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Agent of Change: The MICE summit IMS in Riyadh starts with a bang

The inaugural international MICE summit IMS in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from 15 to 17 December 2024 shall be opened by His Excellency Fahd Al-Rasheed, Chairman of the Saudi Conventions & Exhibitions General Authority SCEGA. It lines up some of the most prominent speakers in the global MICE industry, such as the highly respected Jochen Witt, together with Wolfram Diener, Michael Kruppe, Kai Hattendorf. Or Rémy Cregut, awarded with the Swiss Xaver-Award 2024 for his lifetime achievents and many more.

 

by Urs Seiler || 12 December 2024

 

Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City Celebrates the Launch of Malfa – A Premier Event Destination at the Heart of Misk City in Riyadh.

 

«Saudi Arabia is the proud host of IMS, the global leadership event for the MICE industry. The Kingdom has embraced its own transformation by shaping the future of the global tourism industry and becoming the fastest growing major MICE destination among G20 countries» says Fahd Al-Rasheed, Chairman of the Saudi Conventions & Exhibitions General Authority SCEGA, which was created in 2018.

 

One Million square meters new venue space in Saudi Arabia

The inaugural International MICE Summit (IMS24) will bring together over 1,000 global leaders from the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE) industry between 15-17 December at Mohammed Bin Salman Nonprofit City (MISK) in Riyadh, hosted by the Saudi Conventions & Exhibitions General Authority (SCEGA).

 

Saudi Arabia sees unprecedented opportunities for the global MICE industry, projected to grow to 5.4 billion Dollar by 2031.

 

The Saudi MICE market is projected to expand exponentially with hallmark events such as World Expo 2030, expected to attract 40.7 million visits to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia alone. The growing demand is to be accommodated by the launch of a new Saudi Arabian airline and an airport expansion, 1 million square meters of expected venue space and 854,000 hotel rooms by 2030!

 

«In a time marked by profound technological and environmental transformation, the MICE industry has emerged as an essential catalyst of change. By focusing on the future of the industry, IMS24 addresses the needs of a globalized world - reshaping how people, cultures and countries connect to create prosperity» said IMS host and Chairman of SCEGA, His Excellency Fahd Al-Rasheed.

 

A Range of the Speakers

Everybody who’s anybody in the international MICE industry shall be stepping onto the MIS’s stage, when this inaugural international MICE show is being launched.


Rémy Cregut, the charismatic brand Ambassador, Montreux Riviera, who has been awarded with the Swiss Xaver-Award 2024 for his lifetime achievements in the MICE industry.

 

Jochen Witt is one of or the most competent venue consultant in Europe and has just published the brand new «UFI World Map of Venues».

 

Wolfram Diener is CEO of Messe Dusseldorf, one of the ten biggest trade fair organizers in the world.


Michael Kruppe is CEO of SNIEC, the Shanghai New National Exhibition Centre, with his own «Michael on Monday» podcast.


Kai Hattendorf, UFI, the outgoing UFI general manager, has just completed the 91st UFI Global Congress at Confex Koelnmesse with acclaim.

 

Lord Stephen Carter, Group CEO, Informa Group Plc.

 

Geoff Dickinson, CEO dmg events, outgoing UFI president.


Brian Brittan, COO RX (Reed Exhibitions)

 

Alexander Alles, Executive Director Joint Meetings Industry Council JMIC.

 

The MIS three day event for disruptors and Giga-Project leaders

The three-day event wants to be the premier global leadership event for the MICE industry, offering innovation, economic and commercial opportunities for MICE and related tourism and travel sectors under the theme of «Expanding Horizons». The event’s extensive programme is designed to unite MICE industry leaders, suppliers, associations, Giga-Project leaders, disruptors and international cross-industry and government leaders. Featuring plenary, panel discussions, innovation clusters, collaboration hubs, IMS24 will promise attendees a premier global platform to network, collaborate – and above all – reimagine what it means to convene in today’s global environment.


The growing Saudi Arabian MICE market

MICE events in Saudi Arabia witnessed an increase of close to 15 percent in 2023, with almost 17,000 events attracting over 20 million visitors. IMS24 coincides with the Kingdom’s continued transformation as Saudi Arabia solidifies itself as a major global tourism and events destination.

 

Welcoming almost 110 million visitors in 2023, tourism comprises six percent of Saudi Arabia’s GDP, equating to 255 billion SAR (US$68 billion). The Saudi MICE sector is expected to accelerate growth through the rapid expansion of transportation and event infrastructure, supported by the development of Giga-projects offering unparalleled destination experiences, and enhanced connectivity between the Kingdom and the rest of the world.

 

«Saudi Arabia is the perfect environment to host IMS24. As an internal and external agent of change, the Kingdom has embraced its own transformation by shaping the future of the global tourism industry and becoming the fastest growing major MICE destination among G20 countries»,

 His Excellency added.

 


TAKE OUTS


The Saudi Conferences and Exhibitions General Authority SCEGA




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