By invitation of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), Reed Travel Exhibitions is to launch the first bespoke international meetings industry event for the Gulf region. GIBTM will join RTE’s growing portfolio of global meetings and incentive events run by a specialist team of meetings industry professionals and led by Paul Kennedy, MBE, Group Exhibition Director.

GIBTM will take place from 27th – 29th March 2007 at the new purpose built state of the art Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Company Centre (ADNEC). Based on a high quality appointment driven Hosted Buyer programme, the event will feature outstanding business-to-business opportunities, essential networking and professional education.

Tom Nutley, Chairman, Reed Travel Exhibitions comments: “We are delighted to have been invited to launch this major new international exhibition in association with the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority. The specialist team working on this new event will ensure that the highest levels of business opportunities and customer service are put in place.”

The inaugural event is set to showcase international meetings and incentive suppliers from national tourist organisations, destinations including national convention bureaus, hotels and hotel groups, destination management companies and specialist service providers representing the Gulf region, South and South East Asia, Europe, North Africa and beyond. Joining them will be a global visitor audience including hundreds of fully hosted high quality buyers from regions such as Europe, Africa, Asia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Already endorsed by international associations such as ICCA, GIBTM is also supported by the Abu Dhabi Tourist Authority, the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Company Centre - ADNEC, Etihad – the national airline of the United Arab Emirates and the local hotel business community who will be accommodating Hosted Buyers, visitors and exhibitors during the event.

His Highness Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority comments: “We are delighted to be working with Reed Travel Exhibitions in the launch of this event which will ensure that the Gulf and the wider Middle East region becomes more widely known to the global meetings industry. We extend a warm welcome to meetings professionals interested in both inbound and outbound business within the region and look forward to welcoming them to Abu Dhabi in March 2007.”