Exhibition World Bahrain is gearing up to host the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) Workshop in Sakhir on January 22, 2024, to promote effective regional and international collaborations in the MICE industry.

The workshop that will be held in the presence of Dr Nasser Ali Qaedi, CEO of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA), expects to international participants that include senior leaders and decision-makers from exhibition and convention centres, professional associations, ICCA members, and other key organisations.

The ICCA workshop, to be held for the first time in the Kingdom of Bahrain, will comprise two panels discussing topics: “The Synergy of Diverse Perspectives: Strategies for Bahrain's MICE Industry Advancement” and “Unlocking Bahrain's MICE Potential: Navigating Trends and Strategies in the Association Market”.

Experts joining the two panels: Dr Nasser Ali Qaedi, CEO of Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority (BTEA); Dr Debbie Kristiansen, the General Manager of Exhibition World Bahrain; Dr Jeffrey Goh, CEO of Gulf Air Group; Jehad Amin, Chairman of the Hospitality and Tourism Committee at BCCI; Dr Fatima Abdullah, President of the Bahrain Neuroscience Association; Anju Gomes, Regional Director ME of ICCA; Emre Kirazci, Director of Operations at Sofitel Bahrain Zallaq Thalassa Sea and Spa; and Maryam Ebrahim, Manager of International Associations and Conventions at EWB.

Kristiansen said: "We are excited to kick off the new year with this prominent event, which will serve as a unique platform for high-level dialogues, networking and exploration of opportunities for collaboration among MICE key stakeholders regionally and internationally by utilising the latest trends, insights and industry information.

“We look forward to welcoming a distinguished group of MICE leaders to look holistically at where the region is today and all types of changes and partnerships required to drive the international association meetings towards a brighter future, supported by ICCA’s global community and wide-ranging networking opportunities.”

Dr Senthil Gopinath, CEO of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) said: “We are pleased to organise this high-profile workshop in the Kingdom of Bahrain as we accelerate the transition towards an innovative international association and governmental meetings industry.

“This event is a direct result of the recently signed Association Relationship Partner (ARP) Agreement with our active member EWB to strengthen its own ties and foster its profile within the international association community.

“We are also always eager to collaborate with other stakeholders to deepen our understanding of today’s challenges with our partners in the region and navigate towards greater growth and prosperity in the MICE industry.” – TradeArabia News Service