Hotels unanimously vote Dubai as most likely to emerge as conventions hub for the region

In an unanimous vote of confidence, hotels said the city's ambitions to become a global MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) centre, will get a definite lift from the Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, that will be held in Dubai this month.

"This is a marvelous opportunity to showcase 'Destination Dubai' on a truly global stage. This is also a tremendous opportunity for us to showcase Jumeirah International to a world audience, and also to enable us to contribute to showing the world that Dubai and the UAE is a premier destination with proven ability to host and manage complex high-profile global events in the future, said Gerald Lawless, Managing Director of Dubai-based Jumeirah International Group.

His views were supported by others. "The Annual Meetings will have a big impact on the MICE industry. Dubai has been writing the book about being the leading destination in the Middle East. Now these meetings will help to position Dubai on the MICE scene," said Samir Daqqaq, Vice-President of Marriott Global Sales Organisation.

"The meetings will attract many visitors to Dubai and will be a great platform from which to launch the new season. Hopefully, it will prove to the world that Dubai is a true contender in major city conferences. We also hope that many of the visitors during this period will return with their families in the years to come," Marc Dardenne of Ritz-Carlton, Vice President, Middle East, and General Manager, Dubai.

"Dubai has already established itself as an outstanding tourist destination and an important commercial hub. However, with the hosting of the World Bank Group and IMF meetings and the opening of the new Dubai International Convention Centre, the city will also attract the attention of the global conference industry," said Peter Fulton, General Manager of Grand Hyatt Dubai.

The conferences and conventions industry is big in North America accounting for up to one-third of all business by hotels there. Dubai has already become the exhibitions centre for the region - and with growing infrastructure and tourism awareness, it has begun to attract some major meetings like the Standard Chartered Bank global CEOs meeting.

This trend can only be boosted by the fact that global institutions like the World Bank Group and the IMF selected Dubai to host their Annual Meetings, which will be attended by thousands of participants including Heads of States and Premiers as well as Finance Ministers, Central Bank Governors and other top officials from 184 member countries.

The Gulf is especially well-positioned to tap into the global conventions markets as the international season runs from September to April - which coincides with the best season in the region.

"The Annual Meetings are an excellent forum to showcase Dubai as a major conventions destination. They will establish Dubai as a major player in the international conventions market, so that more high profile events will be staged here in the future," said Elena Mendez, Area Director of Public Relations for Sheraton Hotels in Dubai.

Le Meridien was also highly optimistic of the benefits arising out of the Annual Meetings. "There remains huge potential to capitalise on this in the long-term, through maximising Dubai's ability to attract and host huge conventions. The meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions business will be an essential source of revenue for hotels over the next few years, and this is our chance to tap this sector, which will have a tremendous knock-on effect around the other six emirates - as well as the region," said Pam Wilby, General Manager of Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, the group's flagship property in the UAE.

The Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund were first held in Washington DC in 1946. They are hosted by an international city one year in three. The UAE and Dubai were selected because of their highly developed transportation and logistics infrastructure, growing importance as a financial hub and its established position as an oasis of opportunity.