## Arabian Travel Market 2025 Partners with ICCA to Spotlight Booming Business Events Sector
The Arabian Travel Market (ATM), a leading global event for the travel and tourism industry, has unveiled a significant partnership with the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) for its 2025 edition. This collaboration marks a strategic focus on expanding the business events sector, a sector poised for significant growth in the coming years.
As ATM 2025’s official Business Events Partner, ICCA will take center stage in presenting insightful sessions on the evolving global business events landscape. These sessions will delve into the future of the industry, highlighting crucial trends like sustainability, digital transformation, and the strategic use of AI to elevate event experiences. ICCA will also play a key role in facilitating the participation of international association buyers, showcasing the region’s rich offerings for event planners.
This collaboration aims to solidify the Middle East’s position as a premier destination for hosting large-scale congresses, contributing to long-term economic growth and regional development. ICCA will also unveil an exclusive government meeting ranking report during the event, offering valuable insights into the Middle East’s increasing prominence in the business events sector. Dubai, recognized as the leading city in the Middle East for association meetings in 2023 by ICCA, and Abu Dhabi, which held the title in 2022, are prime examples of the region’s growing appeal.
A Global Trend: Business Events on the Rise
New data from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) reveals a robust recovery in the business events sector. Business travel spending is projected to surpass pre-pandemic figures in 2024, reaching an unprecedented US$1.5 trillion. Dubai, a leading destination for business events, has already secured 175 international business events in the first half of 2024, representing a remarkable 24% increase compared to the previous year, according to Dubai Business Events (DBE). This underscores the UAE’s growing prominence as a hub for business events.
A Powerful Partnership: Driving Growth and Innovation
Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership: “Our partnership with ICCA reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional value to the business events sector, which has always been a cornerstone of ATM. We look forward to leveraging ICCA’s global network and insights to deliver unparalleled value to our exhibitors and attendees as we explore the future of business events, particularly in the rapidly expanding international market.”
Dr. Senthil Gopinath, CEO of ICCA, echoed this sentiment: “We are thrilled to announce a strategic partnership between ICCA and ATM. ICCA will create enhanced value with regard to business and knowledge at Arabian Travel Market. This collaboration represents a significant step toward driving meaningful business engagements, with dedicated sessions, research reports, and networking opportunities for key stakeholders. Together, we aim to bring the best of the Business Events to ATM, fostering connections that will leave a lasting impact.”
IBTM @ ATM: A Dedicated Hub for Business Events
In further support of the growing business events sector, this year’s ATM will introduce IBTM @ ATM, a dedicated area specifically designed for business events suppliers to showcase their services and connect with buyers through prearranged meetings and business exchange sessions. This initiative will also feature a comprehensive conference program focused on the latest trends and developments within the business events sector.
This new zone directly addresses the increasing interest from visitors and exhibitors at ATM. The 2024 event saw over 7,000 attendees and 1,500 buyers demonstrating significant interest in the business events sector, with 400 exhibitors highlighting it as a crucial aspect of their offerings.
Claudia Hall, Exhibition Director, IBTM World, emphasized the strategic value of this collaboration: “As the global platform for the Business Events industry, IBTM is excited to be part of the collaboration with ATM and our long-standing strategic partner ICCA to deliver a tailored experience for event planners and suppliers in the region. With substantial growth anticipated for the business events sector in the Middle East, and increasing demand from suppliers and buyers at ATM wanting to connect, do business and share knowledge and insights, it feels like an opportune moment to use our expertise to support this growth.”
ATM 2025: Shaping the Future of Tourism
The 32nd edition of ATM will focus on the theme, “Global Travel: Developing Tomorrow’s Tourism Through Enhanced Connectivity.” The event will bring together professionals and industry leaders from various sectors, including leisure, MICE, luxury, and corporate travel. ATM serves as a critical platform for networking, knowledge exchange, and business opportunities, enabling participants to explore the latest trends, innovations, and developments in the global travel landscape. The partnership with ICCA further solidifies ATM’s role as a pivotal platform for the future of tourism, particularly within the burgeoning business events sector.