As Thailand rounds up its role as hospitable host for the 62nd ICCA Congress on November 15, 2023, Abu Dhabi steps in to begin its welcome for the next edition, set for October 20 to 23, 2024.
The destination in the United Arab Emirates was first announced host of the 63rd ICCA Congress this August, beating several other “extraordinary bids of the very highest standard”, according to a statement by the ICCA Board.
The next congress will be held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre and with the support of the Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition Bureau.
Addressing the ICCA community during the closing presentations last Wednesday, Mubarak Al Shamsi, director at the Abu Dhabi Convention & Exhibition, said: “Abu Dhabi has long been driven by the vision of being a hub for governance. As we make progress in our MICE sector, we provide world-class venues and facilities. More and more we understand the value of business events and their potential as a catalyst for economic growth.”
Mubarak said the business environment in Abu Dhabi is conducive for ideation and knowledge exchange. The destination’s appeal is reflected in its record of hosting more than 1,200 business events in 2022.
While programme details of the next congress have yet to come, ICCA CEO Senthil Gopinath told TTGmice that the transformed content approach taken by this year’s edition, which reflects engagement, diversity and inclusion, will carry into the coming years.
Gopinath, along with Marta Gomes, president of ICCA Board, said “ICCA is truly becoming stronger than ever”.
According to Gopinath, discussions about content are already underway.
He said: “Just as how the Thailand Convention and Exhibition Bureau had contributed very well to our content this year, by way of connecting top quality speakers with us, Abu Dhabi will also be a big part of our content design process.”
In the August statement on Abu Dhabi’s host city status, ICCA said the 63rd ICCA Congress will contribute significantly to Abu Dhabi’s Vision 2030, which sets out a clear strategy around sustainability, education, and career growth – the same areas of focus that young meetings professionals are passionate about.
