IBTM ARABIA 2016 SET TO OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW BUSINESS CONNECTIONS

IBTM ARABIA 2016 SET TO OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEW BUSINESS CONNECTIONS WITH LINE-UP OF 100% NEW HOSTED BUYERS IN THE 5 STAR LOCATION OF ABU DHABI

ibtm arabia 2016 (www.ibtmarabia.com), the leading event for the Arabian meetings, incentives, conference and events industry, is opening with a line-up of 100% new Hosted Buyers. ibtm arabia 2016 will host a global mix of agency, corporate and association buyers, with this year’s show seeing a 61% increase in the amount of corporate buyers attending.

Shinu Pillai, Exhibition Manager, ibtm arabia, commented, “Once again, we placed emphasis on buyer acquisition; we focused on finding undiscovered buyers who were new to our show and targeted emerging markets where prospective Hosted Buyers were just starting to learn about the fantastic industry they’re part of. We focused on elite, senior level decision makers with purchasing power; 73% of our Hosted Buyers are senior management, Managing Directors, or owners. As a result, we have an impressive, global line-up of brand-new Hosted Buyers set to attend the show this year.”

At the same time, ibtm arabia will once again offer a mutual match system that will allow both buyers and suppliers the opportunity to select who they want to meet with and set up a diary of up to 30 pre-scheduled appointments. Last year the show produced 3,000 appointments between Hosted Buyers and exhibitors.

Shinu Pillai, Exhibition Manager, ibtm arabia, continued, “Our Hosted Buyers organize events such as conferences and meetings, incentive travel, business travel, luxury travel, and are interested in products such as hotels, Destination Management Services, conferences/meeting venues, and attractions and entertainment. With so many MICE industries represented at ibtm arabia 2016, our mutual match system will help eliminate non-relevant meetings while ensuring that both exhibitors and Hosted Buyers have control of their time and investment at the event.”

Hosted Buyers will attend from regions such as Europe, the Middle East, Australia, Asia, South America, and the USA. Just some of the buyers set to attend include Incentive Connect International (Australia), ALATUR JTB (Brazil), AW Europe (Belgium), Egyliere (Egypt), SAP SE (Germany), Provident Global Capital Group (Hong Kong), Korea Railroad Research Institute (Korea), B.V.Coca-Cola (Poland), Peugeot Citroen (Russia), Allama Company (Saudi Arabia), Kuoni MICE & Special Groups (Switzerland), Abbott (UAE), Cognizant (UK) and Meridian Meetings Factory (USA).

Just some of the exhibitors attending ibtm arabia 2016 include Anabas Travel (Japan), L’Amphitrite Palace Morocco (Morocco), Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (Oman), Saint Petersburg Convention Bureau (Russian Federation), Singapore Tourism Board (Singapore), Melia Hotels International (Spain), Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (UAE), Rotana Hotel Management PJSC (UAE), Etihad Airways (UAE), Arsenal Football Club (UK) and Hard Rock International (USA).

This year ibtm arabia will take place at the exclusive 5-star Jumeirah at Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi from 9th – 11th February. ibtm arabia is run with the support of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA), Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau and Etihad Airways.

For further information about exhibiting or to apply to be a Hosted Buyer, please visit http://www.ibtmarabia.com. For any enquiries, please contact ibtmarabia@reedexpo.co.uk

For a video explaining the new pod show format please visit http://www.ibtmarabia.com/About-Us/

IBTM ARABIA TO CONNECT ELITE MICE INDUSTRY SUPPLIERS AND BUYERS IN DYNAMIC THREE-DAY EVENT

IBTM ARABIA TO CONNECT ELITE MICE INDUSTRY SUPPLIERS AND BUYERS IN DYNAMIC THREE-DAY EVENT

This year ibtm arabia 2016 will take place from 9th to 11th of February at The Jumeirah at Etihad Towers on the famous promenade of Abu Dhabi with views of the Arabian Gulf and Cityscape.

The Jumeirah is an iconic development showcasing some of the best meetings facilities that Abu Dhabi has to offer. The luxurious 5-star hotel offers prestigious features such as exquisite hotel rooms, fine dining, a health club and Talise Spa and two levels of boutique shopping at the podium. The property will create the perfect setting for bringing together meetings industry professionals from across the globe.

Shinu Pillai, Exhibition Manager, ibtm arabia, comments, “The industry in the Gulf region is growing and certainly Dubai 2020 is having an impact on international buyers looking to place business at ibtm arabia. But the focus of this event is about creating a community, providing a one-to-one ratio of buyer to supplier and to mutually match the appointments, which means both buyers and suppliers can select who they want to meet“.

“ibtm arabia creates a true industry community, where participants stay in the same hotel and attend the same activities, from meetings to lunch, drinks to dinner. This enables genuine ongoing relationships to develop which leads to real business. ibtm events are not about the size of an event, it is about making that event 100% valuable to all attendees.”

ibtm arabia 2016 has seen an increase in the total number of buyers attending, as well as an increase in corporate and regional buyers. This year’s event will feature an impressive line up of new, fully Hosted Buyers, including Egyliere (Egypt), Helen Holidays (Egypt), Pomalo Travel (Jordan), Dakkak Holidays (Jordan), Piece of Cake (Lebanon), Belair Travel & Tourism (Lebanon), Kanoo Travel (Saudi Arabia), Allama Company (Saudi Arabia), Expotrade Global (UAE), Abbott (UAE) and QnA International (UAE).

All Hosted Buyers are handpicked, personally invited and verified against a strict qualification criteria, which requires that they are senior level decision makers with proven budget and business to place internationally. 80% of the Hosted Buyers confirmed to attend ibtm arabia 2016 have a budget over $5 million and organise a variety of events; 90% organise conferences and meetings, 80% incentive travel, 71% business travel, and 59% luxury travel. Confirmed Hosted Buyers this year have also indicated a variety of product interests: 88% indicated an interest in hotels, 80% in Destination Management Services, 66% in conferences/meeting venues, and 63% in attractions and entertainment.

ibtm arabia will also feature a number of new exhibitors, including Fairmont, Raffles & Swissotel Hotels & Resorts, Alpha Destination Management, Attikos Ilios S.A., Europe Hotel LLC, Golden Tours, Hill MICE Saudi Arabia and Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts. All exhibitors at ibtm arabia will have access to the pre-scheduled appointment system, which gives exhibitors access to the world-class corporate, association, agency and incentive buyers at the show.

Exhibitors will be able to pre-schedule appointments with the Hosted Buyers that they identify as relevant to their business interests with a diary of up to thirty appointments. Last year saw over 3,000 appointments between Hosted Buyers and exhibitors at ibtm arabia, which we expect to increase in 2016.

The ibtm arabia 2016 experience will also include a ‘Discovery Day‘, combining a dedicated Knowledge Forum with networking and activities around Abu Dhabi which will invite buyers and exhibitors to discover the region and specifically its leading MICE products and services while enjoying exclusive networking events.

The Knowledge Forum will feature world-class keynote speaker, Carol Talbot, who sets out to empower professionals and help them think differently about their approach to work. Her objective is to support professionals towards creating and delivering a vision for themselves, which will ultimately accelerate them towards succeeding in this industry. Carol will highlight the difference between those who attract success and those that don’t. She will also share some of her top leadership tactics, which will provide attendees with useful tips around how to influence people.

The combination of the pre-scheduled appointments and nine networking opportunities at ibtm arabia 2016 including Discovery Day, a Welcome Reception and Gala Evening ensures valuable touch points for everyone to help make meaningful connections.

Post show research from 2015 confirmed that 95% of both exhibitors and Hosted Buyers were satisfied with the event and the business they did. So, this year ibtm arabia plans to deliver the same experience, which will continue to deliver maximum return on investment for all suppliers and buyers participating.

For more information visit www.ibtmarabia.com

IBTM ARABIA – SETS THE BENCHMARK FOR A NEW STYLE OF MICE EVENT IN THE REGION

IBTM ARABIA – SETS THE BENCHMARK FOR A NEW STYLE OF MICE EVENT IN THE REGION

“It’s been excellent for us, we have some very strong leads and a very positive response”
“Chic, classy, sophisticated, I love the way it has been put together”

Press Release: 16 February 2015 – ibtm arabia which closed last Thursday in Abu Dhabi, created the first all-inclusive 5 star MICE event in the Middle East for international and regional suppliers and buyers.  It also brought them together as a community to do business and network over 3 days.

“Judging by the enthusiasm of our exhibitors and Hosted Buyers we feel very confident that this new event format has been a huge success. Our strategy to mutually match the quality of both buyers and suppliers ensured their compatibility with each other. We also wanted to create a memorable experience and a strong community in addition to the valuable pre-scheduled appointments and that has been key to the success for everyone involved,” said Lois Wilcox Exhibition Manager ibtm arabia.

The only MICE event in the region to bring international and regional Hosted Buyers and exhibitors in a one-to-one ratio format, ibtm arabia delivered more than 3000 mutually matched and pre-selected appointments over the 2 days of business meetings. “The combination of the pre-scheduled appointments and nine networking opportunities have provided more touch points for everyone to help make meaningful connections,” commented Wilcox.

Zdenek Giormani, Director of the Czech Convention Bureau, was delighted with the new concept. “It’s a good way to do business, it’s more personal, I prefer it and the value of my meetings has also been very good.”

Similarly, Lee Ford, Head of Operations for QNCC said: “It’s been excellent for us, we have some very strong leads and a very positive response. It’s also been great for networking, no time wasters, even with other exhibitors, we have been able to catch up on everything going on in the MICE industry in this region, I am sure we will be back.”

Nicoletta Paphitou, Cyprus Convention Bureau, added to the enthusiasm of exhibitors. “I think this is the most effective exhibition that I have every participated in.”

Carole O’Connor, Marketing MICE Division for Rovos Rail in South Africa, added that the value to her company was outstanding. “This has been a very different event.  Chic, classy, sophisticated, I love the way it has been put together. We have had good quality appointments and two very interesting incentive opportunities – of course we will be back.”

Marwan Haddad, Director of Sales & Marketing for Marriott Doha, said that the new appointment system and the fact that the event was “closed” to trade visitors worked well. “This has worked! The appointment set up where everyone moves after 15 minutes was right.  The mutual match was also perfect and we have had concrete enquiries – we will be back next year.”

Ronar Nammour from Iktissadevents, UAE, was a Hosted Buyer for the first time. “It’s been very helpful to my business. We work for corporates as well as the public and government sectors and I am sure we are going to generate business. We are looking for opportunities for our clients in Europe including Spain and Switzerland as well as the GCC, many contacts I had not been able to reach, but I have now met with in person!”

Next year ibtm arabia (previously called GIBTM) will celebrate 10 years in Abu Dhabi. “Its importance to the region has been fundamental to the emergence of the MICE sector. When the event was launched there was very little infrastructure that supported meetings, conventions, events and incentives, but that has all changed,” added Wilcox.  The number of meetings in the Middle East has grown even quicker than in other regions – in fact they have more than tripled over the last decade, according to Euromonitor’s International, MICE and Business Travel.

“Over the next five years we anticipate that the importance of the MICE sector will grow so that it will be the key to providing long term sustainability to the sector in Abu Dhabi” said Mubarak Al Shamsi, Director of the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau, partners and official hosts to ibtm arabia. “The Mice industry contributes to the emirate’s tourism particularly since business visitors tend to have a larger disposable income than leisure visitors, we are confident that the success of the new style ibtm arabia will result in new business for our partners.”

For further information please visit www.ibtmarabia.com

 

ibtm arabia delivers new format MICE event for the Gulf Region

ibtm arabia delivers new format MICE event for the Gulf Region

International Hosted Buyers from 36 countries representing key and influential planners of MICE business have descended on Abu Dhabi for an exclusive closed door one-to-one meeting format in a revamped ibtm arabia (formerly GIBTM).

Opening at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi today, the event will be the only one in the region to introduce international buyers from Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, South America, Africa and the Middle East, all representing leading corporations, associations, and agencies, to a mix of suppliers from the region and overseas.

With twice as many exhibitors as GIBTM 2014, 24 will be participating for the first time. There will also be 5 new countries represented including Scotland, Ethiopia, Japan, Mexico and Canada.

“ibtm arabia’s successful introduction is an endorsement of the strength of Abu Dhabi’s MICE proposition and proves we have evolved an established industry event to make it more relevant for delegates, buyers and exhibitors,” said Mubarak Al Shamisi, Director of the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau, a division of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi).

The new exhibition format provides a platform for Abu Dhabi’s MICE sector to introduce new products and services, and present their products to industry experts specialising in a number of diverse fields such as international corporate groups and the expanding local wedding business, and promote packages to the local and GCC markets.

The “new” event brings everyone together for three days during which they will participate in “Discovery Day” where both buyers and suppliers get a taste of Abu Dhabi, and the experiences it offers for the MICE industry, followed by the opportunity to attend the ibtm arabia Knowledge Forum giving inspiration from two thought provoking speakers. Two days of business will follow, where over 3000 appointments will be held between buyers and suppliers with a diary of up to 30 appointments for each of them, plus networking and social events will bring everyone together.

“The significance of ibtm arabia is fundamental to the continuing growth of the MICE sector and has been built on the success of GIBTM. This new format however, creates a community for this industry, and for the first time everyone will work, learn and network together giving endless opportunities to meet, connect and do business as well as make new friends. ibtm arabia offers real exclusivity and with the quality of both buyers and suppliers, matched to have real influence on each other, we believe this new formula can enhance the experience of all our attendees,” said Lois Wilcox, Exhibition Manager ibtm arabia.

Highlights of ibtm arabia include: Discovery Day, Knowledge Forum, Pre-scheduled appointments, 9 networking events.

For further information please visit www.ibtmarabia.com

 

Top 10 Meeting Destination Istanbul at IBTM Arabia

Top 10 Meeting Destination Istanbul at IBTM Arabia

IBTM Arabia, St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi

10-12 February 2015 (stand F09) 

LONDON (11 February 2015) – The Istanbul Convention and Visitors Bureau (ICVB) is promoting Istanbul as a venue for meetings at IBTM Arabia (10-12 February) for the first time ever, being held in Abu Dhabi at the five-star St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort. 

IBTM Arabia, formerly GIBTM, is the leading international, exclusive event for the Arabian meetings, incentives, conferences and events industry. It is where meetings, events and incentives industry decision-makers meet for global business adventures. This year IBTM Arabia brings a fresh new format with quality meetings and an exclusive one-to-one ratio closed community experience for elite exhibitors and hosted buyers who do business in Arabia.

ICVB is representing Istanbul on its own stand with one-to-one meetings taking place over the three days in pre-booked sessions. Detailed information is being given to participants re meetings and incentives in Istanbul as well as promotional material and gifts being handed out. With its full itinerary of workshops, meetings and other activities during the fair, ICVB is promoting Istanbul to its fullest.

IBTM Arabia will be host to MICE buyers from 30 countries around the globe this year. Fifty per cent of the visitors originate from the Middle East, whilst Europe and Russia comprise 25% and both America and the Asia Pacific 10%, making it a truly global event.

As a historical meeting point between East and West and spanning two continents, today’s Istanbul is a top MICE destination offering unique and exciting venues. The city has the capacity to host every type of event, from bespoke incentives to meetings for up to 30,000 for corporate and leisure visitors alike. Combined with Istanbul’s historic venues, palaces, cisterns and the like, it offers meeting planners a variety of remarkable options to create truly outstanding events. Easily accessible from around the world, Istanbul is served by nearly 300 international airlines at its two airports and accommodation is both numerous and offers a selection across the spectrum. 

 

Reed Exhibitions appoints Nick Pilbeam as new Travel Divisional Director

Reed Exhibitions appoints Nick Pilbeam as new Travel Divisional Director

Reed Exhibitions has appointed Nick Pilbeam to the position of Divisional Director – Travel.

Press Release: January 2015 – Newly appointed Pilbeam, who brings with him an enormous amount of growth strategy knowledge and industry insight, will head up the travel division of the world’s leading events organiser Reed Exhibitions.

The renowned industry events that fall under Reed Travel Exhibitions include the International Luxury Travel Market portfolio, World Travel Market portfolio and the newly branded ibtm events portfolio of global and regional events providing business solutions on 5 continents.  They include ibtm world, ibtm arabia, ibtm africa, ibtm america, ibtm china, ibtm india, AIME and ICOMEX.

Pilbeam who has spent the majority of his career at the British Airways group (now International Airlines Group) moved to Avios, the air miles loyalty program in 2008, and was most recently accountable for the entry and global growth strategies into new markets and new partners. Pilbeam also led the launch of the Avios currency worldwide with British Airways Executive Club and Iberia Plus programmes including transforming the Airmiles programme in the UK.

More recently, Pilbeam spearheaded Avios’ expansion into South Africa with the launch of the Avios Travel Rewards Programme in that market, securing high profile strategic partners across the finance and retail sectors.

Pilbeam replaces Richard Mortimore, who was promoted to Chief Executive of Reed Exhibitions UK in 2014. Pilbeam will report to Mortimore.

Mortimore said: “We are delighted that Nick has come on board and we are confident that his broad range of expertise and excellent customer awareness will ensure that the strong brands within Reed Travel Exhibitions are continually developed, keeping up with the fast-pace and ever changing nature of the industry.

“I believe that Nick will excel in the role which encompasses multiple shows in a highly competitive, global segment.”

Pilbeam commented: “I am very excited to join Reed Travel Exhibitions on the next step of its journey and help further develop its strong travel brands. All the events are individually hugely respected and I look forward to being a part of it, delivering strategy and meeting global customer needs with such an experienced and dedicated team.”

ADRIAN HAYES AND PHIL BEDFORD TO LEAD IBTM ARABIA KNOWLEDGE FORUM

ADRIAN HAYES AND PHIL BEDFORD TO LEAD IBTM ARABIA KNOWLEDGE FORUM
Reed Travel Exhibitions Announces Final Programme Line Up for Discovery Day

Reed Travel Exhibitions has confirmed that Adrian Hayes and Phil Bedford are set to lead the ibtm arabia Knowledge Forum, which will take place as part of the closed event’s Discovery Day on the 10^th of February at the St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort.

The ibtm arabia Knowledge Forum will present the best speakers and thought provoking topics to ensure that the attendees get even more out of their ibtm arabia experience and enhance their knowledge.

Lois Wilcox, Exhibition Manager, ibtm arabia comments, “This year we have two contrasting but equally exciting speakers who are sure to inspire the participants and their business: Phil Bedford, who is the Middle East Master Franchise owner of The Referral Institute, an international referral training and consulting company with branches across the world, will open the door to the secrets of advanced networking in his session; “Connections Mean Everything.”

“Adrian Hayes, whose session will bring inspiration from outside the meetings industry, is the British record-breaking polar explorer & adventurer, speaker, business coach, author and campaigner. An Arabic and Nepalese speaking former Airbus Middle East Sales Director and British Army Gurkha Officer, he has achieved more major goals the past eight years than anyone in the world, including his recent summiting of K2. He is now an internationally acclaimed keynote speaker and professional leadership, team and executive coach delivering seminars and programmes worldwide,” Wilcox concludes.

Hayes comments, “I wear a number of different hats and have a whole series of speeches, seminars and programmes, but this one is purely about the stories and the challenges and, hopefully, some inspiration to everyone in conquering their own Everests.”

ibtm arabia Discovery Day is a brand new concept introduced to the portfolio of ibtm events for both exhibitors and Hosted Buyers to attend a full day of experiential networking with the ibtm arabia community.

The full itinerary for ibtm arabia Discovery Day comprises two hours of experiential activities at Yas Island which include Yas Marina Circuit- Hot Laps and a ride on the world’s fastest rollercoaster at Ferrari World. These activities will then be followed by a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque and lunch on a luxury cruise liner.

The afternoon programme will commence with refreshments before attendees receive an official welcome from the ibtm arabia team that will set the stage for an afternoon of education. The Discovery Day will conclude with a Welcome Networking Reception, which is set to take place at St Regis Saadiyat Island.

For further information please visit www.ibtmarabia.com

 

NEW DYNAMIC FORMAT, NAME, DATES AND LOCATION

IBTM ARABIA
NEW DYNAMIC FORMAT, NAME, DATES AND LOCATION

IBTM Arabia (www.ibtmarabia.com) is the new name spearheading a transformation of the former annual GIBTM show. The event will also have a new location – the 5 star, The St Regis Hotel Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi – with new dates, from 10-12th February 2015.

The key features of IBTM Arabia 2015 include a new exclusive, closed door event format based on mutually matched business appointments, providing more touch points for exhibitors and buyers. In addition to an all- inclusive pricing structure, the new event will also accommodate a one-to-one ratio of Hosted Buyers and exhibitors.

“The new concept is a result of the commentary fed back to us from key industry stakeholders including those from the private and public sectors, as well as other professional MICE organisations,” said Lois Wilcox, Exhibition Manager, IBTM Arabia.

“Foremost in this transformation is that IBTM Arabia will be an all-inclusive solution where an innovative meeting pod design customised with the exhibitor’s corporate branding will give privacy to meetings between Hosted Buyers and exhibitors.

“Exhibitors only pay one price and their meeting pod will be ready upon their arrival so that they can go straight into business meetings. Everything is included in the price; no additional stand costs, freight, or build costs,” added Wilcox.

RTE’s research revealed that the market wanted to prioritise the time given to meetings with premium buyers but in the most cost-effective fashion. IBTM Arabia will feature up to 200 exhibitors, who will be able to meet with the same number of prestigious planners representing the regional and global MICE industry – 50% regional and 50% international, from Asia Pacific, Europe, North America and South America.

All exhibitors and Hosted Buyers can select online whom they would like to schedule a meeting with, and a sophisticated software system will match the appointments, based on the preferences of both buyers and exhibitors.

“That results in up to 30 highly relevant appointments for each exhibitor, 6,000 in total across the event,” said Wilcox.

The name change also provides synergy with the other shows within the IBTM Global Events portfolio.

“The unique concept for the Middle East’s leading MICE event is now similar to IBTM America, IBTM India and IBTM Africa, although the latter two are table top events, the content and concept is virtually the same. One of the integral changes is that we have now effectively levelled the playing field. All exhibitors now have an equivalent amount of floor space and their meeting pod is exactly the same price, size and design, with the exception of their respective corporate branding. We will also have networking functions and a Knowledge Forum for all attendees, creating a community, providing as many business opportunities as possible and maximising return on investment,” said Wilcox.

IBTM Arabia is held with the support of Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau – a dedicated entity of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) charged with stimulating the meetings industry in the emirate.

“Given that this transformation has been achieved in association with the industry it serves – both exhibitors and buyers – we believe IBTM Arabia has significant potential for growth and look forward to it helping to stimulate the global, regional and local meetings industry,” said Mubarak Al Shamisi, Director, Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau.

To find out more, please visit www.ibtmarabia.com