Nowhere in the world provides a glimpse into the future like the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with its two primary destinations, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, a study in urban design and economic ingenuity.
Both were the stars of the June 10-15 DMC Network Exchange, an annual event produced by the DMC Network, a member-owned conglomeration of 53 destination management companies (DMCs) operating in more than 100 destinations worldwide.
“We are the only community of DMC companies that are fully member-owned in the meetings and events industry,” said Aoife Delaney, the Dublin-based managing director of DMC Network. “It’s a real sense of ownership, camaraderie and community between the members because you have individual, independent owner-managed DMCs choosing to be a part of this DMC network and share their best practices.”
Choosing to grow slow and with purpose, Delaney said DMC Network is very selective of its members, with strong accreditation standards that include being a member of the Association of Destination Management Executives International, carrying adequate insurance and, in what may be becoming more rare as the DMC industry consolidates, having longstanding staffing in the destinations they represent and not simply shuttling in new personnel who are not familiar with the ins and outs of the destination.
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“It’s a real emphasis on local expertise that’s really important for us,” Delaney stressed. “The Network is super familial, and that collaborative community that it fosters. It’s very trust-driven as a community in that we share best practices, education, networking, a huge amount of customer referrals, and it really enhances the overall quality of the network and that consistency of the services that we offer.”
Another key aspect of the DMC Network is that it only allows one member company in each destination.
DMC Network Exchange
This year’s Exchange—the first to be held in dual destinations—featured 100 attendees, with a 50/50 ratio of planner buyers to DMC suppliers. All attendees were individually invited and also brought with them the potential to bring business to multiple destinations that were represented.
The event, which was hosted by DMC Network member Gulf Dunes DMC, featured two one-on-one buyer/supplier meeting sessions along with destination tours to experience the key attractions as well as culture of Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
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“You’re getting that really high-level, high-end incentive/meetings and events program, and we make sure that they have that experience onsite throughout,” Delaney said. “They also get to deepen their relationships with fellow industry leaders, which are their fellow clients, and all of our DMC network partners as well.”
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Dubai
The Exchange kicked off in Dubai, a hyper-modern Emirate that was little more than a backwater whose economy was driven by pearl harvesting until a massive amount of oil was discovered in 1966. Sheikh Rashid ibn Saeed Al Maktoum, a visionary Arab statesman who co-founded the UAE in 1971, took a cautious approach at first while it was determined just how large the oil find was and how long it would last.
Always with an eye toward the future, and the impermanence of its oil reserve, the UAE is in a continual state of diversifying its economy, with tourism targeted as a major driver for the future.
The Dubai portion of the Exchange was headquartered in Atlantis, The Palm, a more than 1,500-room luxury resort with 60,000 square feet of meeting space that sits on the tip of the iconic, ultra-luxe Palm Islands development.
The Palm’s sister property, Atlantis The Royal, Dubai—an even more-upscale accommodations option—was also featured.
Between the two destinations, Dubai was where the future was unequivocally on display, with an ever-growing skyline of fantastical skyscrapers twisting up into the heavens. Towering above it all is the tallest building in the world, the 2,717-foot Burj Khalifa, a tour of which was featured as an activity option.
Other excursion options included a Yellow Boats tour that gave attendees an expansive view of Dubai’s intriguing skyline, as well as hanging out at the Aura Sky Pool and an action-packed outing to the Museum of the Future.
Attendees all gathered for a traditional Emirati meal and cultural discussion at the Sheikh Mohammed Centre for Cultural Understanding in the heart of Old Dubai as well as a guided walk through the city’s Gold & Spice Souks.
Abu Dhabi
The administrative and cultural capital of the UAE, Abu Dhabi also walks with a Space Age swagger showcased by an ultra-modern skyline but punctuated by one of the most impressive buildings I’ve ever seen, the Qasr Al Watan presidential palace. A 370-acre jewel case that serves as a museum of UAE history and diplomatic outreach, its outsized physical presence is juxtaposed by the intricate artwork that adorns seemingly every inch of its interior spaces.
The absolutely stunning, opulent design and craftsmanship of the palace was matched by the massive Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, a must-see activity option for any group visiting the destination. Located near the Abu Dhabi Exchange host hotel, the 532-room Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal (with nearly 24,000 square feet of meeting space), the jaw-dropping Grand Mosque is indeed one of the grandest in the world and also designed to provide large-scale tours when worship activities are not scheduled.
Another example of the cultural heft of Abu Dhabi was on display at Louvre Abu Dhabi, another architecturally stunning attraction that partners with its iconic Parisian sister museum to rotate exhibits and collection pieces. Particularly impressive is its focus on cross-cultural interactions that weave a narrative spanning artwork from ancient times to the present.
Another offsite option sure to make an impact is Yas Marina Circuit, Abu Dhabi’s famed F1 motorsports track, which was pressed into service for a reception.
“A lot of the clients that are coming, this will be their first time in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, so we wanted to showcase to them what they never would have thought it has the potential to do,” Delaney said, “that world-class infrastructure, the luxury accommodations, the diverse experiences, the access—all of the things that maybe that meeting planner hasn’t realized it has.”
Gifting
An important part of any high-end incentive event is a gifting program that reflects the destination in which it's held, and DMC Network Exchange shined in that department.
While in Dubai at the front end of the event, attendees were directed to a small gifting room at Atlantis, The Palm, which featured a table managed by Gulf Dunes DMC with traditional Emirati clothing for men and women, including a ghutra red-checkered cotton headscarf and the accompanying black corded agal to hold it in place for male attendees. The men also were presented with a ankle-length kandura white robe.
Women were offered all-important head scarves so they could make sure to present themselves modestly when touring mosques, along with a black robe.
While as a Westerner it seemed very odd when I first donned the local garb, I immediately felt very comfortable and, along with my fellow attendees, wore the Emirati clothing for much longer stretches than I imagined I would. It felt nice to fit in in a culture that is so different than the one I came from.
Meetings industry fixture Maui Jim sunglasses was also on hand to show off some its stylish new designs that were perfect for the inevitable Emirati sun that was sure to illuminate many offsite excursions.
Various electronics items such as wireless headphones and carrying cases were also in the offing, and sent free of charge back to attendees' homes so they wouldn't have to lug them along on the tour.
Planners' Perspectives
Scott McKibben, President, McKibben Global Meeting & Event Management
What did you learn about Dubai/Abu Dhabi that would make them appealing for your programs?
There is a mystique. It’s a place you hear a lot about. You see these high-rises and you see this culture that is very different, which I really love. I have looked at both Dubai and Abu Dhabi for sales kickoffs, financial and incentive events, or as a pre or post for an incentive program to, say, South Africa or somewhere where it’s sort of a midway point. It would bring everybody together in a cool way before they go on to a secondary or incentive destination.
Why is an organization like DMC Network important to your meeting and event planning objectives?
With this network, over the years they’ve expanded and I trust them. So, it’s mitigating risk and it’s saving time searching for the right [onsite vendor] companies. I have a high level of confidence with them; they communicate extremely well within the network, so they know who I am and what my programs are, what my hot buttons are contractually and what I need to see in contracts, which now they’re making consistent throughout the DMC Network.
Other DMC groupings or companies may plop one of their top people from one city and put them in another city and you start from scratch, whereas with the DMC Network, they’ve been in these cities for years and years and years.
What were some of the top highlights of the DMC Network Exchange?
One thing right off the bat to me was the architecture; how unique it was—they’re architecturally cool. The Louvre and the Guggenheim in Abu Dhabi. The Museum of the Future in Dubai. It was all just so stunningly cool.
Sofija Litric, Vice President, Membership & Administration, Teneo Hospitality Group
What did you learn about Dubai/Abu Dhabi that would make them appealing for your programs?
Dubai/Abu Dhabi is a global business hub with easy connectivity and has a presence of international corporations. It’s one of the safest destinations I’ve ever traveled to. With cutting-edge technology, their facilities are unmatched and there’s no shortage of world-class dining and entertainment.
Why is an organization like DMC Network important to your meeting and event planning objectives?
Teneo Hospitality Group is a global sales organization representing over 350 member hotels/resorts worldwide. We’re fortunate to have had a long-standing partnership with the DMC Network over the last decade, allowing us to refer business opportunities to quality, reputable DMCs in the network on behalf of our meeting planner clients.
The DMC Network has done a fabulous job servicing our customers’ DMC/planning needs and also supporting our own client networking events and ad-hoc requests such as site inspections, fam trips, etc. Our sales team appreciates having our DMC partners as a resource to help navigate each destination, thus being able to further support our hotel partners and clients.
What were some of the top highlights of the DMC Network Exchange?
The entire week was awe-inspiring. First, you’re blown away by the modernization and learning about the impressive development. But for me, the highlight was mostly the people. It’s a melting pot of cultures and they truly embrace diversity. Each person I met was kind, attentive, informative and passionate about the destination. I walked away from a fun-filled week making some genuine connections I certainly won’t forget.
What Goes Into a Good KBYG?
The unheralded hero of events—and especially events requiring travel to far-flung international destinations—is the humble Know Before You Go document, or “KBYG,” in planner shorthand.
A detailed yet concise KBYG is critically important when a destination is unfamiliar to delegates, and must include vital information such as travel logistics, airport navigation, emergency contacts, attire recommendations, transportation, visa/entry requirements and cultural do’s and don’ts. And don’t dare overlook the need for voltage converters, lest attendees’ myriad “devices” suffer a slow, whimpering demise!
And while it’s important to be robust on the information side, it’s also mission critical to shoehorn all of the info into a user-friendly format that attendees will actually read.
A great KBYG example was provided before the June 10-15 DMC Network Exchange program to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) destinations of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, which I attended.
Well before boarding Emirates airlines for my trip to the UAE, I touched base with Kate Patay, vice president of global engagement for Terramar, a DMC Network Company. A connoisseur of KBYGs and a fellow participant of the Exchange, here’s Patay’s top-line take on what goes into a successful document.
“I think my top takeaways on it are always including the travel expectation of is there a driver? Is there a meet-and-greet? What does it look like?” Patay said. “It should include what to expect in customs, how you collect baggage and making sure that you’re not stopping in the airport because that first hallway of individuals are all timeshare operators, they’re not the actual hotels, to make sure they get to the right driver and location.”
For Terramar’s Mexico programs, for instance, the DMC’s drivers are thoroughly vetted employees, and the company tracks the car from the minute an attendee is picked up to when they’re dropped off at their final destination.
Here are some of Patay’s other top KBYG tips:
- Are rideshare companies such Uber or Lyft available in the destination?
- Do taxis take credit cards?
- What are tipping customs?
- What are the cultural sensitivities in the destination, including protocols in places of worship such as mosques, standards of dress or interaction with locals and public displays of affection?
- What is the emergency number to call, i.e., the local “911?”
- Will you need an electricity converter?
- Include a QR code somewhere on the event badges that links back to the KBYG so attendees can easily access it.
And as someone who has been guilty of perhaps not giving a KBYG the pre-trip attention it deserves—and no, reading it in the Uber going to the airport does not count!—remind attendees a few days before the trip to examine the KBYG.
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque tour. Credit: Tyler Davidson
