The 57-strong contingent of exhibitors participating under the umbrella of the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) at the European Incentive and Business Travel Meetings (EIBTM) show in Geneva that concluded
today, 23rd May, reported a remarkable response from the European meetings, conventions and incentive market.
“We are pleased that our participation at the EIBTM has yielded positive results for our co-participants who have reported serious on-stand negotiations for meetings and incentives leading up to 2006 and beyond,” said DTCM Director Operations and Marketing, Mohammed Khamis bin
Hareb.
“The networking on the Dubai stand with hosted buyers from key sectors of the business travel industry has been spot on target for our team of exhibitors ensuring appointments with pre-screened buyer groups from different countries mainly European,” Mr. bin Hareb observed.
He noted that the hosted buyer programme formed a vital part of EIBTM and once again proved valuable for both parties because of being time effective. “The hosted buyer programme has ensured that both parties come to the meeting prepared, with clear-cut objectives and accomplish a lot more than they would trying to arrange random meetings,” stressed Mr. bin
Hareb.
“The efficiency (decrease in meeting time) and effectiveness (getting the desired results) from these meetings are among the key benefits of the hosted buyer programme guaranteeing that business travel professionals use their time at the show to greatest effect,” Mr. bin Hareb added.
The Dubai stand extended a warm welcome to the hosted buyers followed by extensive briefings and transacted business with more than 350 groups of hosted buyers during the 3-day event.
The launch of the Dubai International Convention Centre on the opening day of the show (21st May) attracted a steady flow of visitors and the announcement of the Dubai Convention Bureau on the following day (22nd May) was well received by the international meeting and convention organizers.
DTCM Manager Events, Awadh Al Seghayer received over 300 inquiries from professional meeting, conference and convention organizers. “The response in Geneva has been unbelievable both from the European professionals as well as the Dubai participants and we are glad we chose the EIBTM as the stage to make this announcement formally reaching out to a large potential market.”
The official release of the German and French language editions of Destination Dubai sustained a steady flow of visitors to the stand asking for free copies with over 2,800 copies of the German language version and 1,000 copies of the French version being distributed over the three-day event.
Commenting on the other on-stand attractions at the show, DTCM Manager Overseas Promotions, Ibrahim Ahli said, “We attracted increased corporate interest in Dubai by emphasizing that the emirate will be hosting the Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund (IMF on 23-24 September 2003.”
The meetings of the Boards of Governors and a series of ancillary meetings will be held in Dubai during the fourth week of September. These meetings will involve between 16,000 and 20,000 people during the period. |
