International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) is organizing the first edition of this new education and networking event in Dubai, specifically targeted at the Middle East, from August 25 to 27, 2008.
 
Apart from an ICCA Data Workshop, this new ICCA Middle East Research, Sales & Marketing Programme will feature educational sessions and workshops on research, sales and marketing topics which will give local professionals a fresh perspective on meetings management and the industry, enhance their professional skills and provide connections and networks with colleagues in the region.

Mr. Awadh S. Alketbi, Executive Director, Dubai Convention Bureau appreciating the decision of ICCA to hold this event in Dubai, called upon the local and regional professionals to attend the event for better understanding of strengths and weaknesses of their business and branding tools. He added that they can register themselves to attend at www.iccaworld.com/dbs/me-programme2008 .
 
He said the aim of the ICCA Research, Sales & Marketing Conference is to create a platform for networking, information exchange and transfer of know-how between colleagues from other parts of the world.

 Mr. Alketbi said, “It is heartening to note that Dubai, besides emerging as a distinguished business and leisure destination, is also becoming a popular destination for international conferences”. To achieve more and move up on the global popular conference destinations scale, he said, we need to have deeper insight of the industry and share our experiences with our counterparts from around the world.

Mr. Rob Davidson, one of Europe’s leading academic authority on conference and incentive travel and Senior Lecturer in Business Travel and Tourism at the University of Westminster, will be the moderator of this new event.

 He said, “At this very important time for the Gulf and the Middle East region as a booming destination for international conferences, this exciting ICCA programme is a must-attend event for anyone wishing to vastly improve their knowledge of how to attract meetings and incentive business to their venue, their city or their country".
 
Martin Sirk, ICCA CEO said, “The number of ICCA members in the Gulf and the Middle East region has grown from 4 members in 2000 to 16 in 2007, and we expect to have 25 members in the region in 2008. These members are demanding an education session which guarantees their long term success in the marketplace”.

----(END)---