The third successive Middle East Meetings Industry Research Survey undertaken by the Gulf Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) is now available online at www.gibtm.com/industrysurvey and at www.meetmiddleeast.com.
This global survey conducted by the organisers, Reed Travel Exhibitions, in association with meetme, aims to continually gather data and information on the flows of business in to and out of the Gulf and wider Middle East region.
These next results will build on the previous two years information to provide comprehensive statistics and information for organisations that are actively targeting the region’s meetings business.
The survey, which is independently analysed, provides two options in order to gain a retrospective response – one for Event Organisers, Meeting Planners and Incentive Travel Buyers and the second is for Suppliers and Host Venues/Destinations to the Meetings & Incentives (MICE) industry.
In the second study taken in 2007/8 the top destinations were Dubai, Egypt and Morocco with Abu Dhabi leaping into 4th position from 6th in 2006/7.
Suppliers also indicated that the volume of events would increase in 2008 and that the Middle East region had the most growth potential worldwide for their organisation. Corporate social responsibility and environmental issues were hugely influential for event organisations last year.
Graeme Barnett, Event Director for GIBTM comments; “It will be interesting to see how the results of last year impact on the study for 2008. There were many influencing factors, from CSR to the question of building the right facilities to host the expected increase in volume that was predicted. Will the results show that the predictions became a reality?"
"Since we began the process of establishing the key trends, we are now asking the questions in a time of global economic turmoil, that was not foreseen at GIBTM 2008, so we have to presume that this next survey could reveal some dramatically different results."
“We urge the global meetings industry community to go online and complete the questionnaire in order that we can continue to build on the critically important data that will help the Gulf Region to grow its status within the business tourism community around the world.” Continued Barnett.
The results of this survey will be announced at GIBTM on Tuesday 31st March at 13.00 hrs. This seminar is free to all visitors and GIBTM is open from 10.00 – 18.00hrs.
For more information, visit GIBTM
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