Second dedicated Gulf Meetings Week

For the second year, the Gulf Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) will run in partnership with Meeting Professionals International (MPI) to create a Gulf Meetings Industry Week – dedicated to the MICE sector – that will run from 2March 28 to April 2, 2009 in Abu Dhabi.

Following on from the announcement made at EIBTM 2008 in Barcelona last week, where Reed Travel Exhibitions and MPI launched their global partnership dedicated to training and professional development at all levels of the industry, the 2009 education programs will bring real benefit to the region.

The week starts with MPI’s Gulf Meetings and Events Conference (GMEC), which takes place from March 28-29, 2009 at the Intercontinental Abu Dhabi. This is then followed by GIBTM from March 31–April 2 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).

Both events will focus on delivering a comprehensive program of education, professional development, new business opportunities, and networking to the region.

Didier Scaillet, VP global development for MPI said, “Although details have not yet been finalized, there will be a number of elements that will be retained from last year. Over the coming months we will be creating a program that will tackle key hot topics affecting the industry such as recruitment, CSR, trends, and innovation. For the local industry, we will include a session on how to do business in the international marketplace, as doing business with the Americans and Europeans is different form doing business purely locally.”

Graeme Barnett GIBTM’s exhibition director commented: “Building on the success of GIBTM since 2007 and last year’s first focused week for the meetings industry, we will continue our commitment to professional education with the seminar program running alongside the international exhibition at GIBTM. The program will provide extensive sessions on topical industry issues, trends, industry research, and technology developments. Reed Travel Exhibitions is at the very heart of the worldwide meetings industry, and GIBTM is pivotal for the development of the sector in the Middle East bringing together exhibitors and suppliers with buyers and meeting planners to do business.”

All information on how to attend GIBTM as a hosted buyer or as a visitor for free, together with further information about Gulf Meetings Industry Week, can be found at: www.gibtm.com .

For more information on attending the MPI Gulf Meetings and Events Conference go to www.mpiweb.org .