ICCA Middle East International Meetings Forum established to increase knowledge sharing and address future growth potential for the business events industry in the region.
Dubai Business Events (DBE), the city’s official convention bureau, and the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), the global expert in association meetings with more than a 1,000 members worldwide, hosted the first ICCA Middle East International Meetings Forum. The enormous opportunity for hosting global and regional events was identified as key focus for and by DBE with the aim to spearhead regional development and advancement not only for the city, but the region at large.
The forum, held from 18-19 May 2016 at Sofitel Downtown Dubai, attracted more than 180 participants from across the Middle East. As the first-ever regional meeting of-its-kind, the event was organised as a precursor to the prestigious 2018 ICCA Congress, which will see an expected 1,000 global event leaders descend on Dubai. Initiating the annual forum marked an important step to gain insights into the successes and experiences from international experts in establishing Dubai and other cities in the region as hosts for international conferences.
Further insights into the region were shared by executives from four international associations, who shed light on how the Middle East can leverage its competitiveness, maximise its growth potential, and increase its share of the global meetings market.
The Middle East International Meetings Forum will be held annually as a commitment made during the successful bid to host the 2018 ICCA Congress in Dubai.
Martin Sirk, CEO, ICCA, said: “The Middle East is growing at a rapid pace and establishing this forum gives us the opportunity to connect the region with our global network of practitioners, allowing for knowledge sharing and understanding the needs of the meetings business in a deeper way. Ahead of the ICCA Congress coming to Dubai in 2018, we want to ensure that we build up interest and capacity together with our local members and partners in the region over the next two years.”