MiCE date with Dubai

In an exclusive interview, Karina Lance, Senior Manager, Sales and Convention Services, Dubai Business Events, illuminates us on Dubai's MiCE offerings

Kindly share statistics on the increase in the number of MiCE visitors from the Indian market.

The Indian market is our number one source market, about two million Indians travelled last year from India to Dubai. The number is a combination of leisure travellers, business travellers and people travelling for visiting friends and relatives (VFRs). Between 30-40 per cent of these visitors are business related. From the Indian market, usually they are a part of an incentive group. Out of these, 80 per cent is incentive and 20 per cent is conference or corporate meetings.

What are the main seasons that you see tourists coming in from India to Dubai?

When we look at the business events market, particularly incentive travel, it depends on when the corporate companies finish their qualifications for their sales partners or dealers. There are two main periods, one falls during the summer time, which is good for us, since it is a low season for Dubai. So, you would see incentive from India coming in June-July-August. Then you have a second round which will come during the October-NovemberDecember months.

How are you gearing up for the Expo 2020 Dubai?

By 2020 and before the Expo starts in October, our target is to bring 20 million tourists. In terms of infrastructure, at the moment we have a little over 111,000 guest rooms. By 2020, we should be at around 140,000 which would be on par with cities like Paris or Las Vegas. We still have nice fivestar properties coming in, well known international brands like Mandarin Oriental among others. Since 2014, we had an influx of three-star and four-star properties. Some of our local brands like Address Hotels, purely five-star, two years ago launched the Rove Hotels brand. Jumeirah has done the same and now have their four-star, three-star brands, Zabeel House and Zabeel House Mini.

What are the kind of incentives/promotional plans that you have for MiCE agents from India? We have a boosting programme, depending on the size of the event that an agent may bring to Dubai.

This programme is divided between Tiers and we offer different types of value-add and attractions. For any group which is over 500 delegates, we have a specific marketing fund support, that is tailormade, while bidding for large incentive movement or group.

For any group which is over 500 delegates we have a marketing fund support