Middle East: Excitement builds ahead of GIBTM 2014 as business booms

The Gulf Incentives, Business, Travel and Meetings (GIBTM) exhibition is returning to Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) from March 24 to 26, 2014 with an expanded remit and enhanced calendar of business networking opportunities.

According to Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi), host of the recent International Association of Professional Congress Organisers (IAPCO) council meeting, the meetings and incentives sector is an increasingly important economic contributor that currently generates US$653 million (AED2.4 billion) each year for the emirate. This figure is set to grow by seven percent annually to reach US$1.39 billion (AED5.1 billion) by 2020.

The region is also in line to reap the economic benefits of a share of an estimated US$5.6 billion (AED20.6 billion) worth of global business, with IAPCO’s extended member base responsible for organising more than 6,500 meetings each year and accommodating some 2.5 million delegates.

Read More