Industry newcomers told to get networking
by ArabianBusiness.com staff writer on Wednesday, 27 August 2008
Meetings industry experts have highlighted the need for those joining the sector to network as much as possible.
"For any newcomer to the meetings industry it's crucial to join hands with organisations that already have both a local and global presence," the managing director of The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management (EAHM), Ron Hilvert, stressed.
He was speaking after two of his students, Omar Abu Omar and Atle Hansen, won a Meeting Professionals International (MPI) Foundation scholarship and a trip to Las Vegas to attend the World Education Congress (WEC) this summer on the back of their efforts to create more networking oppotunities across the Middle East's meetings industry.
Omar and Hansen won the essay contest entitled ‘How to Build a MPI Community in the Middle East', with each student taking a different angle, according to Hilvert.
"Omar emphasised creating liaisons and relationships with the Department of Tourism and Commerce in Dubai and other reputable organisations that could strengthen MPI's ties locally and globally, while Hansen's essay highlighted the need to increase the awareness of MPI locally, also through collaboration with local educational institutions and professional organisations."
Hilvert said the scholarship was a big deal, with 4000 meeting professionals set to gather in Las Vegas in August at the Mandalay Bay Hotel. Each scholarship includes the conference registration fee, hotel accommodation and airfare to the value of US $2500 per person.
The MPI Foundation also said several ideas from the other students would be taken into consideration as MPI begins to build communities in the Gulf region. A plan is also in place for the competition to be an annual event.
READERS' COMMENTS
MORE FROM ARABIANBUSINESS.COM
TOP IN MIDDLE EAST TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY
TOP MIDDLE EAST BUSINESS STORIES
ALSO IN MIDDLE EAST TRAVEL & HOSPITALITY
LATEST MIDDLE EAST BUSINESS NEWS
- Travel & Hospitality: Flexibility key to avoiding the crunch
- Healthcare: MoH to set pay scales for all healthcare staff
- Politics & Economics: Top US military officer travels to India, Pakistan
- Transportation: British Airways, Qantas confirm merger talks
- Transportation: Somali president accuses Islamists of being behind piracy
RELATED STORIES
Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing - Dubai
- Dubai may cut target of 15mn tourists by 2015
24 Nov '08 | News - The health race
6 Nov '08 | Features - Plans for destination tourism marketing summit unveiled
24 Sep '08 | News
The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management
- EuroCHRIE calls for hospitality industry education
22 Oct '08 | News - Growing trend towards meetings and events specialisation within hospitality
3 Aug '08 | Comment
RELATED LINKS
- Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing - Dubai»
- The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management»




