Following highly successful events in Dublin (2017), Rwanda (2018) and Istanbul (2019), SITE Executive Summit took place in Abu Dhabi from September 25-30, immediately following the second annual Abu Dhabi Business Events Week.

Launched in 2008 in response to requests from destinations for best practice exchange around incentive travel, SITE Executive Summit has grown into an important annual event during which members of the International Board of Directors gather at the selected destination for 3–4 days, delivering educational content and undertaking a destination immersion.

This year’s educational sessions explored “The Evolving Market” and “How the Gulf Region can win more Incentive Business.”

In addition to the Executive Summit sessions, members of SITE’s board also joined a strong international faculty for Abu Dhabi Business Events Week, giving voice to the “I” in MICE and spotlighting its unique value proposition for destinations.

During a discussion on how Abu Dhabi can win more incentives, SITE President, Kevin Edmunds, CIS, CITP, said that business in the incentive travel sphere is won by the power of relationships, underlining how belonging to an association like SITE is the best way to cultivate long-term connections.

“Bringing SITE Executive Summit to Abu Dhabi is part of a dynamic strategic partnership between SITE and Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau, the objective of which is to help Abu Dhabi grow its profile and reputation as a flagship destination in the Gulf region by connecting it to SITE’s global community of incentive travel professionals,” said Edmunds.

“During our time here, we’ve encountered a destination perfectly positioned to deliver immersive, engaging, memorable experiences, supported by true incentive-quality infrastructure, hotels and venues,” Edmunds added.

“Abu Dhabi is committed to the incentive travel industry and the emirate has been a strategic partner of SITE for a number of years. We are delighted to be hosting SITE’s International Board of Directors in-person and have them experience firsthand the extensive investment in hotels, resorts and destination activities that define our unique destination offering,” said Mubarak Al Shamisi, Director, Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau.

SITE Executive Summit 2023, will take place June 20–23 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Destinations interested in partnering with SITE for a future Executive Summit should contact Samantha Nicastro (snicastro@siteglobal.com) to receive a copy of our RFP.