Tom Hulton presents MICE presentation at BIEC

The presentation will be delivered by MICE industry heavyweight,Tom Hulton. Mr. Hulton is presently the CEO of IMV (International Meetings Venues) and is based in England. The presentation whose theme is the Association Market will take a glimpse at Bahrain's position in the international market and will also shed light on how Bahrain can capitalise on the rapidly expanding meetings market. Association events occupy a niche market and can take be focused on anything from 500 delegates to 20,000 delegates. They can be planned up to 10 years in advance and the geographical location can vary every year.

Following a brief career with the British army, Mr. Hulton joined the international advertising agency, Ogilvy & Mather (O&M) in 1970. With O&M, he was based in London and Singapore, directing a number of hotel and tourism accounts.

He joined Trusthouse Forte Hotels for a period of 8 years as Director of Sales for the Asia Pacific and Middle East. During this time, he was also Director of Sales and Marketing at Grosvenor House Hotel in London. In 1985, Tom Hulton joined Supranational Hotels in London as Managing Director and over a period of seven years, developed this reservation and marketing hotel consortia into the third largest in the world.

Following three years as Secretary General of the International Hotel Association based in Paris, he joined the International Congress and Convention Association as Chief Executive Officer based in Amsterdam. In July 2002 and after nearly eight years with ICCA, Tom Hulton decided to return to the UK and set up his own consultancy; IMV (International Meetings venues) of which he is now the CEO He remains a member of the ICCA Board of Directors.

He also acts in an advisory capacity for IMEX as their Director of International Relations, with special responsibilities, for helping to raise the political profile of business tourism within Government circles in Europe. He has also developed the IMEX Future Leaders Forum and the Professional Development Pavilion.

His other clients are based in Croatia, Ireland, Turkey, Malaysia, Spain, Australia, Mexico and South Africa.

Mr. Hulton will be welcomed by Bahrain Hotels Company Managing Director and tourism expert, Mohammed Buzizi.