Abu Dhabi’s MICE industry on an upward trend
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Abu Dhabi’s Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) industry is witnessing positive growth.
The emirate has been generating around AED2.53 billion from the MICE industry, which constitutes 17-18% of the overall business mix for hotels, and six per cent for serviced apartments. This resulted in an expected annual expansion of nearly six percent leading to 2020, said Filippo Sona, head of hotels at Colliers International Mena.
“Global meeting planners’ trends for 2015-16 focus on security, transportation technology, food and beverage, and maximisation of the event agenda, both from a timing and added value point of view. These are all trends that Abu Dhabi is now ready for and which will be able to capitalise on a potential growth,” Sona was quoted in Gulf News.
Elaborating further Mubarak Al Shamsi, director of the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau, said that the MICE industry contributes to the emirate’s tourism particularly since business visitors tend to have a larger disposable income than leisure visitors.
He added that business visitors also drive increased demand for luxury products and services including business and first class air travel, five-star hotels, and luxury retail offering.
The Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau also promotes the emirate by offering incentives to organisers such as free consultations, and discounted accommodation rates, among others. The bureau is set to expand in 2015, opening new offices internationally to increase cooperation with global partners and bring more events to the emirate.
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