Sponsors InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) back inaugural event at flagship Dubai Festival City property

MPI recognises the importance of the Gulf region in the 21st century and its unique commitment to both business and tourism. As a first step in building a vibrant community in the Gulf Region, MPI will host its inaugural Gulf Meetings and Events Conference in Dubai this April.

Event sponsors IHG will host the inaugural event at InterContinental Dubai Festival City, the 150th property for the InterContinental brand globally which officially opened in January this year.

Speaking about the event, Tom Rowntree, Vice President Commercial, IHG, Middle East & Africa said: 'We are proud to be part of the first-ever Gulf Meetings and Events Conference in Dubai as the city witnesses unprecedented growth in this important market sector.'

'IHG's Event Centre at Dubai Festival City added an impressive 3,800 square metres of conference centre in one hit and we are committed to supporting all aspects of the UAE's travel and tourism industry long into the future with 13 properties currently in our development pipeline,'

added Rowntree.

The Gulf conference is an exciting opportunity for meetings and events professionals with international interests to get on the ground in this expanding marketplace and become acquainted with local business contacts. Those unfamiliar with Dubai will be able to explore the region and discover its astounding architectural, engineering and cultural developments.

Furthermore, the Gulf Meetings and Events Conference will be a useful educational opportunity for both local professionals as well as meetings and events specialists from around the globe. Local attendees will participate in sessions such as 'How To Attract International Business,' a panel discussion on the key criteria for selecting a destination. International attendees, meanwhile, will benefit from topics such as 'Future Trends and Challenges for the Meeting Industry,' a highly interactive discussion on how to deliver outstanding events in the years to come.

For those wanting to capitalize on their time spent in the Gulf region, there is no better occasion than this April when MPI's Gulf Meetings and Events Conference will share a week with the Gulf Incentive Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition, one of the leading exhibitions for the meetings and events industry in the Gulf region.