The International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) has identified the Middle East as a key growth region for international associations, with president Martin Sirk confident it will produce the most “dramatic” future developments.
The vote of confidence follows the opening of ICCA’s first regional office in the Middle East last year. Initially opened to improve customer relations in the area, staff are now working overtime to cater for pent up demand for international association meetings.
With the office now working at “full speed”, Sirk said the positive response is evidence that the Middle East is poised for further growth.
“There is going to be more business for our existing members, more new events to identify and add to the ICCA Association Database, more new infrastructure developments… and more interest in ICCA by potential new members,” he said.
He also predicted the region would lead the charge in innovation and take the associations market to the next level.
“The international association meetings market is continuing to evolve… And it is in the growth of the regional meetings in the Middle East that we anticipate some of the most dramatic future developments,” Sirk said.
Meanwhile, ICCA has named Gamal Sadek from Al Ketbi Consultancy as the Dubai based ICCA regional director for the Middle East. He will focus on enhancing client relationships in the region.
