBTM 2013 will welcome international delegates, decision makers and key executives from the global meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) industry. For the very first time, GIBTM has invited Event Camp Middle East 2013 to Abu Dhabi for visitors and buyers to gain insight into experiences and case studies on strategies for leveraging social media and new technologies in the events landscape. The Event Camp will include a forum on ‘what’s coming next’.

Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Chief Commercial Officer at ADNEC, said: “Abu Dhabi recognises the growing importance of the business travel and MICE industry within the global tourism landscape. Our support to the Gulf Incentive Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition comes as part of this commitment. GIBTM is a prominent exhibition in ADNEC’s annual calendar for its potential to promote Abu Dhabi among regional and international visitors. We also expect this year’s show to record more success than the previous editions.”

Al Dhaheri added: “Apart from hosting GIBTM, ADNEC participates in key international industry events throughout the year. Our confidence to compete on the global arena and support the events sector comes from our offerings of sophisticated infrastructure, advanced facilities and high-level services that serve as crucial imperatives for staging any successful event.

The MICE industry plays an important role in contributing to the economic diversity of the emirate. In 2012, ADNEC hosted 360 events, a rise of 55 per cent on 2011, attracting more than 1.4 million guests. According to the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, the MICE industry is anticipated to grow by seven per cent each year until 2020, suggesting that business events in Abu Dhabi will contribute over AED2.6 billion to the economy during 2013. Meanwhile, the corporate meetings and events industry in Abu Dhabi is expected to generate a direct economic impact of around AED5.1 billion (US$1.4 billion) annually by 2020. Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) has served as a cornerstone of this development with its proven calibre to attract high-profile event organisers.

ADNEC’s prestigious portfolio consists of high end, innovative and modern exhibition centres globally that include; Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, ExCeL London, the UK’s largest exhibition and conference venue, and Al Ain Convention Centre. ADNEC offers 12 advanced IT integrated and flexible contemporary designed halls to event organisers as well as 19 ‘Capital Suite’ meeting rooms that can accommodate 20 to 200 delegates.

ADNEC’s ICC (International Convention Centre) Abu Dhabi, offers fully flexible, tiered seating for up to 6,000 delegates and is the perfect place to host large meetings and conferences. The venue has adjacent exhibition space, catering areas and a range of accommodation options across three, four, and five-stars totalling more than 4,000 rooms either on-site or within 5 minutes of the venue. ICC Abu Dhabi has set the stage for the World Ophthalmology Congress 2012, the largest congress to be staged in the UAE capital, as well as a number of other major events including the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) and the first IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency) General Assembly.

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