MICE sector to generate 1m+ room nights for Dubai’s hoteliers

Dubai continues to enhance its reputation as the region’s leading meetings, incentives, conferences and events (MICE) destination, with the emirate’s peak industry body, Dubai Business Events (DBE), revealing it successfully bid for 301 new events in 2019.

The growth of the sector is having a positive impact on the city’s hotel industry, with new DBE data revealing MICE bookings will account for more than 1 million hotel room nights in 2020, thanks to the influx of an additional 150,095 delegates this year.

DBE submitted a total of 595 bids in 2019, resulting in a conversion rate of 50.6%.

Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (Dubai Tourism), described 2019 as a “significant year” for Dubai’s MICE sector, with the bid wins proving “testament to the city’s rapid growth as a leading business and knowledge hub”.

"With Expo2020 Dubai approaching, this is set to be a landmark year for the city, providing an unrivaled opportunity to further demonstrate the city’s ability to host successful and impactful events of all sizes,” he said.
"Our aim is to build on the momentum we have already gathered and continue to partner with stakeholders and business events professionals globally to pursue opportunities to bid for and secure key events for the city.’’

One of the biggest events secured for 2020 is the Million Dollar Round Table Global Conference, which is set to attract 10,000 delegates.

Steen Jakobsen, assistant vice president of Dubai Business Events, said: “Dubai has grown from strength to strength each year to emerge as a premier destination for business events. The bid wins secured in 2019 are testament to the city’s status as a global knowledge hub and the strong events infrastructure that enables it to attract and host a diverse range of meetings, conferences and incentive travel programmes.”