ICCA Ranking
Dynamic Dubai
D
ubai’s popularity with international
business visitors continues to rise. It
is now the fourth most visited global
city and has rocketed 19 places up the
ICCA city rankings to No.44, with 56 qualifying
international association meetings taking
place in Dubai in 2014 (19 in 2013).
Expanding airlift and hotel capacity are
both helping to continue driving growth.
Steen Jakobsen, director of Dubai
Business Events (DBE), said: “Dubai has not
only witnessed a dramatic shift in the ICCA
rankings, but also in terms of perceptions as
a destination. As more major corporations
and associations host events in the city,
misconceptions are being dispelled and
the message about Dubai’s premier service
level and excellent value for money are
becoming clear to all.”
ICCA has also become the 13th
international association to be accredited by
Dubai Association Centre (DAC) to operate
from the emirate.
The city welcomed 13.2m international
overnight travellers in 2014 – an 8.4%
increase on 2013. More than 21% of
them visited for business. His Excellency
Helal Almarri, director general of Dubai
Tourism, said: “Dubai is evolving to create
memorable experiences for its guests
through world-class infrastructure, excellent
service and remarkable attractions. The
increase in meetings being hosted in Dubai
is significantly contributing to the rise in visitor
numbers while also positioning the emirate as
a global hub for creation and innovation.”
Construction is also expected to begin this
year on expanding Dubai’s second airport,
Al Maktoum International at Dubai World
Central (DWC).
Zagreb relying on history,
hotels and university
T
he capital of the Republic of Croatia is
one of the oldest European cities with its
history running back to the 11th century.
It has many surprises including high quality
business and convention hotels and unique
venues in the historical core of the city, in
addition to top quality PCOs and DMCs.
The city of Zagreb hosts numerous festivals
and a lively nightlife and cultural scene offer
plenty to do for delegates after conference
hours.
Zagreb has momentum, moving up from
No.79 to No.72 in the city rankings.
“It is always a good feeling when you make
progress. It definitely helps in destination
marketing, but it also gives us then strength
to make the extra effort,” says Zlatan Muftiic,
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CONFERENCE & MEETINGS WORLD
Zagreb’s Convention Bureau director.
He adds the city is now a recognised
destination with a strong university and
scientific community that helps attract
meetings.
“Although we definitely hope to rise again
in the ICCA rankings in future, it is hard to
predict this since the competition is really
strong and everybody is making maximum