Three hundred Hosted Buyers with high spending power are expected to attend GIBTM, an indication of high-value business in light of figures, which showed that 44% of Hosted Buyers attending GIBTM 2011 had an annual meetings budget of more than $1m. An increase in global applications for the GIBTM Hosted Buyer Programme suggests it will be the most successful edition yet.

Marked as a must-attend event in the business calendars of meetings and event organizers from across the globe, the Hosted Buyer Programme is an invaluable element of GIBTM, which is held on March 26-28 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC).

GIBTM 2012 will welcome an increased presence of buyers travelling from destinations such as China, United Kingdom, USA, India and Germany as well as regional Middle East buyers, proving that the Hosted Buyer programme has a truly global dimension. The exhibition will provide a targeted platform for 260 global exhibitors, more than 2,800 industry professionals, an estimated 8,000 pre-scheduled appointments and an un-missable line-up of professional education to include the first ever dedicated business travel sessions delivered by ACTE (the Association of Corporate Travel Executives).

Research has confirmed that 98% of Hosted Buyers who attended GIBTM 2011 left the show feeling satisfied that the Global Meetings and Events Exhibition had met their commercial needs.

“GIBTM from its inception has helped people in the Middle East connect. Whether you are looking for great DMC partners, meeting new Hotel teams or just want to understand a destination better, GIBTM lets you do that all in one concise place,” said Hosted Buyer Kip Horton, President, International Division, HPN Global, USA. “The first time I walked in the show I thought I would be done seeing things in three hours. Invariably I now find that at the end of three days there are still some folks I did not get to connect with because I was so busy.

“As this region gains prominence as a destination for group meetings and incentives, anyone planning on working there needs to be at GIBTM. Whether it’s to renew old partnerships or establish new ones, GIBTM is not to be missed.”

Benefits for Hosted Buyers at GIBTM include complimentary flights and accommodation, transfers and a personal diary of pre–scheduled appointments. In addition to these, buyers will also be invited to exclusive networking events at the brand new Rocco Forte Hotel Abu Dhabi and the luxurious Emirates Palace, dedicated Hosted Buyer lounges, the chance to meet a broad range of international exhibitors and dedicated education on a variety of industry-related hot topics and global trends.

Lois Hall, Reed Travel Exhibitions Manager of GIBTM, explained: “The Hosted Buyer programme offers excellent business opportunities through the facilitation of pre-scheduled face-to-face meetings. Buyers are able to plan their time more efficiently and are matched with the exhibitors they want to meet through the system, which translates to even more opportunities to conduct business onsite. We constantly seek ways to bring buyers and sellers together to maximise their return on investment at GIBTM.”

Sara Spencer, Conference Manager at Select Biosciences in the UK, said: “Select Biosciences provides training courses and conferences to the life science marketplace. At the moment we do not hold events in the Middle East, but it is a geographical area that we are very interested in moving into, hence my attendance at GIBTM. I would be interested in meeting venues, suppliers and people that are able to advise on the ease and support that is provided to event organisers.”

In addition to the Hosted Buyer experience at GIBTM, Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority will be hosting an ‘Abu Dhabi Day’ on the final day of the exhibition, after the show closes at 1pm, offering overseas buyers the opportunity to tour and explore the capital. Highlights include the grand Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, the city of Abu Dhabi and Manarat Al Saadiyat, a multi-purpose visitor centre which hosts the state-of-the-art Saadiyat Island exhibition, ‘The Saadiyat Story’ and the world premiere of Rauschenberg, Ruscha, Serra, Twombly, Warhol and Wool (RSTW) an exhibition of masterpieces from the private collection of one of the art world’s pre-eminent figures Larry Gagosian.