Latest news with #businessEvents
Trade Arabia
21 hours ago
- Business
- Trade Arabia
Exhibition World Bahrain targets geo-cloning as catalyst for global growth
As the global MICE and Business Events industries rapidly evolve, Exhibition World Bahrain (EWB) is embracing geo-cloning — a strategy that replicates successful event brands in new geographic markets — as a key pillar of its growth and global positioning. This forward-thinking approach enables EWB to attract high-profile, large-scale events while strengthening Bahrain's reputation as a dynamic, world-class destination for business tourism, EWB said. By combining innovation, strategic partnerships, and deep insight into international event trends, EWB is redefining its role on the global stage and ensuring long-term relevance in a highly competitive landscape. "Among the most transformative strategies we are actively pursuing is geo-cloning, a model that offers significant potential to enhance EWB's international profile and position the Kingdom of Bahrain as a preferred destination for high-impact, large-scale events," said Sara Ahmed Buhiji, CEO of BTEA and Chairman of EWB. The Geo-Cloning Strategy Rather than starting from scratch, geo-cloning involves adapting proven event formats to new audiences and regional dynamics — respecting cultural context while leveraging existing brand equity. At EWB, geo-cloning is not a simple duplication exercise; it is a targeted, data-informed initiative that supports Bahrain's broader economic ambitions under Economic Vision 2030. By identifying high-potential events from mature MICE markets and localising them for the Gulf region, we are accelerating market penetration while ensuring relevance and long-term value, she said. "Collaboration is central to this process. We work closely with global organisers, sector specialists, and industry associations toco-create event models tailored to the needs of regional audiences and aligned with our strategic goals," Buhiji said. Building a Roadmap for Strategic Growth "Our Business Development team is focused on identifying exclusive and commercially viable opportunities for our partners. Through geo-cloning, we are curating a roadmap that supports the introduction of new international events in sectors critical to Bahrain's national development goals—such as healthcare, sustainability, energy, artificial intelligence, tourism, food and beverage, and fintech," Buhiji said. To strengthen this strategy, EWB is also pursuing and working with industry leaders and global event organisers to co-create opportunities backed by attractive incentive programmes. This collaborative approach enhances value for event organisers while targeting a steady pipeline of international content that resonates with diverse audiences. From Bahrain to Frankfurt EWB's participation in globally recognised MICE and Business Events platforms such as IMEX Frankfurt, ATM Dubai, and IBTM Barcelona, allows it to engage directly with key decision-makers, promote EWB's distinctive value proposition, and identify event formats with high geo-cloning potential, she said. "These engagements are key to identifying opportunities and generating productive conversations that materialise into tangible business. Another key element is our active engagement and partnership with leading international MICE associations such as UFI, ICCA, AIPC and others, that enables us to stay attuned to global trends and contribute meaningfully to Bahrain's international positioning in the sector." A Broader Economic Impact The benefits of geo-cloning extend well beyond venue bookings. Each resulting event catalyses activity across local economies — benefiting hotel operators, airlines, retailers, and F&B providers. This ripple effect reinforces the business events sector's role as a key economic enabler and supports national efforts to drive sustainable employment and private sector growth. Every successful replication of a global event enhances Bahrain's credibility as a MICE destination and strengthens its role as a regional hub for collaboration and innovation. Shaping the Future of MICE and Business Events At its core, geo-cloning is not merely a business development tactic — it reflects a broader philosophy of innovation, adaptability, and strategic foresight. "At Exhibition World Bahrain, we remain committed to delivering exceptional experiences for our partners and stakeholders by continuously pushing the boundaries of what is possible in event hosting and management," said Buhiji.
Travel Daily News
5 days ago
- Business
- Travel Daily News
ICCA and IFES announce strategic partnership
IFES and ICCA announce a two-year strategic partnership to advance global collaboration, innovation, education, and sustainability in the business events industry. BRUSSELS, BELGIUM – The International Federation of Exhibition and Event Services (IFES) announce a new two-year strategic partnership with the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed at IMEX Frankfurt this month. Bringing together two globally influential communities, the partnership connects IFES – representing leading providers of exhibition and event services, including design, AV, and technical production – with ICCA, whose network spans the breadth of the international association meetings sector. Together, these organisations operate in over 100 countries and represent thousands of professionals dedicated to delivering quality, driving innovation, and championing sustainability across the business events ecosystem. ICCA's CEO, Dr. Senthil Gopinath, stated: 'This partnership with IFES reflects ICCA's dedication to uniting all facets of the global events industry. Together, we're not only expanding our reach, we're also creating new opportunities for learning, innovation, and sustainable growth that will benefit our entire community.' A cornerstone of this alliance is a shared focus on education and professional development, fostering collaboration between the two organisations and spotlighting innovation, sustainability, and emerging trends. ICCA and IFES will also exchange select research and educational resources to further enrich their respective communities. Jörg Zeissig, President of IFES, stated: 'Partnering with ICCA enables us to expand our global reach and takes a significant step forward in our mission to foster global collaboration across the various businesses within the exhibitions and events industry. By combining our resources and expertise, we aim to create innovative educational opportunities and advocate for sustainable practices that benefit our members worldwide.' IFES looks forward to working with ICCA to shape the future of business events through shared knowledge, stronger partnerships, and a commitment to progress.
Zawya
25-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Visit Qatar showcases MICE capabilities at IMEX Frankfurt 2025
Visit Qatar led a delegation of 16 entities from Qatar's tourism sector to participate in IMEX Frankfurt 2025 – one of the world's leading trade exhibitions specialising in the meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) industry. Held at Messe Frankfurt from May 20 - 22, the exhibition served as a strategic platform to showcase Qatar's latest offerings and services in the business events sector to a distinguished audience of industry professionals and decision-makers. The Visit Qatar pavilion brought together key partners from across the tourism and hospitality sectors, including Qatar Airways as the official airline partner. Other participants included Hilton Doha, Hilton Salwa Beach Resort & Villas, Park Hyatt Doha, Sheraton Grand Doha, Minor Hotels Doha, Rosewood Doha, The St. Regis Doha, The St. Regis Marsa Arabia Island, Waldorf Astoria Lusail Doha, and The Ritz-Carlton Doha. Destination management companies present included Discover Qatar, Experience Qatar, Q Moments, Arabian Adventures, Maps & Vogs Holidays, and Musafir Online Travel & Tourism. The pavilion featured a cultural Arabic calligraphy activation, alongside an interactive digital experience allowing visitors to capture photos using augmented reality elements inspired by Qatar's natural environment. Doha is preparing to host several major international events this year, including the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators' Global Conference in October, Mobile World Congress and the second United Nations World Summit on Social Development in November, and the tenth session of the Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption in December. Throughout the year, Doha plays host to a dynamic portfolio of established annual events that have become key fixtures on the regional and international events calendar. These include Web Summit Qatar, the Doha Jewellery & Watches Exhibition, the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX), the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH), as well as the Doha Forum, the Qatar Economic Forum, and the Qatar Real Estate Forum. Together, these events strengthen Qatar's position as a leading global destination for business events. For media-related inquiries, please contact Visit Qatar's Press Office on: pressoffice@ About Visit Qatar Visit Qatar is the main arm of Qatar Tourism. Visit Qatar's mission is to promote and expand tourism in Qatar by cultivating its rich culture, developing thrilling attractions, enhancing Qatar's calendar, becoming the leading MICE destination in the region, diversifying events and luxury experiences. Visit Qatar is rooted in Service Excellence, boosting the entire tourism value chain, and increasing local and international visitor demand in Qatar. Through Visit Qatar's network of international offices in priority markets, cutting-edge digital platforms, and marketing campaigns, Visit Qatar is expanding Qatar's presence globally and enhancing the tourism sector. Web: About Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) The PTO is a sports body that is co-owned by its professional athletes, seeking to elevate and grow the sport of triathlon and take it to the next level. Its T100 Triathlon World Tour was introduced in January 2024 and is designated by World Triathlon as the 'official World Championship for long distance triathlon', which is part of a 12-year strategic partnership with the sport's international governing body. The T100 Triathlon World Tour is a season-long schedule of World Championship level races competed over 100km (2km swim, 80km bike and 18km run), where the world's best triathletes go head-to-head in iconic locations on a global broadcast showing the races live around the world in 195+ territories, courtesy of the PTO's partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery as well as a range of other international, regional and local broadcasters. In 2025 these will include: Singapore, San Francisco, Vancouver, France, London, Spain, Lake Las Vegas, Dubai and then Qatar for the Qatar T100 Triathlon World Championship Final. T100 weekends are 'festivals of multisport' and feature a range of opportunities for amateur athletes of all levels to get involved. From experienced amateurs tackling the 100km distance to first-time swim, bike and run participants taking on single discipline, untimed events. For more information visit About Qatar Triathlon Federation Qatar Triathlon Federation (QTF) is the national governing body for triathlon in Qatar. Since its inception, QTF has been dedicated to promoting the sport, fostering a vibrant community of athletes, and organizing events for amateurs and professionals alike. Along with the Qatar Triathlon Series, QTF hosts many annual triathlon events held to the highest standards, attracting local and international participants. Aligned with Qatar's National Vision 2030, QTF is committed to nurturing local talent, developing the national team for regional and global competitions, and inspiring athletes of all ages to adopt active and healthy lifestyles.
Travel Daily News
23-05-2025
- Business
- Travel Daily News
Lesley Pincombe appointed President and CEO of Rogers Centre Ottawa
Lesley Pincombe becomes President and CEO of Rogers Centre Ottawa, bringing extensive business events expertise and a vision for economic and tourism growth. OTTAWA – The Rogers Centre Ottawa and its Board of Directors announce that after the completion of an extensive recruitment process, Lesley Pincombe has been appointed as its new President and CEO. Ms. Pincombe brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success in the business events industry. Ms. Pincombe joins the Rogers Centre Ottawa after most recently serving as the Vice President of Sales, Business, and Major Events at Ottawa Tourism. At Ottawa Tourism, Ms. Pincombe demonstrated exceptional leadership, where her strategic vision and execution were instrumental in establishing Ottawa as a premier business events and sport hosting destination. Her efforts have not only enhanced the city's global reputation, but also significantly contributed to its economic growth. She played a key role in bringing the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championships to the City of Ottawa, which generated over $54 million in economic impact to the Province of Ontario. 'I am incredibly proud to succeed Nina Kressler and build upon the legacy and stewardship she has left at the Rogers Centre Ottawa. Leading this extraordinary team forward is an honour, and I am committed to continuing our work alongside our industry partners to attract business events to Ottawa and grow the visitor economy,' said Lesley Pincombe, Incoming President and CEO, Rogers Centre Ottawa. As President and CEO, Ms. Pincombe will continue to cultivate strong relationships with the community, hoteliers, government officials, and industry stakeholders. She will lead the incredible team at the Rogers Centre Ottawa to ensure service excellence, foster innovation, and preserve the award-winning reputation of the centre. Under her leadership, the centre will continue to be a major contributor to the local economy, driving growth through hosting events that create a positive impact and leave a lasting legacy for the City of Ottawa and the Province of Ontario. 'On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am thrilled to welcome Lesley Pincombe as the new President and CEO of the Rogers Centre Ottawa,' said Jim Armour, Chair of the Board, Rogers Centre Ottawa. 'Lesley brings a wealth of experience, a deep understanding of our industry, and a bold vision for the future. Her leadership will be instrumental as we continue to elevate the centre's role as a premier destination for events and a cornerstone of our community.' Ms. Pincombe is a graduate of the Algonquin College Hospitality Program and is a certified Convention and Event Planner. She has been recognized as a Forty Under 40 award recipient, has served as Chair and Past Chair of the Destination Canada Business Events Advisory Committee, and is an Honourary Ambassador of the Bruyère Health Foundation Board. Most recently, she was honoured with the King Charles III's Coronation Medal for her outstanding contributions to Canada. The Rogers Centre Ottawa – Canada's Meeting Place – is an internationally renowned convention centre located on the Rideau Canal in downtown Ottawa, Canada's capital. With bold, modern design, a naturally lit interior, and magnificent views, the Rogers Centre offers an unparalleled and environmentally responsible setting for conventions, conferences, meetings and exhibitions of any size. Since opening in 2011, the Centre has hosted thousands of events, generating millions of dollars of economic impact for the city of Ottawa and the province of Ontario. In 2020, it was named the world's best convention centre by the International Association of Convention Centres (AIPC). The Ottawa Convention Centre Corporation is an agency of the Government of Ontario.
Zawya
21-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Dubai ranked first globally for attendance at association meetings, amid strong IMEX 2025 participation
Cvent: Dubai #1 meetings destination in Middle East and Africa Dubai's participation at IMEX 2025 highlights the city's position as a premier destination for international business events A diverse delegation of 30 stakeholders, led by Dubai Business Events, is convening in Frankfurt from 20 to 22 May to highlight Dubai's world-class MICE infrastructure and hosting capabilities Dubai, UAE – Dubai Business Events (DBE), the city's official convention bureau and part of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, is once again spearheading Dubai's participation at IMEX Frankfurt (20–22 May), one of the most influential trade shows for the global business events industry, joined by key stakeholders. This comes as Dubai continues to earn global recognition, this week being confirmed as #1 globally for highest attendee number per association meeting in 2024, and once again ranking #1 in the Middle East for the total number of association meetings hosted during the period, according to the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA). Cvent has this week also confirmed that Dubai maintained its #1 position among the Top 25 Meeting Destinations in the Middle East and Africa. The accolades further demonstrate the city's ability to both host prolific events and facilitate event growth for associations, allowing them to tap into the market and increase global access to members. At IMEX, a delegation of 30 stakeholders from across the sector has joined DBE in showcasing Dubai's credentials as a premier global hub for business events. The delegation includes leading hotels, venues, DMCs, airlines and other service providers including Emirates, Expo City Dubai, and Dubai World Trade Centre, together highlighting Dubai's ability to deliver dynamic world-class events at the intersection of innovation, knowledge-sharing and sustainable growth. Ahmed Al Khaja, CEO of Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), said: 'As we engage with the global industry at IMEX Frankfurt, we are reinforcing Dubai's position as a strategic destination for impactful business events. Our consistent top rankings from ICCA and Cvent, and growing pipeline of major international events, are the result of a focused and collaborative approach with our stakeholders, as we work collectively to reinforce the emirate's position as a premier global hub for the MICE industry. Business events are integral to our tourism strategy and are increasingly driving progress across key sectors. They are playing a vital role in advancing the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33 - to position Dubai as one of the world's most innovative, inclusive and future-ready cities, as guided and championed by the visionary leadership of the UAE.' Dubai's participation aligns with this year's IMEX theme - Impact 2.0: Activating the Future - emphasising the global events community's responsibility to address major global and community challenges while driving positive change through events, partnerships and initiatives. In line with this vision, Dubai continues to attract business events that not only grow visitation but also support innovation and deeper engagement across its economic sectors. This directly contributes to the D33 economic agenda, which aims to place Dubai among the top three global cities for business and leisure. Dubai's momentum was further underscored by a record 437 successful bids secured in 2024 to host international conferences, congresses and incentive programmes, a 20% year-on-year increase. These events are set to attract over 210,000 delegates to Dubai in the coming years, significantly contributing to the city's business and tourism ecosystem. Among the high-profile events won: Amway ESAN 2025, the 27th General Conference of the International Council of Museums 2025, the Global Symposium on Health Systems Research 2026, the World Congress on Medical Informatics 2027, ISAPS Olympiad World Congress 2027, Forever Living Products Global Rally 2026, the Scientific Assembly and Associated Events of the Committee on Space Research 2028 and The International Conference on Computer Vision 2029. Dubai continues to see strong growth in tourism aligned with its MICE strategy. In 2024, the city welcomed a record 18.72 million international overnight visitors, a 9% year-on-year increase. That momentum has continued into 2025, with 5.31 million international visitors arriving between January and March, marking a 3% increase compared to Q1 2024. Business events have been a key contributor to this sustained growth, generating economic impact across sectors and further strengthening Dubai's global brand. Further enhancing the city's capacity to meet rising demand in the events space, a key development includes an expansion plan for the Dubai Exhibition Centre at Expo City Dubai. As part of broader urban development initiatives including the Al Maktoum International Airport expansion, the project is a strategic investment aimed at reinforcing Dubai's position as a global platform for major conferences and exhibitions, enabling the city to host larger and more complex events that deliver long-term value that meets increasing demand and attendance. IMEX remains a cornerstone of DBE's global engagement strategy, providing an essential platform to connect with international associations and networks. Dubai continues to use such platforms to strengthen global partnerships and attract events that support its economic, social and sustainability priorities. Visit to find out more about hosting business events in Dubai. About Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment Dubai Festivals and Retail Establishment (DFRE), an agency of Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), is responsible for developing Dubai's retail, gastronomy, family entertainment and event sectors and supporting the positioning of Dubai as a world-class tourism destination and the best place to live, work and visit. About Dubai Business Events Dubai Business Events (DBE) – the Official Convention Bureau, aims to further develop and increase Dubai's share of the international business events market in order to grow economic development, jobs and knowledge creation in the emirate. DBE's main goal, as a division of DET, is to establish the Emirate as a premier business event destination by helping organizers of international meetings, incentives, congresses and exhibitions plan and manage every aspect of their event. As a member of Best Cities Global Alliance, DBE aims to deliver the world's best service experience for the meeting industry. For further information, please contact: mediarelations@ Iman Dawod – dbepr@
