Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) takes part in the Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM), the largest trade meetings show in the Middle East, promoting Qatar’s strength in the meetings, incentive, convention and exhibitions (MICE) sector. The exhibition opened today in Abu Dhabi and runs through March 31. 

QTA is accompanied by a delegation of main stakeholders of the meetings sector in Qatar, including executives from the Qatar National Convention Center, to showcase what makes Qatar a unique MICE destination in the region. Also exhibiting with Qatar Tourism Authority are major hotels and top destination management companies including Grand Hyatt Doha, W Doha Hotel and Residences, Renaissance Doha City Center Hotel, La Cigale Hotel, the Sharq Village & Spa, the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Qatar International Adventures, FAL Travelmart, Regency Holidays, and Qatar International Tours.  Qatar MICE Development Institute is also part of the delegation, representing one of the top professional events management companies in Qatar.

“We have made significant investments in our tourism infrastructure and attractions over the last year, demonstrating Qatar’s successful drive to boost tourism to our country,” said Mr. Ahmed Al Nuaimi, Chairman of Qatar Tourism Authority. Qatar added approximately 2000 luxury hotel rooms to its portfolio in 2009. “With plans for an additional 4000 hotel rooms in 2010, the opening of the New Doha International Airport and the opening of the Qatar National Convention Center – Qatar’s tourism industry continues to thrive as a premier business destination in the region.”

Given the economic challenges in many parts of the world, GIBTM is an important platform for QTA and Qatar to promote Qatar’s MICE capabilities to the international market by focusing on buyers from meetings, incentive, conferences, exhibitions and leisure sectors, among them conference and exhibitions organisers and incentive travel organizers.

GIBTM is a three-day business-to-business event staged annually in Abu Dhabi, dedicated to the MICE industry in the Gulf and Middle East region. The event offers a platform for 250 destinations and organizations to showcase their products and services to meetings and incentives professionals from the Gulf and Middle East region and around the world. 

GIBTM has over 1500 attendees with the high-level Hosted Buyer program guaranteeing the attendance of senior level buyers from the Middle East, Asia and Europe, together with regional and local visitors.