news: review: ACTE on GIBTM
ACTE on GIBTM
GIBTM – the Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition is set to take place March 26-28, 2012, promising to showcase products and services that will enhance meeting, conference, incentive or business travel bookings.
The 2012 installment will mark the exhibition’s sixth anniversary and will once again put visitors in touch with international and regional suppliers for three days of business, education and networking.
This year the Business Travel sector is set within GIBTM’s sights as fifty senior business travel buyers and decision makers from the region will be selected and invited to take part as Hosted Buyers.
“The business and corporate travel community is an intrinsic part of the meetings industry and has been expanding steadily. In 2012 we are making business travel a key focus at GIBTM,” said Lois Hall, REED Travel Exhibitions Manager GIBTM. “With the UAE witnessing a five percent increase in air traffic this year and recording the largest number of hotel rooms under way in the Middle East and Africa region, we expect to see even greater growth in the business travel sector.”
The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) and GIBTM have also announced a joint collaboration for 2012.
"This collaboration is extremely timely, as business travel and meetings continue to converge,” said ACTE Executive Director Ron DiLeo. “Face-to-face meetings are vital to business success and a healthy economy. Executives must travel to network and push forward initiatives. Through this partnership, ACTE is pleased to bring its unique level of knowledge, insight and expertise to GIBTM, increasing educational deliverables to the meetings industry.”
“Education is vital to raising industry standards and we are very happy that ACTE is on board with us as our Strategic Partner for GIBTM 2012 as we plan on collaborating to further enhance business travel across the region,” said Hall.
Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), GIBTM’s partner and supporter, is placing increased emphasis on attracting business tourism and over the past few years has significantly upgraded its meetings and conference facilities, providing businesses with world-class facilities.
“In 2015, we aim to become the number one meetings destination in the region, a top- 100 meetings destination in the world, host four times the number of current number of events and double the number of visitor arrivals and yield for meetings,” said Gillian Taylor, ADTA Business Tourism Manager.
