Tourism Breaking News
The third ICCA Middle East Summit – with TravTalk Middle East as media partner – concluded after two days of great insights, updates, and networking opportunities with industry experts from across the globe. The event was inaugurated by H.E. Azzan Al Busaidi, Undersecretary of the Oman Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, with Dr. Senthil Gopinath, CEO of ICCA opening the session with an inspiring speech. Khalid Al Zadjali, ICCA Middle East Chapter Chair, radiated excitement as he took on the role of host for the very first time, setting an electrifying tone for the entire summit. There were many sessions which left both experts and audience inspired by the prospect of hosting more business events in various Middle East destinations.
Khalid Al Zedjali, Director of Oman Office of Conference at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, stated, “By organizing this event, we aimed at exploring the various means in which the local associations can further improve their operations, strengthen member services and make a more impactful contribution to their industries and communities by leveraging the valuable insights with best practices for international associations. Further, there were also many key areas where local associations can benefit from the experience and expertise of their international counterparts”.
Al Zedjali added that it is important for the local associations to maintain the strong bonds with the international networks, to participate in conferences and events and to search proactively for learning and cooperation opportunities with their international peers. By doing so, local associations can improve their performance and create value addition to their members and stakeholders.
The event included three different sessions. The first session “Building Resilient Communities” explored the vital role that ICCA (the International Congress and Convention Association) plays in promoting resilience within communities and highlighting the strength and potential of associations in leading positive change and supporting societal development.
The second session included presentations by international associations about their best practices. Local associations had the opportunity to learn from these presentations, and gain insights about successful strategies and methods implemented by associations. The session aimed at inspiring and providing local associations with practical ideas that can be applied to their associations and promote growth and success in their respective fields.
The third session “Building Bridges” examined the importance of hosting international conferences and the possible benefits achieved by involving the local associations in international meetings to raise awareness in the local community through presenting successful case studies and exchanging ideas with industry experts.
The workshop aimed at highlighting the economic, social, and cultural advantages that come with attracting and organizing international meetings, and to gain a deeper understanding of the positive impact that international meetings can have on the local community.
