Dubai is poised to emerge as a destination of choice for the global conventions and conferences market, according to a random poll of several of the city's major hotels.
In an unanimous vote of confidence, hotels said the city's ambitions to become a global MICE center, will get a definite lift from the Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund, that will be held in Dubai this month.
The conferences and conventions industry is big in North America accounting for up to one-third of all business by hotels there. Dubai has already become the exhibitions center for the region - and with growing infrastructure and tourism awareness, it has begun to attract some major meetings like the Standard Chartered Bank global CEOs meeting.
This trend can only be boosted by the fact that global institutions like the World Bank Group and the IMF selected Dubai to host their Annual Meetings, which will be attended by thousands of participants including Heads of States and Premiers as well as Finance Ministers, Central Bank Governors and other top officials from 184 member countries.
The Gulf is especially well-positioned to tap into the global conventions markets as the international season runs from September to April – which coincides with the best season in the region.
The Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund were first held in Washington DC in 1946. They are hosted by an international city one year in three. The UAE and Dubai were selected because of their highly developed transportation and logistics infrastructure and growing importance as a financial hub. and its established position as an oasis of opportunity. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
