Following the record number of Hosted Buyers who attended GIBTM 2012, this year’s Hosted Buyer registration and qualification process has gone live. Meetings industry professionals interested in attending the show with Hosted Buyer status can register for qualification at www.gibtm.com/hosted

GIBTM has already sold 90 per cent of all floor space with regional exhibitors including Bahrain Ministry of Tourism, Etihad Airways and Jordan Tourism Board doubling the size of their exhibition stands for this year.

Lois Hall, GIBTM Event Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions commented, “This representation on the show floor is a positive indicator that the region’s meetings’ industry professionals are upbeat about economic prospects for 2013 and beyond.”

“Last year we saw more than 270 Hosted Buyers attending GIBTM with high spending power from across the globe who undertook some 7,672 pre-scheduled appointments. This year we expect to see an increase in international Hosted Buyers, attending the show to explore opportunities for their outbound MICE events.”

Rosalyn Giles, Operations Director, Conference Contacts who attended GIBTM 2012 as an international Hosted Buyer commented, “GIBTM is an extremely worthwhile event, which provides great opportunities to meet with new venues/hotels and DMC’s.  The city tour following the programme opened my eyes to all that Abu Dhabi has to offer, not just from a conference perspective, but also incentives.”

“After attending GIBTM, and seeing the benefits of the ADNEC, together with top class hotels being built/or already built, I put forward Abu Dhabi as an option for a yearly meeting that we organise for a client for between 700-800 pax.  Following my presentation, and seeing the amazing value on offer, the client confirmed her 2013 event at the ADNEC, Ritz Carlton and Fairmont hotels”.

Over the past few years, corporate meetings and events held in Abu Dhabi has grown substantially and is expected to generate a direct economic impact of around $1.4 billion by 2020. Industries which are utilising the wealth of facilities in the region and key to the economic growth plans include energy, petro-chemicals, metals, aviation, defence, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, tourism, healthcare, education, transport, media, financial services and telecommunications.