Doha and Dubai to host two one-day interactive industry workshops to focus on maximising GCC business travel opportunities.
Travel industry leaders and professionals from across the GCC will have the opportunity to take part in two thought-provoking days of panel discussions and workshop activities this November, in the lead up to the highly anticipated 7th edition of the 2013 Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM), as organiser Reed Travel Exhibitions and the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) partner with other industry leaders to deliver the ACTE Middle East Executive Forums.
Taking place in Doha on 20th November at the St Regis Doha, and at the Pullman Hotel Mall of the Emirates in Dubai on 21st November, the interactive forum sessions, which will allow delegates to exchange ideas and gain invaluable industry knowledge around creating a regional hotel programme, will be moderated by Benjo van Laarhoven, President, The Travel Consulting Group.
“GIBTM is committed to driving the corporate travel industry forward here in the Middle East. Through our valued partnership with ACTE and other event stakeholders, together we are focused on raising standards of professionalism in the Middle East and growing the industry in the region’ said Lois Hall, Exhibition Manager for The Gulf Incentives, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM).
Caroline Allen, Regional Director, ACTE Europe and Middle East, said: “It has been repeatedly proven in complex markets around the globe, that for industry to thrive and grow, open dialogue is required to challenge market practices.”
“ACTE offers a neutral platform to enable industry leaders to come together and openly debate local and regional issues. Uniting the industry in this way genuinely increases business opportunities for all, and enables the business travel professional to thrive and grow”.
Amadeus will deliver the keynote address before a panel discussion with top industry experts from ACTE, Visa, Diners Club, Accor, St Regis, the Qatar Foundation, Carlson Wagonlit Travel and TraVision Inc. Roundtable breakout sessions covering a range of themes from negotiations, social media utilisation and payment mechanisms to distribution and online booking channels will enable delegates to exchange ideas. A practical feedback session will enable attendees to gather information and practical tips to use to create or adapt a regional hotel programme for their own organisation.
An informal networking reception will wrap up each of the two days, bringing together the region’s leading buyers and suppliers of business travel; and all participants will receive an ACTE certificate of attendance and a copy of a white paper entitled ‘Optimising Business Travel in the Middle East’, authored by Chris Pouney of Severnside Consulting.
Ahead of the events in Doha and Dubai, Chris Pouney commented, “We are never short of news stories covering new routes, airports, hotels or aircraft purchases from suppliers based in the Middle East, yet there is very little addressing the ‘so what?’ As a travel manager, you need to be thinking ‘what does this mean to me, and how can I ensure that my organisation is best placed to benefit from the seemingly relentless developments in this region?’ Our paper will allow travel managers to be better equipped for this process.”
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.
