Exhibition World Bahrain, the Middle East’s newest and largest exhibition and convention centre, is gearing up to host the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Workshop on January 22, 2024, in the presence of Dr. Nasser Ali Qaedi, CEO of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA).
The workshop, which aims to promote effective regional and international collaborations in the MICE industry, expects to welcome 120 attendees from various regions worldwide. This includes senior leaders and decision-makers from exhibition and convention centres, professional associations, ICCA members, and other key organisations.
Held for the first time in the Kingdom of Bahrain, the ICCA workshop will comprise two panels tackling the themes “The Synergy of Diverse Perspectives: Strategies for Bahrain's MICE Industry Advancement” and “Unlocking Bahrain's MICE Potential: Navigating Trends and Strategies in the Association Market”.
Experts joining the two panels will be: HE Dr. Nasser Ali Qaedi, CEO of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), Dr. Debbie Kristiansen, the General Manager of Exhibition World Bahrain, Dr. Jeffrey Goh, CEO of Gulf Air Group, Dr. Fatima Abdullah, President of the Bahrain Neuroscience Association, Anju Gomes, Regional Director ME of ICCA, Emre Kirazci, Director of Operations at Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea and Spa, Ms. Maryam Ebrahim, Manager of International Associations and Conventions at EWB.
Commenting, Dr. Debbie Kristiansen, the General Manager of Exhibition World Bahrain, said: "We are excited to kick off the new year with this prominent event, which will serve as a unique platform for high-level dialogues, networking and exploration of opportunities for collaboration among MICE key stakeholders regionally and internationally by utilising the latest trends, insights and industry information. We look forward to welcoming a distinguished group of MICE leaders to look holistically at where the region is today and all types of changes and partnerships required to drive the international association meetings towards a brighter future, supported by ICCA’s global community and wide-ranging networking opportunities.”
Dr. Senthil Gopinath, CEO of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) added: “We are pleased to organise this high-profile workshop in the Kingdom of Bahrain as we accelerate the transition towards an innovative international association and governmental meetings industry. This event is a direct result of the recently signed Association Relationship Partner (ARP) Agreement with our active member EWB to strengthen its own ties and foster its profile within the international association community. We are also always eager to collaborate with other stakeholders to deepen our understanding of today’s challenges with our partners in the region and navigate towards greater growth and prosperity in the MICE industry.”
The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) is a global community and knowledge hub for the international association and governmental-meetings industry. Founded in 1963, ICCA specialises in the international association meetings sector, offering unrivalled data, education, communication channels, business development and networking opportunities. Today, ICCA is one of the most prominent organisations in – and advocates for – the world of international meetings.
Through exclusive events like EWB’s workshop, ICCA builds global partnerships that ensure success and helps find potential business opportunities with its exclusive database, which allows ICCA members to search for association meetings that are likely to come to their destination. In addition, ICCA’s association community and global branding opportunities allow MICE organisations to plan high-quality meetings, network with peers, and be recognised on a global scale.
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NOTES TO EDITOR:
About ICCA
ICCA is a global community and knowledge hub for the international association – and governmental – meetings industry. Founded in 1963, ICCA specialises in the international association meetings sector, offering data, education, communication channels, as well as business development and networking opportunities. Today, ICCA continues to advocate for the world of international meetings. The ICCA Association Community offers associations across the world education, connections, tools, and resources to help them organise more effective and successful meetings.
Read more: www.iccaworld.org
About Exhibition World Bahrain (EWB)
Inaugurated in November 2022, Exhibition World Bahrain (EWB) is the Middle East’s newest exhibition and convention centre and the largest in the Kingdom of Bahrain. With ten halls, multiple exits and entrances, storage facilities, and wide-ranging services, the centre’s strong capacity will enable it to host several events and exhibitions simultaneously, making it an attractive location for local, regional, and international exhibitions. It also attracts all types of occasions of different sizes and arrangements, from large conventions and exhibitions to conferences and meetings, live entertainment performances, large weddings, galas and celebrations, and corporate functions.
The EWB’s conference centre features a main hall that can accommodate over 4,000 guests and can be sub-divided into three separate halls all equipped with the latest technical services to host international conferences and events. It also consists of various other halls for medium- and small-scale conferences and meetings.
Exhibition World Bahrain is owned by the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA) and is operated by BTEA’s strategic partner; ASM Global, the world’s largest and leading venue management and event services company operating the most prestigious exhibitions, entertainment and sports venues spanning five continents with a portfolio of more than 350 venues worldwide.
EWB is an award-winning venue, having secured the “World’s Leading New Exhibition and Convention Centre 2023” at the World Travel Awards 2023. With this unrivalled win, the Kingdom of Bahrain has further cemented its reputation as the leading global hub for the MICE industry.
EWB is committed to continuing to host and attract large-scale international, regional, and local exhibitions, conferences, conventions, product launches, live entertainment, large weddings, and bespoke events from around the world, further elevating the Kingdom’s position as a regional pioneer in the MICE industry.
Read more: https://www.ewbahrain.com/