NEWS / REGIONAL
Spanish meetings industry eyes the Gulf Region seen as having 'new and strong' business potential for Spain
Gran Meliá Fénix, Madrid
MEETING IN MADRID: FAST FACTS
2011 saw 1,263,987 business visitors* 11,276 meetings were held in 2011*
Of the 11,276 meetings, 1,210 were for conferences, 2,733 for conventions, 4,508 for seminars, and 2,825 for other types of meetings*
(*Source: Meetings Market in the City of Madrid 201
1,
Madrid Convention Bureau). MADRID HAS:
894 hotels and hostels (24 of them five-star, 137 four-star).1
Spain is already one of the world’s most popular destina- tions for international business meetings and, with bolstered interest from the Gulf, that suc- cess looks set to continue. Spain is already the third most popular destination for international business meetings and trade-related conferences worldwide, behind the US and Germany, according to the lat- est official ICCA statistics.
Meetings travel to Spain
represents 11 percent of foreign tourist spending, with a direct impact on its convention cities of some US$5,237,700. Quality, price, infrastructure and climate are listed as key factors attract- ing event organisers. According to Madrid
Convention Bureau, (MCB), which promotes the capital city’s stunning facilities, air traffic between Madrid and the UAE
79,777 beds1 3,000 restaurants
80 museums and two thousand monuments
www.esmadrid.com/mcb
(1
Source: Statistics National Institute, December 2012).
saw a 49 percent hike year on year in the last nine months. At the same time, the number of passengers received in Madrid increased by 71 percent from 2011 to 2012. MCB will promote the capi-
tal city in countries considered “potentially new and strong” markets for business tourism to Madrid, like the Gulf countries, by attending the Gulf Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) in Abu Dhabi, March 25 to 27, 2013, for the first time. MCB, a non-profit organisation created by Madrid city council in collaboration with almost 200 local tourism companies, promotes the capi- tal’s three conference centres and two trade fair venues. The airport recently doubled
its capacity with more than 45 million passengers in 2012 and 200 direct flights destinations. There is a seemingly inexhaust- ible list of cultural and leisure activities on offer that guaran- tee Madrid is certainly one of the best destinations for busi- ness travel in the world.
Villa venues with The Ritz-Carlton wow factor
The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa is offering an excusive Villa Meeting Package for planners looking for an alternative venue with “wow” factor this summer. Featuring Philippe Starck-
inspired designer furnishings and accessories, the 23 luxuri- ous beachfront villas, which span 450 square metres each, provide a sophisticated ambi- ence for meetings. “The villas are a unique
venue for those from the local, regional and interna- tional market who wish to conduct board meetings in a private location but to also experience that wow factor,”
24 /
said General Manager, Mark Neukomm. “At this time of year, corporate clients pre- fer to be outdoors if they are looking to host a lunch or dinner, after having had meetings in boardrooms. Therefore the villas can be used as an offsite venue, for retreat meetings or for private discussions. We provide shut- tle buggie transfer from the meeting and ballroom area to the respective villas.” To raise awareness to inter-
national clients, The Ritz- Carlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa channels information through its overseas sales offices in the UK and Germany.
“We are working with local
event management compa- nies and offer site inspections to showcase this truly unique location space to meeting plan- ners,” said Neukomm. Having recently hosted
Bahrain Exhibition & Convention Authority’s (BECA’s) eighth TEAM Bahrain meeting, bringing together companies aim- ing to promote Bahrain for the MICE market, the prop- erty is now working hard to maximise opportunities. “We believe in working
closely with the commu- nity to make use of synergy effects, to create awareness
for the destination and to strongly support each other,” said Neukomm. Its Villa Meeting Package
costs BHD830 a day, which buys use of the villa for a meeting for up to 15 people, including coffee breaks and lunch. The promotion runs from June 1 to August 31.
Villa at The Ritz-Carlton, Bahrain
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