BECA achieves record-breaking results in 2007

BECA attributes its outstanding year to the team's unrelenting drive to succeed, camaraderie, Management's lofty standards and a professional environment that rewards high performance.

With an eye to diversifying revenue streams, Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority (BECA) has begun engaging in the bid process for congresses organised by international associations. It recently secured for Bahrain its biggest-ever international medical congress in response to a Request for Proposal (RFP) issued for a major ophthalmic event earlier this year. This will open at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre (BIEC) in March 2009. Anticipated to attract close to 4,000 congress delegates from the Asia-Pacific, Europe, Middle East and North Africa regions and the United States, this major event will inject an estimated US$7.38 million into Bahrain's economy.

Formed by a Royal Decree in 2005, Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority (BECA) is the country's flagship organisation dedicated to delivering quality business-to-business events aimed at promoting Bahrain as the business tourism destination of choice in the region. It functions under the directive of its Board of Directors with H.E. Dr. Hassan A. Fakhro, the Minister of Industry & Commerce, as Chairman of the Board. As well as maintaining a strategic partnership with key industry stakeholders such as Tourism Affairs, the Bahrain International Circuit, the Economic Development Board, Gulf Air and the hospitality sector, Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority (BECA) manages and operates the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre (BIEC).

"Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority (BECA) has also responded to three Requests for Proposals (RFPs) issued by an association and a professional conference organisation (PCO) in Europe and a multinational company operating from Australia. These major events are scheduled to open between 2009 and 2012 and are projected to attract a total of 12,000 inbound delegates. All new leads were picked up by the Authority when we participated at EIBTM Barcelona (The leading exhibition for the conference, incentives, events, business travel and meetings) as part of the Kingdom of Bahrain Pavilion in 2006 and again in November this year,"

says H.E. Dr. Hassan A. Fakhro, the Minister of Industry & Commerce and as Chairman of the Board of Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority (BECA).

Boost to Gulf Air

Other fiscal year 2007 accomplishments include record-breaking, full capacity at the BIEC for the next three years, up from 57 per cent in 2006. Market demand continues to grow for Bahrain's largest, pillar-free exhibition and meeting venue, emphasising the necessity of the planned expansion to accommodate existing business outgrowing the building and potential new clients. BIEC's Hall Three, scheduled to open in the summer of 2008, will encompass 3,000 square metres of dedicated, column-free exhibition and meeting space with adequate breakout areas ideal for conventions.

An additional 11, new and confirmed B2B events included in the events portfolio of Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority (BECA) are taking place for the first time in 2008 and 2009. This is in addition to the exhibitions held by other organisers at the BIEC on an annual or biannual basis such as Jewellery Arabia, Oil and Gas Maintenance Technology, Bahrain International Travel Expo, Power-Gen Middle East, Middle East Oil Show, The Autumn Fair, etc. On average, the Reservations and Events Licensing Section of Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority (BECA) receives 16 booking requests per day.

BIEC is also looking at options to allow additional, concurrent events to take place in the facility. "Where we have to decline booking requests, we either refer them to the five-star hotel chains with conference and meeting facilities or we encourage them to look at future years," says Ms. Stanford-Kristiansen. "What is most important is to keep the business in Bahrain."

Economic impact represents the total value of events held at the Centre, including the direct spending generated by out-of-town visitors at each event. With BIEC achieving full capacity in 2007, the direct spending of an estimated 11,000 inbound visitors attending the international events hosted at the Centre is projected to have surpassed the $20.2m mark for 2007.

In 2008, the international events scheduled to open at BIEC are expected to attract 21,200 out-of-town visitors who will be spending about $39.11m whilst the following year, it is anticipated that 27,450 out-of-town visitors will be attending such events who are projected to inject US$50.64 million into the economy of Bahrain. These figures are based on an average stay in Bahrain of five days per inbound visitor with a direct spend of US$369 per day excluding airfare and BIEC revenue.

"We have approached Gulf Air to act as the Official National Carrier for all events organised by Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority (BECA)," says H.E. Dr. Fakhro.

Should Gulf Air accept the proposal, the Authority estimates that Bahrain's flag carrier stands to generate revenues of $29.4m and $40.13m in 2008 and 2009, respectively, from inbound visitors attending events at the BIEC.

Improved global reputation

This year, Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority (BECA) worked on a Hosted Buyers' Programme in partnership with Bahrain-based Magnum Events and Exhibitions Management (MEEM) for several PCOs, meeting planners, journalists and travel agents from Asia and Europe. MEEM and the Authority helped those on the Hosted Buyers' Programme identify off site venues for entertaining, client dinners, etc., and market Bahrain as the preferred business travel destination. Attendees were accompanied on tours to selected venues where they were provided a sampling of food and beverages to experience their full offerings.

"Guest speaker opportunities at major industry association and business events in 2007 and 2008 were also offered by external organisations to Bahrain Exhibition & Convention
Authority (BECA) and Bahrain," says Ms. Stanford-Kristiansen, who gave presentations on behalf of the Authority at several events in the region, in particular as a keynote speaker at the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai (May), Bahrain International Travel Expo in Bahrain (May) and the International Congress and Convention Association's (ICCA) Middle East Seminar and Forum in Dubai (December), enhancing Bahrain's international reputation in the MICE industry. In April 2008, she will represent Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority (BECA) as guest speaker at the Union des Foires Internationales (UFI) Middle East Seminar in Amman.

Consequently, the increased MICE business generated by the initiatives of Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority (BECA) leaves a positive impact on the country's hospitality sector with new international properties boosting the hotel room stock in Bahrain.

Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority (BECA) will also be releasing a new corporate Destination Marketing DVD in the early part of 2008 which will be sent to all of its MICE contacts throughout the world. "This is an excellent marketing tool that will differentiate Bahrain from the other destination contenders in the region," says H.E. Dr. Fakhro.