Backstage Leadership Conversations

In this episode, host Nick Hall explores how the MICE sector can undertake a transformative sustainability journey to achieve net zero.

Derar Almanaseer, Strategy and Sustainability Director at ADNEC Group, details how the company has grown from a government organisation to an investment-driven business with a diverse portfolio. He also shares insights into the global trends shaping the industry, the importance of sustainable events and the role of technology and AI in reducing carbon emissions.

Read the full article about this episode:

https://www.thinkdigital.travel/opinion/embracing-sustainable-transformation-in-the-mice-industry

Backstage Leadership Conversations is back for a second series, produced by the Digital Tourism Think Tank in partnership with the Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi.

Check out this preview to discover what we'll discuss in the upcoming series.

In the eighth and last episode of the Backstage Leadership Conversations podcast, host Nick Hall engages in a discussion with Paul Rulkens, the High-Performance Mastermind, to explore how Abu Dhabi is supporting the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) sector to thrive and further its competitiveness.

The conversation delves into the importance of clarity, focus, and execution in achieving strategic goals, highlighting the need for organisations to be clear about what they want to achieve, maintain focus on key objectives, and have effective systems in place for execution. Paul emphasises the significance of building on strengths rather than compensating for weaknesses and adopting behaviours that drive value creation.

The episode also touches on the value of developing a mindset that focuses on understanding rather than simply replying and falling in love with customers instead of products or processes. The discussion further explores the concept of strategic quitting, where leaders strategically quit activities that no longer support their ambitions to release resources for new initiatives.

Paul shares examples of how organisations can identify and eliminate below-the-line behaviours to strengthen their effectiveness and achieve their strategic goals. The conversation concludes with insights on turning a ship in a new direction by realising the need for change, adopting a bold mindset, and applying strategic quitting to create a fast path to new results.

Read the full article about this episode:

https://www.thinkdigital.travel/opinion/furthering-the-competitiveness-of-the-mice-sector

In the seventh episode of the Backstage Leadership Conversations podcast, host Nick Hall delves into the topic of technology disruption and its impact on the travel industry. Joined by Allister Frost, the future-ready mindset expert and a digital transformation pioneer, they explore the importance of adaptability and the need for organisations to embrace change in today's context.

Allister shares his insights gained from his experience at Microsoft and working with international brands, emphasising that change doesn't always have to be radical but can also come from small iterative processes that create significant impact. He discusses the intersection of technology and people, highlighting the need to focus on solving customer problems rather than simply adopting new technologies for the sake of being progressive.

The conversation turns to the allure of shiny object syndrome, where organisations fall in love with new technologies without considering their relevance or usefulness. Allister emphasises the importance of being human-centric and customer-focused when integrating new developments such as meta and AR into existing products and business models.

They also address the challenges faced by organisations in building agility into their structures and teams, with Allister advocating for a future-ready mindset across the entire organization. He emphasises that everyone within the company should be empowered to think about the future, generate ideas, and be open to exploration and experimentation.

Comparing the travel industry to others, Allister acknowledges its innovative nature but urges for greater progress and faster thinking to stay competitive. He emphasises that the industry must continue to evolve and learn at a faster pace than its competitors to become the destination and provider of choice.

Concluding the episode, the outcomes of the Abu Dhabi Business Events Week are highlighted, emphasising the importance of collaboration and fostering ideas within the travel industry.

Read the full article about this episode:

https://www.thinkdigital.travel/opinion/where-might-technology-disruption-come-from-next

In the sixth episode of the Backstage Leadership Conversations podcast, host Nick Hall explores the post-pandemic trends in business travel with a focus on the impact of business events on destinations. He is joined by Geneviève Leclerc, co-founder and CEO of Meet4Impact, a nonprofit organisation aiming to transform the business events industry by creating a positive societal impact. With over 25 years of experience in congress management and strategic consultancy, Geneviève shares her insights on the challenges and changes in the meetings and event sector throughout her career.

The conversation delves into the growing sustainability consciousness among event organisers and destinations. Geneviève discusses the shift towards holistic sustainability, with a focus on managing waste, reducing carbon footprint and creating societal value. She explains how impact, often misunderstood, requires long-term change and sustained behavioural transformations to make a difference at a population and planetary level.

Nick and Geneviève further explore how the events industry can work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and tackle global challenges. They emphasise the importance of managing both negative (footprint) and positive (value creation) impacts of events. The episode also focuses on the power of events in creating lasting legacies, improving population health outcomes, and promoting education and creativity.

The episode concludes with Geneviève sharing her experiences and brilliant discussions from the Abu Dhabi Business Events Week. She emphasises the need for connecting local and international expertise, raising destination profiles, and fostering partnerships that lead to immediate and long-term positive impact. The importance of face-to-face events in driving change for destinations and communities is highlighted, and exciting ideas for reimagining the future of events are explored.

Read the full article about this episode:

https://www.thinkdigital.travel/opinion/how-do-business-events-impact-the-wider-destination

In the fifth episode of the Backstage Leadership Conversations podcast, host Nick Hall discusses post-pandemic trends in business travel and explores the efforts of Abu Dhabi in helping the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) sector thrive. Nick is joined by Roula Jouny, CEO of Tourism 365, who shares her insights and experiences in the travel, tourism, and hospitality sector.

Roula discusses the challenges faced by Abu Dhabi and the tourism industry as a whole during the pandemic, highlighting the changing customer behaviours and the importance of flexibility in terms of cancellations and payments. She also emphasises the growing demand for sustainability and how Abu Dhabi is actively engaged in promoting it, citing initiatives by Etihad and ADNEC to address plastic waste and environmental concerns.

The conversation delves into the potential for innovation and sustainability in the MICE sector. Roula emphasises the need to provide a richer and more meaningful experience for business travellers by incorporating sustainability into events and creating interesting itineraries that allow them to explore the destination. She also discusses the concept of combining business and leisure travel, where attendees can extend their stay and enjoy the destination while working remotely or participating in companion programs. Collaboration and teamwork are highlighted as crucial elements in creating exceptional experiences for visitors.

The episode concludes by emphasising Abu Dhabi's competitive positioning as a leading MICE destination, with its combination of great hotels, authentic experiences, cultural heritage, and interaction with the local community. The importance of sustainability and collaboration in maximising the potential of the destination is reiterated.

Read the full article about this episode:

https://www.thinkdigital.travel/opinion/rebuilding-a-stronger-and-more-sustainable-exhibitions-sector

In the fourth episode of the Backstage Leadership Conversations podcast, host Nick Hall explores the post-pandemic trends in the business travel industry, with a focus on technology impact, sustainability, and recovery to evaluate how the offer is transforming.

Senthil Gopinath, CEO of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), shares insights on how the post-pandemic trends are transforming the industry. He discusses the importance of adaptability, innovation, and agility in organisations, as well as the changing dynamics of the meetings industry.

Senthil highlights the need for collaboration, shared risk, and member engagement in shaping the future of the industry. He emphasises the significance of building expertise and diversifying skills within organisations to meet evolving industry demands. Furthermore, he explores the role of innovation and learning in driving the industry forward and the importance of events like Abu Dhabi Business Events Week in promoting collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Senthil also commends Abu Dhabi's strategic approach to destination marketing, focusing on core sectors and delivering unique experiences. Overall, this episode provides valuable insights into the evolving landscape of the business travel industry and the steps organisations can take to thrive in a post-pandemic world.

Read the full article about this episode:

https://www.thinkdigital.travel/opinion/how-covid-transformed-the-mice-sector

In the third episode of the Backstage Leadership Conversations podcast, hosted by Nick Hall, the focus is on the post-pandemic trends in the business travel industry and on how bleisure is transforming.

Joining the conversation are James Rees, President of the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA), and Ajay Bhojwani, Managing Director at MCI Middle East. They discuss the changing needs and behaviours of associations and organisations in the events industry, including the growing demand for sustainability, legacy and access to markets.

The discussion also explores the role of knowledge and education in attracting in-person events, the impact of remote work on business events and the importance of face-to-face interactions. Additionally, they delve into the evolving concept of blending leisure tourism with business travel and the demand for high-quality and experiential business events.

The episode highlights Abu Dhabi's position as a competitive destination in terms of events and leisure offerings, with a focus on its cultural heritage and family-oriented attractions. James and Ajay share their experiences attending Abu Dhabi Business Events Week and the value of in-person interactions for establishing partnerships and fostering meaningful connections.

Read the full article about this episode:

https://www.thinkdigital.travel/opinion/how-bleisure-is-changing-the-way-we-travel-for-business

In the second episode of the Backstage Leadership Conversations podcast, the focus is on how we can excel during times of disruption through adaptability and how Abu Dhabi is helping the MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) sector thrive.

Taghrid Al Saeed, the Executive Director of Group Communications and Destination Marketing at Miral, shares insights into the adaptability and strategies employed by Abu Dhabi in response to disruptions in the tourism industry.

The conversation highlights the city's successful recovery, its emphasis on business tourism, and the importance of partnerships between public and private stakeholders. The episode also explores Abu Dhabi's growth as a leisure and MICE destination, along with its ambitious plans for the future.

Taghrid discusses Miral's strategies in contributing to Abu Dhabi's vision, the role of innovation and digital solutions, and the significance of data-driven decision-making. The episode concludes by emphasising the constant evolution and adaptability necessary for organisations to thrive in times of disruption.

Read the full article about this episode:

https://www.thinkdigital.travel/opinion/building-resilient-mice-destinations

In the first episode of the Backstage Leadership Conversations podcast, host Nick Hall dives into the post-pandemic trends in the business travel industry with a focus on Abu Dhabi's efforts to attract MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions) events. Nick is joined by Mubarak Al Shamsi, the director of Abu Dhabi's Convention and Exhibition Bureau, who shares insights into Abu Dhabi's strategy to position itself as a leading competitive business-friendly event destination.

The episode begins by exploring Abu Dhabi's long-term plan to shift from an oil-based economy to a knowledge-based economy, highlighting the importance of innovation and sustainability. Mubarak discusses Abu Dhabi's clear 10-year strategy to become an international MICE hub and the efforts made to ensure the city has the right infrastructure, stakeholders, and tourism proposition to cater to the industry's needs. The significance of partnerships and international participation is emphasized as key elements of Abu Dhabi's success in attracting and hosting major events.

The discussion then shifts to the Abu Dhabi Business Events Week, a platform created to focus on the MICE industry in the region. Mubarak explains the purpose of the event and how an advisory board consisting of international associations and local partners helps shape the content and programming. The episode concludes with a reflection on Abu Dhabi's competitive positioning and the role it plays in contributing not only to the city but also to the wider region.

Tune in to this informative episode to gain insights into Abu Dhabi's ambitious plans for the MICE sector and its efforts to create a thriving and innovative industry in the post-pandemic era.

Read the full article about this episode:

https://www.thinkdigital.travel/opinion/abu-dhabis-transformation-into-a-leading-mice-destination