ibtm arabia Confirms Almost 50% of Meeting Pods Already Reserved

New show format gets regional and international industry support Close to 50% of the IBTM Arabia meeting pods have already been reserved for the first event of its kind in the Middle East which takes place at the St. Regis Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi from 10-12 February 2015. The event is now the only opportunity in the region for international MICE suppliers to meet with Middle East buyers who have been accepted onto the Hosted Buyer Programme because they have proven business to place in the region.

IBTM Arabia will also facilitate opportunities for both exhibitors and buyers to meet with Editors from some of the world’s leading MICE publications. Another key difference for IBTM Arabia over other style events in the region is the guarantee that every exhibitor will have a pre-scheduled diary of up to 30 mutually matched appointments, access to 9 networking opportunities and the IBTM Arabia Knowledge Forum, part of Discovery Day.

Jad Taktak, General Manager, Semark, Saudi Arabia, wants to use IBTM Arabia as an event to stay up to date with the new venues for their exhibitions and events. “We are interested in Italy, France, Spain and Germany. I have attended and organised more than a thousand events in the past 13 years and I consider IBTM Arabia a very important place for research.”

Exhibitors, including NTOs, CVBs, hotels, venues, DMC’s and technology providers, have already reserved individual bespoke meeting pods which are designed to be customised with the exhibitors’ corporate branding and giving privacy to meetings between Hosted Buyers and exhibitors.

“With recent Euromonitor International statistics showing the increased volume of MICE and business travel departures from Saudi Arabia is up 400% in 5 years and is forecast to grow a further 60% by 2018, plus the UAE also reporting growth of 21% increasing to 47% by 2018, we expect IBTM Arabia to be a valuable event for international suppliers who want to do business with the region’s Hosted Buyers” said Lois Wilcox, Event Director IBTM Arabia.

“Being the first MICE event of the calendar year in the region, and the first touch point for potential buyers looking to do business with their 2015/16 budgets, we are delighted but not surprised by the support we have already received for the industry’s new event style and the acknowledgement by both regional and international suppliers of the difference it will make to a company’s business development opportunity,” added Wilcox.

Hosted Buyers confirmed to attend IBTM Arabia 2015 include Bespoke Discovery (Jordan), SEMARK (Saudi Arabia), International Association of Dental Students (Jordan), RIPE NCC (UAE), BME Global (UK), WAITT (Netherlands), V Global Management (Malaysia), Healthcare Consultancy Group (USA), International Academy for Design and Health (Sweden), The London Diplomatic Association (UK), SHOW D'VISION (Germany) and The Achievement Awards Group (South Africa).

Asaad Hijazi, General Manager, Bespoke Discovery, Jordan, commented: “I see IBTM Arabia as a great opportunity to meet with new destinations, new suppliers and hotel chains, meet with them face to face and understand their ability to handle our future business.”

Wilcox concluded: “With the single focus on a full diary of appointments, networking between buyers and exhibitors and everyone together for the duration of the event, IBTM Arabia is not a traditional trade show, but an intimate environment dedicated to creating a community of meeting professionals from both sides of the industry brought together to meet, learn and connect.”

A “Discovery Day” is in the planning which will give Hosted Buyers the opportunity to see what’s new for the industry in Abu Dhabi and will also provide a half day Knowledge Forum for all attendees.