Abu Dhabi, one of the rapidly-developing luxury and business travel destinations in the world, is making its presence felt at the three-day IMEX exhibition held at the Messe Frankfurt in Germany from 22 to 24 April 2008. IMEX is the international exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events, with more than 3,400 exhibitors from more than 150 countries being represented at exhibition this year.

Joining the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) at its wide-appealing Stand at IMEX 2008 are ten industry co-participants. The co-exhibitors are Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, Beach Rotana Hotel & Towers, Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi, Danat Hotels & Resorts, Emirates Palace Hilton Hotel Abu Dhabi, Intercontinental Hotel Abu Dhabi, Kurban Tours – Development Tourism Company, Le Royal Meridien Abu Dhabi and Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort.

Mr.Dayne Lim, ADTA's Director of Product Development, said: “The IMEX 2008 exhibition provides us and our industry partners with a strong and visible platform in promoting the businesses tourism interests of Abu Dhabi. Our participation here forms part of the ADTA's overall strategic aim to strengthen Abu Dhabi's brand and destination presence within global MICE industry, and impress upon key decision-makers within the meetings industry on our diversity of business tourism products and services, as well as the major developmental projects in pipeline in the Emirate.”

The ADTA, he said, has a bold vision to position Abu Dhabi as one of the world’s leading business tourism and MICE destinations. To achieve this vision, Mr. Lim added, “We will be working closely with our stakeholders to ensure that the appropriate level and quality of business tourism infrastructure is in place, as well as strengthening industry capability in bidding and attracting major MICE events to Abu Dhabi.”

Mr. Ali Al Hosani, ADTA’s Promotions Director, said: “ADTA’s co-participants at the IMEX 2008 exhibition represents a broad spectrum of the emirate’s burgeoning tourism industry in general. Every effort has been made to make the Abu Dhabi Stand the cynosure of all eyes at the exhibition. We have designed the Abu Dhabi Stand to ensure that Abu Dhabi is viewed as one of the most-desirable meeting, incentive, conference and exhibitions venues in the world, with a traditional Majlis-styled welcome lounge, model display of ADNEC and dedicated MICE Abu Dhabi presentation being the main highlights.

“Our 10 co-exhibiting industry partners will showcase their tourism products to the global MICE industry in addition to creating further awareness about Abu Dhabi and networking with their counterparts from different parts of the world," he added.

The ADTA unveiled its strategic plan for the year 2008-2012, raising its hotel guest projections for the coming five years from the original targets set in 2004. The upgrade puts projected annual hotel guests at 2.7 million by the end of 2012 – 12.5% more than initially envisaged. The new target also calls for the emirate to have 25,000 hotel rooms by 2012 end – 4,000 more than originally forecast. The plan means the emirate’s hotel stock will jump by 13,000 rooms on its current available inventory.

IMEX has grown in its size since its inception in 2003. IMEX-2008 will unite more than 14,000 industry professionals including 3,300 exhibitors from over 150 countries over 16,500 square metres exhibition space. In 2007, a record 3,400 exhibitors attended from 150 countries representing national and regional tourist offices, major hotel groups, airlines, destination management companies, service providers, trade associations and more. Over 3,592 hosted buyers from 60 world markets visited IMEX 2007, contributing to a total of over 8,310 visitors for the show held on 17,000 square metres of exhibition space.

The trade show offers visitors and exhibitors its largest-ever professional education programme - 60 different workshops, seminars and forums over four days in English and German. More than 450 hosted buyer groups are confirmed for the exhibition, including many new groups from traditional European markets, plus long-haul markets of North America, the Middle East, Australia, China, Thailand and India.

The ADTA once again sponsored the IMEX Welcome Bags which are distributed to all visitors, hosted buyers, exhibitors and media professionals. The welcome bags feature Abu Dhabi on one side and each bag includes Abu Dhabi’s promotional literature.