The Gulf Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM), organised by Reed Travel Exhibitions, is urging meetings professionals to take part in a second global research study. This pioneering research will be imperative to anyone working with or from the region who requires market data and information on the demand and supply trends for the meetings industry into and out of the Gulf and wider Middle East as well as inter-regionally.

First launched in 2007, the research began the process of establishing key trends for the industry at all levels for the Gulf and wider Middle East region. It aims to bridge the gap in the information available for the region, which has seen one of the most dramatic rises in terms of development of any region globally in the meetings industry. Although the industry is fast becoming established, it is difficult to find any data to quantify at what levels this growth is taking place.

Critically, this second sample will help to produce a wider understanding of buyer and supplier activity. Anyone who is a meetings professional in the region or does business with the Middle East and Gulf is actively encouraged to participate by going online at GIBTM website before 28th February 2008 as RTE said.

Graeme Barnett, Event Director says “The first research was very welcomed by the industry and has been widely used and accessed via the GIBTM website. Our aim is to now build on this year on year, and we therefore need the support of the global meetings industry and in particular buyers and suppliers from the Middle East, to help us with this initiative.” 

The goals of the survey include: establishing the total number and type of events currently held, measuring the expenditure on events in the region, measuring inbound, outbound and inter-regional business flows and expenditure, identifying who the key players in the meetings industry currently are and which industries the core business stems from.

The study will also look to reveal the future potential for the region and opportunities for growth and expansion. This will provide a valuable tool for regional suppliers looking to target and attract new business into the region, as well as international suppliers looking for an insight into new prospects operating from within the region.

The results of the region’s second Industry Survey will be presented during a keynote session at GIBTM 2008 on Tuesday April 8th.