Press Release Details

GIBTM 2008 exhibition gears up for record participation

Publication Date: 27 Feb 2008

Reed Travel Exhibitions, the world's leading events organiser for the travel industry, has intensified its preparations to accommodate an expected record turnout at this year's Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (GIBTM) exhibition, being held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from April 08 - 10, 2008.

An estimated 1,500 visitors and more than 250 suppliers from the Gulf and abroad are expected to take part in GIBTM 2008, the Gulf\'s premier meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) forum. Following the overwhelming success of the inaugural edition of the exhibition in 2007, the expectations for GIBTM 2008 have been steadily escalating, as major industry players underline the importance of the event as a platform to support the Abu Dhabi Government\'s strategy of promoting the emirate as one of the most important meetings and incentives destinations in the world.   

H.E. Ahmad Humaid Al Mazrouie, Managing Director, ADNEC, commented: "GIBTM 2007 was a phenomenal success and this year's second edition is shaping up to be another breakthrough event with numerous return participants and a steadily growing portfolio of new exhibitors. As business tourism is a key component of the government's economic diversification strategy, ADNEC will offer its world-class facilities to ensure the success of GIBTM and subsequently help Abu Dhabi consolidate its potential in this rapidly growing sector."

Abu Dhabi posted a 16 per cent growth in tourism in 2007, one of the highest growth rates for this sector in the world; a key indicator of the emirate's strength as a tourist destination, particularly in the high-yielding area of business tourism. Eventually, Abu Dhabi plans to accommodate 3 million visitors annually by 2015, which would be inclusive of 240,000 MICE or business tourism-specific hotel guests.

Organised under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of ADNEC and the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), GIBTM 2008 aims to provide a business-to-business platform in the Middle East for international and regional venues, hotels, destinations and suppliers to interact with meeting planners, incentive travel buyers and those involved in the meetings and incentives industry.

GIBTM 2008 will enable participants to discuss with exhibitors and experts various regional trends and other key concepts related to organising successful events in the Gulf region. Moreover, GIBTM 2008 will also feature the Professional Education Programme, which incorporates seminars on how to do business in the region, as well as sessions on industry trends and technology.

To further enhance participation, the organisers have set up the GIBTM Hosted Buyer Programme, in which a dedicated team will organise all aspects of each participant\'s visit. Senior-level executives, as well as PAs responsible for arranging meetings and finding venues, can join the programme by pre-registering at: www.gibtm.travel/hostedbuyers.

Leveraging the benefits of the unique programme, Hosted Buyers can receive complimentary flights and transfers, complimentary accommodation at the official 4 and 5-star hotels in Abu Dhabi, a personal diary of appointments with exhibitors of the buyer\'s choice, access to the professional education programme, entrance to networking events and exclusive opportunities such as Hosted Buyer lounge privilege, and invitations to post and pre-event familiarisation trips.

"International business tourism is a multi-billion dollar market in which Abu Dhabi has a substantial strategic advantage because of world-class facilities such as ADNEC and a comprehensive line of support infrastructure and services dedicated to MICE activities. Abu Dhabi\'s substantial investments are opening more growth opportunities in this sector, and this has driven MICE planners to significantly increase their focus in the emirate," said Paul Kennedy MBE, Group Exhibitions Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.

ADNEC is a first-class MICE venue that sits at the heart of the Capital Centre, an AED 8 billion development that will include a range of hotels, bustling outdoor cafes, restaurants, a marina and a full range of leisure and recreational facilities. Phase 2 of ADNEC will be completed later this year and will see the venue double its size, making it the Middle East's largest and most sophisticated purpose-built exhibition centre.

ADNEC hosted some 1168 visitors from 50 countries along with over 200 buyers during GIBTM 2007.

Further information on GIBTM can be found at: http://www.gibtm.travel/.

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For further information please contact:

Nicky Neville-Smith
Marketing & PR Account Manager
Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC)
Tel: +971 2 4446900
Dir Tel: +971 2 4063275
Fax: +971 2 4446135
Email: nicola.nevillesmith@adnec.ae 
Web: http://www.adnec.ae/http://www.capitalcentre.ae/ & http://www.capitalgate.ae/

Or

Orient Planet, PR & Marketing Communications
P.O. Box 23345, Dubai UAE
Tel: 00 971 4 3988901
Fax: 00 971 4 3988941
Email:info@orientplanet.com
Website: http://www.orientplanet.com/