plenary CONVENE ON SITE Abu Dhabi Goes Global A

bu Dhabi is ready for its turn in the international spotlight. The capital and second-largest

city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a safe, modern, and peren- nially sunny spot on the Arabian Gulf that has embarked on an ambitious plan to transform itself into a global business destination — with the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC), the government-owned entity that operates the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, actively courting North American meeting professionals. As part of this effort, ADNEC hosted Convene for a three-day trip in January to experience its state- of-the art venue, modern-day Arabian hospitality, and all the gold-encrusted extravagance that one of the richest cities in the world has to offer. One of the biggest marketing chal-

lenges facing ADNEC, according to CEO Pieter Idenburg, is the fact that many North Americans aren’t sure where Abu Dhabi is. The answer: as far as it seems,

but closer than you think. The Abu Dhabi International Airport is served by 53 airlines and easily accessed from 85 destinations in 49 countries. A non- stop, 14-hour flight on Eti- had, the emirate’s national airline, brought me directly from Chicago to the new, spotlessly clean, and very efficient Abu Dhabi Interna- tional Airport. From there, it was a

I spent the first two days of my trip

20-minute car ride to the Capital Centre district and ADNEC. Despite the 10-hour time difference and some jet lag, it didn’t take long to get comfortable in my hotel, the five-star Hyatt Capital Gate. A sleek, contemporary building that holds the distinction of being the world’s furthest-leaning man-made tower — tipping a dramatic 18 degrees — the 189-room Hyatt Capital Gate is the most luxurious of the five hotels located at Capital Centre, which together offer more than 1,500 rooms.

The modern city on the Arabian Gulf has embarked on a plan to transform itself into a global business destination.

attending the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2013, a large, global event that was a dramatic showcase for ADNEC’s space and versatil- ity. The 785,480-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility is the largest exhibition venue in the Middle East, with 12 interconnected exhibit halls totaling 180,500 square feet

— nearly all of it utilized by WFES. (Look for an in-depth report on WFES in next month’s issue.)

During my visit, I enjoyed several

delicious Middle Eastern meals, includ- ing lunch my first day at 18°, the Hyatt’s signature restaurant, which features fresh, locally sourced dishes inspired by traditional Lebanese, Greek, Syrian, and Turkish cuisine. That night, a small group of us ate at Dine, the anchor res- taurant in Aloft Abu Dhabi, the edgier, less-formal four-star hotel that’s also connected to ADNEC.

Abu Dhabi

28 PCMA CONVENE MARCH 2013

PCMA.ORG

PHOTOGRAPH BY TK