Over 225 top international meeting planners are set to gather in Dubai, March 9-14, 2015, at the Meeting & Incentive (M&I) Forum Europe Spring 2015. Hosted by Dubai Business Events (DBE) – the Official Convention Bureau, a division of the Dubai Department of Commerce and Tourism Marketing (DTCM), in partnership with JW Marriott Marquis Hotel, Emirates Airlines and a number of local DMCs, the six day event will see the hosted buyers hold over 5,000 consultations with dozens of Dubai-based event suppliers.
Held in Dubai for the first time, the Forum will familiarise some of Europe’s, and the world’s, leading business event executives on the emirate and educate them on its premier infrastructure, leading the way for a greater number of international meetings and conferences.
“Europe and the UK in particular are extremely important markets for Dubai’s business events industry and our hosting of the M&I Forum Europe Spring 2015 reflects this,” said Steen Jakobsen, Director of Dubai Business Events. “We are witnessing strong business tourism visitor growth numbers from continental Europe and the UK and are very pleased to host this high-quality networking event as part of our extensive efforts to further build global awareness of Dubai’s business events and incentives credentials.” M&I Forums trade events are hosted by leading meetings destinations globally, offering business events suppliers such as those in Dubai, the opportunity to meet vetted, hand selected buyers, all of whom have confirmed budgets to spend. The Forums provide a professional and effective platform for business meetings with high quality buyers, and allow top global meetings destinations to showcase their offer and in the process, grow their share of the international business events market. In 2015, Dubai will join Vienna, Austria; Edinburgh, Scotland; St. Petersburg, USA; St. Julian’s, Malta; and Cebu, the Philippines in hosting M&I Forums to showcase their offering to a global audience of events professionals.
Commenting on Dubai’s hosting of the event, Richard Barnes, Managing Director of M&I Forums, added: “Dubai’s emergence as a global destination over the last 20 years has been utterly compelling. The pace of development, scale and standard of facilities serving the MICE market are unrivalled in EMEA and we have had so much demand from our buyers to visit Dubai. We are delighted that Dubai has put together such an extraordinary bid to host what will be one of the most spectacular Forums ever.” During their time in the emirate, Forum attendees will get a first-hand look at the world-class transportation, hotels and meetings facilities that make Dubai a leading destination for international meetings and conferences. Among the sites and services being highlighted will be Dubai’s two international airports, which together reinforce the emirate’s location at the crossroads of Europe, Asia and Africa, as they also provide convenient connections to over 260 destinations worldwide.
While in Dubai, the buyers will also see the emirate’s world-class transportation facilities in action, including the Gulf region’s first metro service, taxis, buses, water taxis and the soon-to-be launched Dubai Tram network. Forum attendees will also meet representatives from the emirate’s burgeoning hospitality sector with its over 85,000 quality hotel rooms – the supply of which is set to grow by 20,000 to 30,000 units by 2016 to further extend capacity.
Source : WAM News Agency for United Arab Emirates
