Forty per cent of GMENA Buyers placing business in Asia

Recent research conducted by Reed Travel Exhibitions has confirmed that 40 per cent of Regional Hosted Buyers attending GIBTM (www.gibtm.com), the leading event for the meetings, incentives and business travel industry in the GCC Region, have confirmed a direct interest in placing outbound business into Asia.

Lois Hall, GIBTM Event Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions commented, “Things are looking very positive for next year with 65 per cent of MENA buyers from our survey also reporting an increase in events placed over the next 12 months with Thailand, Malaysia, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Japan being specified as top destinations to place future business. Further to this, we have also seen a substantial increase in regional Hosted Buyers registered with a 30 per cent increase expected to attend the show.”

Paul Bryan, MICE Manager, dnata – Gulf Ventures commented, “Attending GIBTM as a Hosted Buyer provided a platform for me to meet with specifically with South East Asian exhibitors as 30 per cent of our business is outbound. It was especially useful as I was able to meet directly with suppliers from China, Singapore, Malaysia and Japan”.

Bryan continues, “GIBTM is a well organised show with high quality exhibitors – making it a very worthwhile show to attend. GIBTM is a key show in the region in terms of networking with both regional and international exhibitors. The show is a must attend event for major players in this part of the world”.

As a direct result of the increased demand for outbound business into Asia, GIBTM has created a specialist exhibitor pavilion on the show floor, providing a dedicated area for exhibitors from the Asia Pacific region. The new Asia pavilion will provide a meeting area for exhibitors to showcase their products to regional and international visitors as well as Hosted Buyers.

GIBTM 2012 saw a rise in high-quality senior buyers especially from the Middle East and Asia, as well as a 100 per cent increase in buyers from Saudi Arabia compared to 2011.

More information on the event, exhibitors, hosted buyers’ required qualifications, partners, networking and educational opportunities is available at www.gibtm.com

GIBTM 2013 takes place on the 25^th – 27^th March, 2013.