Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority conducts educational workshop on 'Business Tourism' (MICE) for the Emirates' tourism stakeholders 2006

The workshop, organised by Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, was open to key personnel of Abu Dhabi's tourism stakeholders including, other governmental organisations, tour operators, travel agents, hotels, venues and tourist attractions, conference and exhibition suppliers - over 100 people attended.

On the objectives of the workshop, Director of ADTA's Licensing and Classification Division, Mr. Nasser Al Reyami said "Business Tourism is one of the key areas for development and opportunity in Abu Dhabi and one of our key goals at ADTA is to increase the professionalism, service standards and creativity of our destination through industry education such as this, establishment of standard ethical practices and promotion of the value of the industry."

Key note speaker Mr. Jon Hutchinson, Chairman of the International Association of Convention and Visitor Bureaus, provided a useful insight into the world of Meeting, Incentive, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE tourism) and how it will potentially impact Abu Dhabi. John has over 30 years experience in the tourism industry and is currently Managing Director of the Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"We are honoured to host Mr. Jon Hutchison in our country for this worthwhile event", said Mr Ahmed Hussein, Director of Product Development at Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority "By facilitating industry forms such as this we are putting the building blocks and infrastructure in place so that Abu Dhabi is ready to handle Business Tourism (MICE) in the future and benefit from an industry that is globally valued at US$ 672.5 billion annually. Conference and incentive travel business is predicted to grow faster than any other tourism sector up to 2010. It stimulates economics, leads to investment, exports scientific and medical collaboration and many other multiples. MICE Business brings economic benefits to more than just the tourism stakeholders but many other organizations including transport and retail and restaurants".

Other speakers at the workshop included Sue Howarth, of Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, Amal Khoury, Congress Management, Gillian Taylor, ADTA's Business Tourism MICE Manager, Humaid Abdulla, ADTA's Licensing Department and the MC was Michelle Sabti, of ADTA's Tourism Training Division.

Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority has taken this opportunity to evaluate its remarkable achievements in establishing itself as a tourism destination and important player in international travel. At the same time it will commence a new era of public-private partnership in business tourism development, especially in light of ambitious plans for the forthcoming period, including infrastructure growth initiatives such as Saadiyat Island, the airport expansion and the development of the new Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).