Abu Dhabi have been named many of the top 100 busiest global meetings destinations within the International Congress and Convention Association’s (ICCA) 2012 global city rankings for the primary time, jumping from 234th place with eight meetings in 2011, to hosting 22 association meetings last year.
The UAE capital is now ranked alongside other major meetings cities including: Atlanta, Georgia; Brasilia and Perth, Australia; and better than established global hubs equivalent to Las Vegas within the US and Cologne in Germany.
The rankings are an annual league evaluated and published by ICCA, which represents the primary specialists in organising, transporting and accommodating international meetings and events, with over 950 members in 88 countries.
Abu Dhabi is considered one of only two Arabian Gulf cities to make it to the highest 100 rankings – the alternative is Dubai which made it to 60th place with 38 meetings.
“This is a welcome endorsement of Abu Dhabi’s credentials as a recognised destination for the meeting, incentive, conferences and exhibitions industry,” said HE Jasem Al Darmaki, Deputy Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi).
“Last year was something of a watershed in our business events ambitions on account that in February 2012 we hosted the arena Ophthalmology Congress at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, which was the biggest convention held thus far within the UAE capital with upwards of 10,000 delegates. Just seven months later ADNEC also hosted the 18th World Routes Development Congress. These headline events put Abu Dhabi firmly at the major conventions and congresses agenda and function case studies and proof positive of the city’s ability to come back together as one to make sure meetings success.”
In 2012 the whole choice of events hosted at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) alone grew to 360 from 232 the former year, a 55% increase. Similarly, 17 conferences were held that attracted almost 25,000 participants and 111 special events and meetings.
Two years ago Abu Dhabi initiated a ‘One Destination’ collaborative stakeholder solution to winning major meetings business – an approach ADNEC says is paying off.
“The rise by 134 places inside the ICCA rankings is attributable to the exertions and commitment shown not only by our team here at ADNEC, but additionally Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority and the emirate’s leadership. Abu Dhabi’s excellent infrastructure, great airlines and our advanced, award-winning event facility make the emirate an increasingly attractive place for global meetings and conventions. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority and are working together to fulfil Abu Dhabi’s target of accomplishing a top 50 ICCA ranking in the next five years,” said HE Ali Saeed Bin Harmel Al Dhaheri, Managing Director, ADNEC.
Abu Dhabi is making major strides at the international business events scene. Earlier this year TCA Abu Dhabi launched the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau to drive forward the emirate’s business events ambitions. The bureau is a dedicated, one-stop entity which supports the expansion of exhibitions, conferences, meetings and incentives throughout the emirate by forging closer links with the industry and providing an entire range of support.
Two months later the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau overhauled its Advantage Abu Dhabi initiative geared toward the company meetings and incentive travel segments with the introduction of 13 structured offerings designed to improve the emirate’s appeal amongst sector-specific bookers.
“These initiatives have already paid dividends with meetings having been sealed from corporates inside the UK and the center East and extra enquiries being assessed from in the region and america,” added Al Darmaki.
“We also are actively supporting the Seatrade Middle East Cruise Forum, which we anticipate will bring upwards of 200 delegates to the December 9-11 convention this year on the five-star Rosewood Abu Dhabi.”
Already this year Abu Dhabi has successfully hosted the sector Travel & Tourism Council Global Summit. In June it is going to host The Institute of Travel & Tourism’s annual conference – the blue ribbon event of the UK’s travel and tourism industry on the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr when around 450 of Britain’s travel and tourism decision-makers are expected to wait, the similar month sees the yearly Business Travel Sales Force Seminar of SELECTOUR AFAT – the most important travel agency network in France – held on the five-star Sofitel Abu Dhabi with around 200 French travel professionals. In November the International Conference on Neurology & Epidemiology, that is because of the be attended by 600-800 of probably the most eminent medical practitioners in these specialised fields, involves Jumeirah at Etihad Towers.
“We recognise the opportunity of exhibitions, conferences and business events – the MICE sector – to contribute to Abu Dhabi’s wider tourism aspirations and generate significant economic impact for the destination through increasing visitor numbers, hotel occupancies, flights and other visitor and exhibitor spend,” added Al Darmaki.
“We are targeting six major business wins this year, yet another eight next year and a complete of 10 wins during 2015. Our strategy is to focus on in-market opportunities that generate incremental business within the short term while building on international relationships for the longer term.
“Our timing couldn’t be better. We’ve our best room rates ever – which are a deciding factor for major associations and business event organisers seeking to secure a number destination and our available hotel stock is now well-fitted to large events. Our distinctive advantages are competitive rates, intelligent pricing, added value and innovative product.
“There also are compelling socio-economic benefits because of this sector including improved education quality across various sectors, knowledge and technology transfer, research collaborations, destination and opportunity awareness, the site of Abu Dhabi as a thought leader, the continuing development of human capital and the catalysing of inward investment.”
Business tourism have been identified as a key economic diversification driver in Abu Dhabi. Research commissioned by TCA Abu Dhabi and ADNEC suggests the industrial impact from business events inside the emirate is anticipated to extend by approximately 7% once a year on average up until 2020 in line with historic performance.