Co-participants of Dubai Stand at the inaugural Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (GIBTM) exhibition, which concluded in Abu Dhabi on Thursday after a three-day run, have benefited in networking with the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) industry players from different parts of the world.

Measuring 364 square metres, the Dubai Stand, put up by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), had 30 co-participants. There were a total of 16 booths at the stand which also had a dedicated section highlighting the culture and heritage of Dubai.

The DTCM Director General, Mr. Khalid A bin Sulayem, said Dubai tourism industry players have extended enormous support to the DTCM in promoting the MICE industry to the outside world through the GIBTM. This was reflected strongly in the number of co-participants from Dubai for the debut event.

The three-day fair was opened by His Highness Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoun Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) and ADNEC, in the presence of Mr. bin Sulayem, and other VIPs.

The exhibition at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) attracted 200 companies and 218 hosted buyers. It was organised by Reed Exhibitions and supported by ADTA, ADNEC, Eithad Airways and Net Conferences and Conventions.

Present at the Dubai Stand to network with the industry were DTCM officials, including the Director Operations and Marketing, Mr. Mohammed Khamis bin Hareb, DTCM Manager Media Relations, Mr. Eyad Ali Abdul Rahman, and DTCM Manager Overseas Promotions, Mr. Khalifa Ali Buamaim.

Among the co-participants was the DTCM-operated Dubai Convention Bureau (DCB) which is dedicated to promoting and marketing Dubai as a MICE destination of choice. According to Mohamed Jamal Al Hathboor DCB Executive, the region’s newest travel trade show has come handy for the bureau to promote the destination to the MICE industry decision-makers.

Mr. Khalifa Buamaim said the response to the debut edition of GIBTM has been encouraging for the local participants as well as the overseas participants and visitors.

Net Conference and Conventions, part of the Dubai-based Net Group, was one of the support partners for the GIBTM.

Mr. Ali Abu Monassar, Vice Chairman, Net Group, said the GIBTM will unite international and local meetings and incentives venues, destinations, suppliers and partners with meeting planners, incentive travel buyers and decision makers, for three days of networking and business.

Most of the co-participants expressed the view that the GIBTM comes as a good opportunity to strengthen the MICE industry within the Arabian Gulf region where Dubai holds the pole position as a MICE destination followed by Abu Dhabi.

Officials of Alpha Tours, one of the key co-participants at GIBTM, expressed confidence in GIBTM emerging as a major event to market the MICE strengths of Dubai to the world.

In a survey released during the GIBTM by Reed Travel Exhibitions and MICE International magazine, Dubai scored the highest 84 per cent votes to asserts its pole position as a MICE destination of choice. Factors like the cost, quality of accommodation, quality of service, meeting facilities and venue availability, made Dubai emerge on the top among the 16 destinations surveyed.

The Dubai co-participants include Dusit Dubai, Congress Solution Dubai, Bavaria Executive Suites, Accor Hotels, Novotel Ibis World Trade Centre, Sofitel City Centre, Sofitel The Palace The Old Town, Arabian Travel Market, Habtoor Hospitality, Metropolitan Hotels, SNTTA Emir Incentives and Conferences, Arabian Adventures, Belhasa Global Tourism and Travel, Emirates Hotels and Resorts, Arabian Park Hotel, The Monarch Dubai, and Travco Travel.