DOHA – Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) held a workshop at the Doha Exhibition Center on Thursday informing its participating delegates about IMEX, the worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events. The workshop was organized as both an information and strategy session for Qatar’s tourism delegation, and included an overall review of the exhibition, the visitor profile, and how to make the most out of the services at the exhibition.
In support of its new tourism strategy launched at the end of 2008, Qatar Tourism Authority has put in place a number of programs and campaigns to promote Qatar as a leading business destination in the region. Cristina Mules, Marketing Coordinator of Qatar Tourism Authority said: “This exhibition workshop is one of the initiatives we have embarked on to promote Qatar to the important global buyer market as one voice. At the workshop, we review the goals of the exhibition and discuss the opportunities to build long-lasting relationships with the international travel market.”
IMEX is a comprehensive, specialized exhibition for the meetings and incentive travel industry, featuring a high quality hosted buyer programme which ensures the top buyers from the global travel industry are in attendance, maximizing business potential for exhibitors.IMEX will be held from 25 – 27 May in Frankfurt.Qatar Tourism Authority will be the host of the Qatar stand, and will promote Qatar as a top business destination along with a delegation of a dozen members of the tourism sector in Qatar including top hotels and tour operators.
Mr. Jon Bradshaw, Business Development Director of IMEX, delivered a comprehensive presentation about the exhibition and its services to the workshop attendees. “Over the past few years Qatar has proven itself to be an attractive proposition in the meetings and events business.Our aim during this year's exhibition is to maximize the message world-wide that Qatar is a five-star key business destination,” said Mr. Bradshaw.
The workshop was attended by first-time exhibitors as well as veteran exhibitors. “As this will be our first participation in the exhibition, the workshop gave me first-hand assistance to the key steps about how to schedule meetings with the right hosted buyers,” said Housni El Yaman, Director of Sales and Marketing, La Cigale.
Qatar International Adventures is a frequent participant at international exhibitions with Qatar Tourism Authority. “I found the workshop very useful in giving us guidance to how to maximize our presence during the event”, said Aditi Eid, Director of Sales Qatar International Adventures.
“The workshop gave us the opportunity to understand more about the exhibition and to assist us in putting Qatar on the world meetings and events map as well as at the top of the regional hump,” said Wael Rashed, Area Director of Sales and Marketing for W Hotel Doha. Talal Khalife, Director of Sales at Marriott Doha agreed. “The workshop helped us to get more prepared to meet with our potential clients and to more efficiently benefit from the exhibition,” said Khalife. “The workshop also helped us to understand how to better assist QTA in promoting Qatar as a top business destination.”
