Abu Dhabi's business tourism strengths showcased at IMEX-2008

The Abu Dhabi Stand remained the cynosure of all eyes at the IMEX-2008 show which attracted nearly 9,000 visitors during its three-day run beginning April 22.

Decorated with attractive photographs of Abu Dhabi landscape and Abu Dhabi icon, the ADTA Stand had 10 co-participants from its booming tourism industry.

Held at the Messe Frankfurt, the sixth edition of IMEX attracted over 3,400 exhibitors from more than 150 countries.

Ms. Gillian Taylor, Business Tourism Manager at ADTA's Product Development Division, said:

"Through our strong participation with the support of our industry stakeholders, we were able to make a meaningful impact at the exhibition by creating further awareness about the destination and networking with the Business Tourism decision-makers from across the world. We highlighted the MICE strengths of Abu Dhabi and its capabilities and future preparedness in line with significant growth of Abu Dhabi's tourism industry".

The ADTA co-exhibitors were Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, Beach Rotana Hotel & Towers, Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi, Danat Hotels & Resorts, Emirates Palace Hilton Hotel Abu Dhabi, Intercontinental Hotel Abu Dhabi, Kurban Tours - Development Tourism Company, Le Royal Meridien Abu Dhabi and Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort.

Mr. Mubarak Rashid Al Nuaimi, ADTA's Business Tourism MICE Development Section Head, said: "The IMEX continues to develop and grow in line with underlying market and industry optimism. The growth figures reflected the bright future of Business Tourism for emerging destinations like Abu Dhabi. We found the show to be of tremendous value and productive and were able to consolidate our presence on the global landscape".

The ADTA Stand had a traditional Majlis-styled welcome lounge, a display model of Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) and a dedicated MICE presentation area.

The ADTA unveiled its strategic plan for the year 2008-2012, raising its hotel guest projections for the coming five years from the original targets set in 2004.

The upgrade puts projected annual hotel guests at 2.7 million by the end of 2012 - 12.5% more than initially envisaged. The new target also calls for the emirate to have 25,000 hotel rooms by 2012 end - 4,000 more than originally forecast.

The plan means the emirate's hotel stock will jump by 13,000 rooms on its current available inventory.

The IMEX-2008 enabled networking for more than 14,000 industry professionals from over 150 and the key players of high-yielding industry to showcase its best on an exhibition space of over 16,500 square metres.

The promotion and marketing of Abu Dhabi as the luxurious leisure and business tourism destination was made in an all-appealing manner through the free distribution of ATDA-sponsored IMEX Welcome Bags.

Each bag contained promotional literature on Abu Dhabi.

More than 10,000 bags were distributed among the visitors, travel and tourism industry professionals, media personnel and hosted buyers.