Latest news with #AbuDhabiConventionandExhibitionBureau
Mid East Info
29-04-2025
- Business
- Mid East Info
Business events and festivals set the stage for socio-economic growth, according to experts at Arabian Travel Market
Representatives from Dubai Economy and Tourism, the Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau and Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority discussed the impact of events, festivals and conferences on the UAE's growth Speaking during IBTM@ATM, the discussion launched four days of insightful sessions which will explore the thriving business events industry Dubai, United Arab Emirates, April 2025: On the opening day of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) today, tourism leaders from the UAE were joined by representatives from the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) on the Business Events Stage, to examine how major events and festivals are driving socio-economic growth in the UAE. Moderated by Senthil Gopinath, CEO, ICCA, the panel featured Ahmed Al-Khaja, CEO, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, Dubai Economy and Tourism; Mubarak Al Shamsi, Director of Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau, Department of Culture and Tourism; Iyad Rasbey, VP – Destination Tourism Development, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority; and Martin Thomas Boyle, CEO, International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO). Together, they explored howevents are fostering socioeconomic growth and enhancing destination appeal across the Middle East region. Opening the session, Al-Khaja elaborated on the pivotal role that festivals in Dubai have played in shaping the city's cultural and economic landscape. Notably, he highlighted the Dubai Shopping Festival, which was launched in 1996, as a particularly influential event that not only attracts local residents but also draws tourists from around the world each year. Commenting on the events strategy for Abu Dhabi, Al Shamsi said: 'In recent years, Abu Dhabi has achieved remarkable success in hosting major exhibitions, conferences, and events, delivering clear economic benefits. However, our strategy extends beyond numbers and is focused on creating a long-lasting legacy that aligns with Vision 2030, with a focus on advancing key sectors including healthcare, innovation, sustainability and energy.' According to Rasbey , events have been key to Ras Al Khaimah's rising prominence: 'Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) is an important segment and has contributed significantly to our growth. Last year, Ras Al Khaimah achieved 40% growth, with MICE being the fourth largest segment contributing to this. 'It is vital for us to secure events that contribute to our growth and development. Examples of past events include the Global Citizen Forum, which attracted investors and high-net-worth individuals to the Emirate. In terms of tourism growth, hosting the Arab Aviation Summit enabled us to connect Ras Al Khaimah International Airport with 11 cities globally.' Elsewhere today, Fouad Talat, Regional Manager, John Bevan, CEO, dnata Travel Group and Amani O'Neill, Senior Public Policy Manager, Middle East, Airbnb, discussed the microtrends redefining travel. During the engaging session, the speakers covered trends including sleep tourism, dark tourism and coffee tourism, outlining how these trends are impacting global travel behaviours and shaping the way destinations evolve and adapt. During the discussion, the speakers discussed how tourism providers should adjust their marketing strategies to align with these trends and provided practical applications for incorporating microtrends into long-term planning. Tomorrow at ATM, the Business Events Stage will host an exclusive networking session where participants will have the opportunity to engage with prominent international and regional associations to foster strategic relationships, unlock collaboration opportunities and exchange high-value business leads. This week, ATM will showcase 2,800 exhibitors and the event is expected to host 55,000 attendees from around the world. Attendees will have the opportunity to gain insights from over 200 high-profile speakers across more than 70 conference sessions on the Global Stage, Future Stage and the new Business Events Stage and connect with industry professionals from over 161 countries. Now in its 32nd year, Arabian Travel Market (ATM) is the leading international travel and tourism event in the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals. Held annually at the Dubai World Trade Centre, ATM 2024 spanned 12 halls, making it the largest edition to date. With over 48,000 attendees and more than 35,000 visitors, including over 2,550 exhibitors and representatives from over 161 countries during last year's show, ATM remains a pivotal gathering for the global travel and tourism industry. Arabian Travel Market is part of Arabian Travel Week. #ATMDubai Arabian Travel Week is a week-long festival of events from 28 April to 4 May, alongside Arabian Travel Market 2025. Providing a renewed focus for the Middle East's travel and tourism sector, it includes the all-New Business Events @ATM focusing on MICE, Start-Up Competition, influencers' events, GBTA Business Travel Forums, and ATM Travel Tech. It also features ATM Buyer Networking and a series of country forums. About RX: RX is a global leader in events and exhibitions, leveraging industry expertise, data, and technology to build businesses for individuals, communities, and organisations. With a presence in 25 countries across 42 industry sectors, RX hosts approximately 350 events annually. RX is committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX empowers businesses to thrive by leveraging data-driven insights and digital solutions. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. About RELX: RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. RELX serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs more than 36,000 people over 40% of whom are in North America. The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX. *Note: Current market capitalisation can be found at World Travel Market (WTM) portfolio comprises leading travel events and online portals across four continents. The events are: WTM London is the world's most influential travel & tourism event for the global travel community. The show is the ultimate destination for those seeking a macro view of the travel industry and a deeper understanding of the forces shaping it. WTM London is where influential travel leaders, buyers and high-profile travel companies gather to exchange ideas, drive innovation, and accelerate business outcomes. WTM Latin America takes place annually in the city of São Paulo and attracts around 20,000 tourism professionals during the three-day event. The event offers qualified content together with networking and business opportunities. In this its ninth edition – there have been eight face-to-face events along with a 100% virtual one, which was held in 2021 – WTM Latin America continued to focus on effective business generation, and achieved the advance booking of six thousand meetings that were held between buyers, travel agents and exhibitors in 2022. WTM Africa launched in 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2022, WTM Africa facilitated more than 7 thousand unique pre-scheduled appointments, an increase of more than 7% compared to 2019 and welcomed more than 6 thousand visitors (unaudited), the same number as in 2019. About ATW Connect: Africa Travel Week's digital arm, is a virtual hub packed to the seams with interesting content, industry news and insights, and the opportunity to hear from experts on a variety of topics in our new monthly webinar series. All with the aim to keep all of us in the travel and tourism industry connected. ATW Connect focuses on inbound and outbound markets for general leisure tourism, luxury travel and the MICE/business travel sector as well as travel technology. WTM Global Hub, is the WTM Portfolio online portal created to connect and support travel industry professionals around the world. The resource hub offers the latest guidance and knowledge to help exhibitors, buyers and others in the travel industry face the challenges of the global coronavirus pandemic. WTM Portfolio is tapping into its global network of experts to create content for the hub.
Zawya
28-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Business events and festivals set the stage for socio-economic growth, according to experts at Arabian Travel Market
Representatives from Dubai Economy and Tourism, the Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau and Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority discussed the impact of events, festivals and conferences on the UAE's growth Speaking during IBTM@ATM, the discussion launched four days of insightful sessions which will explore the thriving business events industry Dubai, United Arab Emirates: On the opening day of Arabian Travel Market (ATM) today, tourism leaders from the UAE were joined by representatives from the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) and the International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) on the Business Events Stage, to examine how major events and festivals are driving socio-economic growth in the UAE. Moderated by Senthil Gopinath, CEO, ICCA, the panel featured Ahmed Al-Khaja, CEO, Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment, Dubai Economy and Tourism; Mubarak Al Shamsi, Director of Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau, Department of Culture and Tourism; Iyad Rasbey, VP - Destination Tourism Development, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority; and Martin Thomas Boyle, CEO, International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO). Together, they explored howevents are fostering socioeconomic growth and enhancing destination appeal across the Middle East region. Opening the session, Al-Khaja elaborated on the pivotal role that festivals in Dubai have played in shaping the city's cultural and economic landscape. Notably, he highlighted the Dubai Shopping Festival, which was launched in 1996, as a particularly influential event that not only attracts local residents but also draws tourists from around the world each year. Commenting on the events strategy for Abu Dhabi, Al Shamsi said: 'In recent years, Abu Dhabi has achieved remarkable success in hosting major exhibitions, conferences, and events, delivering clear economic benefits. However, our strategy extends beyond numbers and is focused on creating a long-lasting legacy that aligns with Vision 2030, with a focus on advancing key sectors including healthcare, innovation, sustainability and energy.' According to Rasbey, events have been key to Ras Al Khaimah's rising prominence: 'Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions (MICE) is an important segment and has contributed significantly to our growth. Last year, Ras Al Khaimah achieved 40% growth, with MICE being the fourth largest segment contributing to this. 'It is vital for us to secure events that contribute to our growth and development. Examples of past events include the Global Citizen Forum, which attracted investors and high-net-worth individuals to the Emirate. In terms of tourism growth, hosting the Arab Aviation Summit enabled us to connect Ras Al Khaimah International Airport with 11 cities globally.' Elsewhere today, Fouad Talat, Regional Manager, John Bevan, CEO, dnata Travel Group and Amani O'Neill, Senior Public Policy Manager, Middle East, Airbnb, discussed the microtrends redefining travel. During the engaging session, the speakers covered trends including sleep tourism, dark tourism and coffee tourism, outlining how these trends are impacting global travel behaviours and shaping the way destinations evolve and adapt. During the discussion, the speakers discussed how tourism providers should adjust their marketing strategies to align with these trends and provided practical applications for incorporating microtrends into long-term planning. Tomorrow at ATM, the Business Events Stage will host an exclusive networking session where participants will have the opportunity to engage with prominent international and regional associations to foster strategic relationships, unlock collaboration opportunities and exchange high-value business leads. This week, ATM will showcase 2,800 exhibitors and the event is expected to host 55,000 attendees from around the world. Attendees will have the opportunity to gain insights from over 200 high-profile speakers across more than 70 conference sessions on the Global Stage, Future Stage and the new Business Events Stage and connect with industry professionals from over 161 countries. Now in its 32nd year, Arabian Travel Market (ATM) is the leading international travel and tourism event in the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals. Held annually at the Dubai World Trade Centre, ATM 2024 spanned 12 halls, making it the largest edition to date. With over 48,000 attendees and more than 35,000 visitors, including over 2,550 exhibitors and representatives from over 161 countries during last year's show, ATM remains a pivotal gathering for the global travel and tourism industry. Arabian Travel Market is part of Arabian Travel Week. #ATMDubai ATM takes place from 28 April to 1 May 2025, Dubai World Trade Centre, Dubai Arabian Travel Week is a week-long festival of events from 28 April to 4 May, alongside Arabian Travel Market 2025. Providing a renewed focus for the Middle East's travel and tourism sector, it includes the all-New Business Events @ATM focusing on MICE, Start-Up Competition, influencers' events, GBTA Business Travel Forums, and ATM Travel Tech. It also features ATM Buyer Networking and a series of country forums. About RX RX is a global leader in events and exhibitions, leveraging industry expertise, data, and technology to build businesses for individuals, communities, and organisations. With a presence in 25 countries across 42 industry sectors, RX hosts approximately 350 events annually. RX is committed to creating an inclusive work environment for all our people. RX empowers businesses to thrive by leveraging data-driven insights and digital solutions. RX is part of RELX, a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. About RELX RELX is a global provider of information-based analytics and decision tools for professional and business customers. RELX serves customers in more than 180 countries and has offices in about 40 countries. It employs more than 36,000 people over 40% of whom are in North America. The shares of RELX PLC, the parent company, are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York stock exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RELX. *Note: Current market capitalisation can be found at World Travel Market (WTM) portfolio comprises leading travel events and online portals across four continents. The events are: WTM London is the world's most influential travel & tourism event for the global travel community. The show is the ultimate destination for those seeking a macro view of the travel industry and a deeper understanding of the forces shaping it. WTM London is where influential travel leaders, buyers and high-profile travel companies gather to exchange ideas, drive innovation, and accelerate business outcomes. Next event: 5 to 7 November 2024 at ExCel London. WTM Latin America takes place annually in the city of São Paulo and attracts around 20,000 tourism professionals during the three-day event. The event offers qualified content together with networking and business opportunities. In this its ninth edition – there have been eight face-to-face events along with a 100% virtual one, which was held in 2021 – WTM Latin America continued to focus on effective business generation, and achieved the advance booking of six thousand meetings that were held between buyers, travel agents and exhibitors in 2022. Next event: 14 to 16 April 2025 – Expo Center Norte, SP, Brazil. WTM Africa launched in 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. In 2022, WTM Africa facilitated more than 7 thousand unique pre-scheduled appointments, an increase of more than 7% compared to 2019 and welcomed more than 6 thousand visitors (unaudited), the same number as in 2019. Next event: 9 to 11 April 2025 – Cape Town International Convention Centre, Cape Town About ATW Connect: Africa Travel Week's digital arm, is a virtual hub packed to the seams with interesting content, industry news and insights, and the opportunity to hear from experts on a variety of topics in our new monthly webinar series. All with the aim to keep all of us in the travel and tourism industry connected. ATW Connect focuses on inbound and outbound markets for general leisure tourism, luxury travel and the MICE/business travel sector as well as travel technology. WTM Global Hub, is the WTM Portfolio online portal created to connect and support travel industry professionals around the world. The resource hub offers the latest guidance and knowledge to help exhibitors, buyers and others in the travel industry face the challenges of the global coronavirus pandemic. WTM Portfolio is tapping into its global network of experts to create content for the hub.
Gulf Business
28-01-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
Abu Dhabi: How ADCEB is shaping the future of business events
Image: Supplied What role do niche segments play in Abu Dhabi's broader strategy for economic and cultural development? Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau is ( As geopolitical and macroeconomic factors evolve in the global arena, it is essential that we proactively diversify and expand our source markets to remain resilient and competitive. As part of that strategy, we opened our first office in Seoul, South Korea, in January 2023 and expanded our footprint in existing source markets like China and India to Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Our focus on source markets significantly enables Abu Dhabi's tourism ambitions, underscoring its compelling visitor propositions and strategic location. It is equally crucial in positioning our emirate's soft power in the global economy. ADCEB's approach promotes economic and cultural exchanges with our target source markets, exploring strategic opportunities to collaborate with relevant stakeholders and identity partnerships that add value to our operations and services locally, regionally and globally. How do events like the Abu Dhabi Wedding Show and ICCA Congress align with the emirate's goals of promoting a sustainable and prosperous future? The Tourism Strategy 2030 focuses on four strategic pillars, including doubling Abu Dhabi's Promotion and Marketing efforts and enhancing visitor experiences and business operations. The Abu Dhabi Wedding Show and ICCA Congress contribute by amplifying Abu Dhabi's distinctive culture and value proposition to target audiences and promoting the processes, platforms and operations that ensure convenience and ease. The Abu Dhabi Wedding Show was the first B2B event for the niche destination weddings segment in the GCC. It was as much an effort to identify business development opportunities as it was to nurture further growth and advancement in Abu Dhabi's wedding events ecosystem by expanding the sector's capabilities through education and collaborations. Similarly, the ICCA Congress had two-fold benefits. For one, it allowed us to directly promote the emirate to the global meetings and events industry, bringing their attention to Abu Dhabi's diverse offerings and ADCEB's support and incentives for event organisers. Furthermore, it allowed us to work with local stakeholders to develop their know-how and processes to better support clients in organising carbon-neutral events. For example, we worked with Ne'ma, the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, to divert food waste from landfills. We aim to make it a default set-up for all future events to embed greater sustainability into our platform. Why has Abu Dhabi chosen to focus on niche segments rather than more mainstream business and cultural sectors? Our focus on source markets, such as the US, China, India and the UK, complements Abu Dhabi's overarching tourism strategy by providing access to dynamic and inclusive target sectors and audiences. This approach enables ADCEB to navigate the dynamic geopolitical and macroeconomic environment with more agility, broadening our reach and impact by engaging strategic markets and opportunities while reinforcing Abu Dhabi's soft power. These specialised platforms and experiences facilitate unique cultural and business exchanges that may otherwise be overlooked. It allows us to attract distinct visitor segments and strengthen Abu Dhabi as a destination for all diverse business events. Can you share more about Abu Dhabi's long-term vision for its role as a leader in hosting high-profile niche market events? Our primary mission is to champion Abu Dhabi as a global business events leader. Since 2013, we have been at the forefront of developing and promoting business events, providing solutions, efficiency and an agile approach that addresses the needs of our various stakeholders. We have seen firsthand how paramount business events are in catalysing trade and commerce, not only in advancing the tourism sector's contributions to the GDP but also in facilitating growth in diverse economic segments by attracting international experts, businesses and decision-makers to engage local and regional stakeholders. We aim to continue building bridges that power widespread economic growth and collaborations, encourage knowledge transfer, and position the city's thought leaders before their global peers, whether in healthcare, life sciences, financial services or energy sectors. That's why we will continue partnering with champions of vital economic sectors to attract relevant business events and help the local industries meet their strategic objectives. In what ways do events such as the Abu Dhabi Wedding Show and ICCA Congress enrich the local cultural landscape? The Abu Dhabi Wedding Show and ICCA Congress bring valuable insights, stakeholders and awareness to the emirate's niche segments, which, in parallel, help innovate and expand the local ecosystem and infrastructure to meet demand. That can include investing in new venues and infrastructure to cater to larger audiences and appetites or injecting more creativity and novel concepts into space design that enhance customer experiences. This inevitably filters into the local cultural landscape, impacting and innovating local business operations and offerings. It serves as a highway of cultural exchange, through which we also introduce our local heritage to the global stage. We always encourage organisers to work with local Emirati artisans, performers and creatives to incorporate our culture into events, enhancing the experience of delegates with authentic encounters and preserving our local identity. How do niche segments support Abu Dhabi's efforts to preserve its cultural heritage while embracing innovation and global trends? ADCEB aims to create a highway of cultural exchange that welcomes global trends and insights that enrich and innovate Abu Dhabi's diverse business event segments while sharing our emirate's rich heritage with international audiences. Abu Dhabi is a multicultural melting pot home to people all over the world. Foreign influences and perspectives already define our landscape of creativity and entrepreneurship, making us attractive to diverse audiences. Yet, we retain a distinctly Emirati identity at heart. We often inject our traditions and heritage where we can, such as by encouraging organisers to work with Emirati performers, artisans and creatives to bring a local touch into their events. It enhances the visiting experience of international delegates, giving them a flavour of local traditions and allowing them to take a bit of our culture back home with them. What initiatives or incentives does Abu Dhabi offer to attract niche market events such as the ICCA Congress? ADCEB introduced the Advantage Abu Dhabi programme to provide event organisers and meeting planners with support, solutions and incentives to reinforce Abu Dhabi as a premier destination for business events. We work with MICE industry stakeholders to deliver successful events, providing support throughout the complete event planning cycle, including access to a network of partners experienced in organising business events and incentivising travel. We also offer value-added benefits, including hotel discounts, flight tickets, buyers and speakers programmes and more to achieve an event's objectives and elevate them to the next level. How does DCT collaborate with other sectors or government entities to ensure the success of these events? Collaboration is crucial to delivering innovative, seamless and engaging events that help international stakeholders see the convenience and value of Abu Dhabi's MICE landscape while meeting the various objectives of local economic sectors and government ambitions. For example, by working with the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) for financial services or the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (DED) for trade and investments, we can better understand their mid-to-long-term growth strategies and jointly identify events that help advance their objectives. ADCEB then offers support with the event bid advisory, event budget estimates, project planning and delivery timelines and marketing strategies that ensure we attract the right delegates, exhibitors and interest to the event. We also provide financial support via the Advantage Abu Dhabi programme to strengthen the impact of events and deliver enriching experiences for delegates. How does Abu Dhabi differentiate itself from other regional hubs in terms of attracting niche market events? Abu Dhabi's strategic location between the East and West and as a gateway to the MENA region is among its key differentiators. Our emirate is a six-hour flight from nearly two-thirds of the global population, making us highly accessible to people from far-flung corners of the world and enabling, in some cases, events to reduce their travel-generated carbon footprint. We also have world-class travel and tourism infrastructure, making events more accessible to delegates. Our emirate's multicultural ethos is also a considerable draw. The UAE is home to more than 200 nationalities, contributing to a rich exchange of cultures, perspectives and knowledge at events. It enhances the quality and breadth of dialogue and delivers immeasurable value to attendees and organisers alike. What feedback have you received from international participants or stakeholders about Abu Dhabi as a venue for niche markets? We widely receive positive feedback from international organisers and participants on their experience hosting or attending events in Abu Dhabi, which has been valuable in enhancing our services and initiatives. The emirate's strategic location and connectivity have been widely commended, especially by organisers and delegates from cities that are further afield. The emirate provides a globally central address with a world-class travel, tourism, hospitality and events infrastructure that simplifies the hosting experience for organisers and helps attract attendees due to the convenience and varied stay and entertainment options. Our multicultural fabric also makes Abu Dhabi and the broader UAE diverse and welcoming. People feel safe and included here and can engage with other cultures and nationalities that might be new. Our Advantage Abu Dhabi programme has also provided immense ease to organisers and stakeholders, which we continue enhancing based on their recommendations and input. How do you see Abu Dhabi's role in the global landscape of business and cultural events evolving over the next decade? Abu Dhabi has laid robust foundations for a prolific business and cultural event landscape, and we are keen to continue building upon it. Leveraging our strategic approach and the input of our stakeholders, we aim to continue identifying new opportunities, initiatives and areas of enhancement and strengthen our MICE offerings and capabilities. By strategically investing in the necessary infrastructure and partnerships, we have defined a long-term roadmap to ensure Abu Dhabi becomes one of the leading business events and tourism hubs. Looking ahead, what emerging niche segments do you see as the next big opportunity for Abu Dhabi, and how is DCT preparing to attract them? ADCEB's growth strategy aligns with the nation's broader economic agenda. As Abu Dhabi establishes itself within the global artificial intelligence sphere, we are working closely with public and private stakeholders such as the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Omar Sultan Al Olama, Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) and G42, among others, to attract and create events in the AI sector. Space is another sector that's increasingly important to our national ambitions, and we're exploring activities with partners such as the UAE Space Agency and the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) to help nurture the landscape and dialogue of space exploration further through events. Read:
