news: review: Check-In checks out
Check-In checks out
The inaugural installment of the ‘Check-In’ business travel solutions event has been canned.
Event director, Paul Grinnall, said lack of market commitment had led to organising company Abu Dhabi based Turret Media, cancelling the show.
“After much consultation and deep consideration, it is clear the levels of commitment from vendors in the business travel market are insufficient for a sustainable event and therefore, the decision to cancel is in the best interests of all concerned,” he told meetme.
“The integrity of the activity is paramount and as the marketplace has not engaged at the levels required to deliver a viable show, it is the best decision and continuation knowing this position is untenable.”
Check-In was due to take place at The Address, Dubai Marina from February 21-22 and was hailed as “the region’s ultimate business travel solutions event” by Grinnall, who said the show would “provide a platform for leaders in the industry to address the current challenges facing the region, deliver corporate travel solutions to a dynamic audience of key international travel buyers, and participate in the largest information exchange on business travel”.
Grinnall was inspired to launch the new show after the 2011 installment of Business Travel Show Middle East (BTSME) was postponed and his position with its organiser, UK-based Centaur Exhibitions, was made redundant.
Paul Kennedy MBE, the former group exhibition director for Reed Travel Exhibitions’ global portfolio of meetings and incentive events, recently joined Centaur Travel Group as non-executive director and will be looking at how BTSME can be improved.
Meanwhile, it’s full steam ahead for the 2012 installment of the Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM), which has declared its intentions to focus on opportunities to grow the burgeoning business travel sector.
