Abu Dhabi, October 30, 2011 – The ADNEC-owned, Hyatt Capital Gate hotel is set to become the first ‘Independently-branded’ Hyatt hotel outside the US, when it opens in the coming months.

Hyatt Capital Gate occupies level 18 – 33 at Abu Dhabi’s iconic leaning tower and targets upscale business travellers seeking an authentic Arabian experience.

As a “standalone brand” under the Hyatt umbrella, Hyatt Capital Gate has a very distinctive logo and brand identity. Besides, the hotel’s interiors have a ‘feel’ designed to provide hotel guests and visitors an upscale and truly unique hospitality experience.

“From a very early stage ADNEC and our partners, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, envisioned Hyatt Capital Gate as a ‘one-of-a-kind’ property, in a global city and located inside one of the world’s most outstanding buildings.  The standalone identity conferred on Hyatt Capital Gate is an apt reflection of the distinctiveness and splendour of the property,” said Sanjay Tanna, Business Development & Investments Director, ADNEC (Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company).

Group and corporate clients of Hyatt Capital Gate will benefit from the ample meeting facilities at ADNEC - from three, state-of-the-art banqueting halls with a 750-guest capacity, to 20 smaller meeting rooms that can accommodate ten to 100 attendees.

The move for an ‘independently-branded Hyatt’ underlines ADNEC’s reputation for innovation and follows the company’s introduction of Aloft-branded hotels, in Abu Dhabi and London. The Aloft Abu Dhabi, which opened in late- 2009, was the very first Aloft hotel in Europe, Middle East & Africa, while Aloft London ExCeL- which is set to open this week, will be the first Aloft in the UK capital.

Aloft targets the new generation of savvy business travelers seeking to be “in-charge” and “in-the-know” at all times. Aloft Abu Dhabi, besides being the largest Aloft in the world, is also the only Aloft property with a rooftop lounge with a capacity of up to 500 guests, and a stunning outdoor banqueting space that can serve up to 750 guests.

The opening of the Hyatt Capital Gate will provide ADNEC with the perfect hospitality mix on-site: lavish luxury on the one hand, as well as affordable accommodation on the other. While Hyatt Capital Gate will cater to the upscale business market, Aloft Abu Dhabi will attract the new generation, forward-thinking travellers. 

A number of other hotels including a Premier Inn and three Rotana properties are due to open in the coming months at Capital Centre, ADNEC’s 23-tower micro-city development, located adjacent to the thriving Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.

Abu Dhabi, UAE:ADNEC (Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre) will host six events in the coming week including two new shows, bringing to more than 10, the number of events being hosted this October.

According to ADTA (Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority) figures, visitors to the UAE capital for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions & Exhibitions) activities in 2010 reached 215,000. This year, MICE visitors are expected to touch 225,000, contributing further to Abu Dhabi’s growing visitor numbers. 

Events at ADNEC in the coming week kick off on Sunday 16 October with the 3-day,Power & Water Middle East and the Judo Grand Prix Abu Dhabi; the inaugural Middle East Chemical Week (ME Chemical Week) takes place 17 – 18, while JWS (Abu Dhabi International Jewellery & Watch Show)will be held 17 – 21;Najah Education Training Careersand the Abu Dhabi Woodshow – which is marking its debut this year, take place 18 - 20 October.

MEChemical Week, organised by Clarion Events Middle East, is an international exhibition attracting the world’s petrochemical and fertilizer sectors. The event provides a platform for industry peers to exchange information and ideas, meet international partners and identify sustainable solutions for the global market.

The Abu Dhabi WoodShow, organised by Strategic Marketing & Exhibitions,will bring together distributors, suppliers, interior designers, furniture manufacturers, wholesale traders/retailers, building material manufacturers, construction suppliers and project developers across the Middle East, featuring products and services from over 100 companies covering the entire wood industry and forestry spectrum.

Other events in October at ADNEC include the Abu Dhabi Medical Congress (23-25 October), BETT Middle East (25-26 October), Building Future Education MENA (25-26 October) and Eid Al Adha (27 October – 5 November), a popular shopping fair which runs alongside the religious holiday.

Abu Dhabi: For the second year running, the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) has secured a prestigious pan-regional honour for its ‘green leadership’ in the events industry.

ADNEC was presented with the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Sustainability’ (Venue) prize, by the Middle East Event Awards jury at a ceremony held in Dubai.

“We are delighted with this award which is doubly significant as it follows on from our success last year, said Khaled Ali Al Hashemi, ADNEC’s Chief Operating Officer. 

“Winning twice-in-a-row points to our unrelenting commitment to industry leadership and is a testament to our continued emphasis on sustainability in support of the Abu Dhabi’s government’s focus on the environment,” added Al Hashemi.

ADNEC’s success at the Middle East Event Awards ceremony follows other recent wins including ‘Best International Venue’ (Exhibition News Awards 2011) and ‘Middle East’s Leading Exhibition Centre’ (World Travel Awards 2011).

ADNEC has also been nominated for ‘Best International Venue,’ at the upcoming AEO Excellence Awards to be presented on July 1st at ExCeL London as well as for ‘Sustainable Initiative of the Year,’ on the same evening.

ADNEC’s environmental leadership is built on a successful recycling programme which currently covers paper, cardboard cartons, plastic, cans, and scrap metal. In 2010, ADNEC, in collaboration with waste management solutions provider – Dulsco, recycled 123.7 tons of cardboard cartons, 92.8 tons of paper, 10 tons of plastic and 700 kg of cans. The total amount recycled (227 tons) last year was a growth of 146 per cent over the 92 tons recycled in 2009.

ADNEC’s environmental agenda is driven forward by an Environmental Task Force (ETF) comprising more than 20 members from various departments within the company. Earlier this year, ADNEC started using RFID technology for better waste management.  Under this initiative trucks, waste bins and waste compactors have been embedded with RFID tags that provide precise information on the movement and management of waste generated at ADNEC. This data is accessible online by ADNEC and Dulsco, facilitating better control, supervision and coordination of waste management activities.

The ADNEC-owned Aloft Abu Dhabi hotel - interconnected with the exhibition centre, has 560 solar panels installed to cater to more than 90 per cent of its hot water requirements. This saves 870 mw/h of electricity annually. The hotel was recently awarded ‘Best New Hotel’ at the Arabian Hotel Investment Conference 2011 awards. 

- ADNEC’s ExCeL London named best UK venue -

Abu Dhabi: ADNEC (Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre) has bagged the prestigious ‘Best International Venue’ title for the second year in a row, at the Exhibition News Awards 2011, which took place in London on May 20th.

ADNEC beat competition from other well-known global venues including Amsterdam RAI (Amsterdam), China National Convention Centre (Beijing), Suntec (Singapore) and Stockholmsmassan AB (Stockholm).

ExCeL London, owned by ADNEC, was named best UK venue at the awards ceremony. 

“Our success is a tribute to the far-sighted vision of the ADNEC and ExCeL Board of Directors, as well as the hard work and dedication of all our staff,” said H.E. Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, Managing Director of Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company.

The latest accolades for ADNEC follows the ‘Middle East’s Leading Exhibition Centre,’ title that ADNEC won at the World Travel Award (WTA) Middle East ceremony, held earlier this month.

“Whilst it is very fulfilling to be recognised by the industry, ADNEC views awards and industry recognition programmes as an opportunity to sharpen our focus on raising industry benchmarks through best practice and ongoing investments in our people, processes and infrastructure,” noted Al Dhaheri. 

The Exhibitions News Awards programme is organised by Mash Media, the UK based publisher of trade magazines and websites for the exhibitions and meetings industry. Mash Media’s portfolio includes Exhibition News magazine – a UFI-endorsed trade magazine. UFI is the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, whose members manage more than 4,500 exhibitions and 181 exhibition centres worldwide. UFI has selected ADNEC as the venue for its 2012 Congress.

Abu Dhabi: ADNEC (Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre) was named “Middle East’s Leading Exhibition Centre” at the World Travel Awards 2011 Middle East ceremony held on Monday night.
 
Commenting on the award, ADNEC’s Managing Director H.E. Ali Saeed bin Harmal Al Dhaheri said that the latest accolade for the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre served to underscore the successful strategies recommended by the ADNEC board of directors.

Receiving the award on behalf of ADNEC, Humaid Al Dhaheri, Chief Sales & Marketing Officer said: “Our second World Travel Award in three years is a testament to ADNEC’s rapid rise in the global events industry. This award is particularly significant as it is voted for thousands of industry professionals from around the world and recognises our industry leadership in what is a very competitive industry.

“In 2010, we witnessed a 24 per cent spurt in the number of events staged over the previous year (2009) and ADNEC would like to remain a magnet for a growing and varied number of events in the coming years,” Al Dhaheri said, stating that the continuing industry recognition for ADNEC was thanks to the collaborative work of the ADNEC board, partners and staff, which had resulted in a redefinition of the region’s events industry.

Hailed as “The Oscars of the Travel Industry”, the World Travel Awards” celebrates brands that are pushing the boundaries of industry excellence. The Awards were first launched in 1993 and are now in their 18th edition. This year votes were cast by 213,000 travel professionals in over 160 countries across the globe. More than 462 organisations across the Middle East spanning more than 125 categories entered the Middle East competition.

This latest recognition award for ADNEC follows other international accolades for the venue including ‘International Venue of the Year’ (2010 AEO awards) and ‘Best International Venue’ (Exhibition News Awards 2010).

Humaid Al Dhaheri_Chief Sales & Marketing Officer_ADNEC

Abu Dhabi: In a move which strengthens its position as one of the capital’s leading drivers of the live events industry, ADNEC (Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company) has purchased the website boxofficeme.com from Arab Media Group effective immediately.

Boxofficeme sold more than 100,000 tickets for 162 events in 2010 and since commencement of operations in 2004, has handled ticket sales for some of the world’s biggest music and dance acts such as Robbie Williams, Shakira, Elton John, 50 Cent, Destiny Child, Nancy Ajram and Creamfields Abu Dhabi.  Boxofficeme has also ticketed Broadway productions such as Mamma Mia, Chicago and Stomp and regional sports events such as Dubai Rugby 7s, Capitala Tennis and the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix.

“Our purchase of www.boxofficeme.com provides ADNEC with an established regional brand in the online ticketing business as well as access to what is widely believed to be the largest event-related consumer database in the UAE”, said Humaid Al Dhaheri, ADNEC Chief Sales & Marketing Officer. “As such, this is a step forward in ADNEC’s strategy to set up a world class ticketing operation in support of Abu Dhabi’s ambitious plans for the live events sector”.

In addition to re-branding www.boxofficeme.com, ADNEC has invested in a fully integrated, web-based, ticketing system which allows customers to reserve individual seats online and provides the facility for tickets to be printed at home.

“Besides supporting public events at ADNEC venues, Boxofficeme will continue to ticket concerts, sports, theatre and cultural events at venues around the Gulf region, offering a compelling alternative to the traditional manual ticket operations of the region” added Al Dhaheri.

ADNEC is also developing on-site, fully serviced box-office outlets at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre and Al Ain Convention Centre, to support its online ticketing operation.

- Prominent landmark holds ‘incredible appeal’ for corporations seeking to relocate to Abu Dhabi’s ultimate business address -

Abu Dhabi, 06 April 2011: ADNEC (Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company), owner-developer of Capital Gate – Abu Dhabi’s world famous signature tower, has launched commercial leasing of the tower which is located adjacent to the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre in the UAE capital.

The 35-storey 160m Capital Gate (www.capitalgate.ae) offers approximately 15,000sqm of Grade A+ office space. The tower will also house the 5-star Hyatt Capital Gate hotel - Abu Dhabi’s very first Hyatt property, occupying an area in excess of 25,000sqm. 

Capital Gate’s office space is available on a shell-and-core basis to tenants, with NFA (net floor area) varying between 994sqm to 1,056sqm per floor. Luxuriously elegant communal areas are provided, offering the very best in contemporary Arabian design. Additionally, Capital Gate tenants will be presented with sweeping views over the Arabian Gulf, Abu Dhabi Island, the Mangroves, Yas and Saadiyat Island.

“ADNEC is delighted to bring to the Abu Dhabi market the superior Grade A+ commercial space within this iconic building.  Capital Gate forms the focal point of a world-class business district; we believe the tower holds incredible appeal for local and international businesses seeking a prestige address within an established location in the UAE capital,” said His Excellency Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, Managing Director of ADNEC

The visually stunning tower has been built using some of the world’s most advanced construction techniques and leans an astonishing 18-degree westward. It holds the Guinness Record for ‘world’s furthest leaning manmade tower,’ and was recently the focus of an hour-long documentary on National Geographic Channel broadcast in more than 166 countries to an estimated television audience of more than 200 million.

The tower’s appeal however, goes far beyond being an engineering marvel explains Simon Horgan, ADNEC Group CEO.

“Capital Gate is inter-connected with the thriving Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre which hosted 148 events in 2010.  Capital Gate tenants will only be a short walk away from a number of business and entertainment events which relate directly to their business - a case of being at the heart of the action, while also having the added conveniences that come with being located within a well-planned destination. Facilities such as access to a fully-serviced Abu Dhabi International Airport check-in, ample covered parking, advanced road and transport links, the very best meeting and conferencing facilities, and a superb range of F&B options combined with the fact that Capital Gate is located in the Embassies district - a very well developed and established area of the UAE capital, will provide a compelling proposition to potential tenants”.

A number of other commercial towers, hotels, restaurants, clubs, residential and services apartment complexes will be part of Capital Centre, ADNEC’s master-planned micro-city that is under development in the immediate vicinity to Capital Gate.

Capital Gate’s location-attractiveness is accentuated with its proximity to Al Bateen Executive Airport, twofour54, Abu Dhabi Golf Course, Abu Dhabi International Airport, Downtown Abu Dhabi, The Corniche, Al Raha and Yas Island, all of which are between 10-20 minutes away, with Dubai and Al Ain, within an hour’s driving distance.

- Humanoid robot developed by PAL Robotics features face recognition and  navigation systems -

Abu Dhabi: Underscoring its position as an innovator within the global live events industry, Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) has announced that it will begin trials of a robot which can assist visitors at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, providing them with information and guiding them to stands and key locations within the venue.  
 
The pilot project featuring the 2011-REEM (Reem), will take place during the upcoming International Defence Exhibition & Conference (IDEX 2011).  In addition to greeting and guiding visitors, Reem has also been programmed to provide a personalised greeting to a number of VIPs who will be visiting the tenth anniversary edition of IDEX which begins on Sunday 20th February.

ADNEC is believed to be the first exhibition and live events venue to trial such an initiative.  Commenting on the pilot project, His Excellency Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, ADNEC Managing Director said, “We are delighted to be able to trial Reem during the forthcoming IDEX 2011.  ADNEC is committed to providing visitors with state of the art facilities and first class customer service.   It’s important to think outside the box to remain at the top of a very competitive global industry; should Reem prove a success at IDEX, we will expand the trial to cover other events staged at ADNEC venues.”

Reem is the latest robot prototype from PAL Robotics (PAL Group), a Royal Group conglomerate company based in Abu Dhabi.  1.65m in height, with a mobile base that enables the robot to move at 5km/hour, the advanced capabilities of Reem include a motorised head with vision, face tracking and recognition functions. The robot contains sensors and a multimedia touchscreen that can offer information in various formats, as well as the ability to speak to a helpdesk attendant via video conference.

Peter Abraam, Executive Director, Strategic Planning, Royal Group said: “We are delighted to be able to showcase the extensive capabilities of Reem at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre – one of the world’s leading venues.  Reem has been designed to assist people in places such as shopping malls, hotels, hospitals, museums and exhibition centres.  I believe Reem could be a great asset to ADNEC and will be enjoyed by the thousands of visitors who attend the many events held at the venue each year.”

With 73,000sqm of indoor event space, the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre is the Gulf’s largest exhibition centre and hosted 148 events last year including exhibitions, conferences, concerts, weddings, corporate meetings and conventions.

-  Event will be first ever annual global meeting for UFI in the Arabian Gulf -

Abu Dhabi, 31 January 2011: Underscoring the Arabian Gulf’s rising prominence within the exhibitions sector, UFI - the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, whose members manage more than 4,500 exhibitions and 181 exhibition centres worldwide, has selected the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), in the United Arab Emirates capital, as the venue for its 2012 Congress.

The event, which is UFI’s 79th annual global meeting, will be the very first time a venue from the Arabian Gulf has had the honour of hosting a UFI Congress.

UFI Managing Director Paul Woodward commented “We have been hoping for a long time to be able to bring the UFI Congress to Abu Dhabi and are really delighted that our 2012 event will be hosted by ADNEC. Abu Dhabi generously hosted UFI’s Middle East/Africa office for the past five years. So, we are really excited to be able to share with our 550 members in 84 countries the magnificent facilities and exciting developments there which we know very well. This will, we’re certain, be a really memorable UFI Congress, all the more special for being the first one we’ve held in the Arabian Gulf region”.

Welcoming UFI’s decision to locate its 2012 Congress in the United Arab Emirates capital, Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, ADNEC’s Managing Director, said: “The opportunity to host this prestigious event is a very significant win for Abu Dhabi and for ADNEC. It provides us a wonderful opportunity to showcase both our city and our venue to leaders from the exhibitions industry.”

Stating that ADNEC worked in close cooperation with the ADTA (Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority), and other organisations from the public and private sector to advance Abu Dhabi’s attractiveness for the meetings industry, Al Dhaheri said:  “We are very gratified to note this multi-pronged approach to promote our city and our event facilities to the world, is bearing fruit and we very much look forward to welcoming UFI members in November 2012”.

- Company aims to increase UAE National staff to 38% in 2011- 

Abu Dhabi, 22 January 2011: Underscoring its commitment to Emiratization, ADNEC will once again be a major exhibitor at Tawdheef, the prestigious careers fair co-organised by Abu Dhabi Tawteen Council and Turret Media, and taking place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre from 25 - 27 January.

“Tawdheef is an important contributor to the UAE’s Emiratization initiatives, and we are very pleased to, yet again, be the host venue and a key participant,” said Humaid Al Dhaheri, ADNEC’s Director of Finance & HR

“At Tawdheef we will be looking to reassert our credentials as ‘an employer of choice’ for UAE’s young talent; we currently employ UAE Nationals in 36% of all positions within the company - our aim is for this to increase to 38% by the end of 2011.” said Al Dhaheri.

ADNEC offers one of the most attractive benefit packages in the market as well as unique opportunities for UAE Nationals, such as an innovative secondment program where selected UAE national staff work at Excel London, ADNEC’s UK venue, for six months of on the job management training and work experience in a different culture and environment.

“Tawdheef offers an unparalleled opportunity for Emirati jobseekers to meet some of Abu Dhabi’s leading companies, such as ADNEC, and develop their careers in Abu Dhabi. Building on the success of last year’s event which attracted over 20,000 jobseekers, we have had to considerably increase the size of the show for the fifth edition. We are delighted the success of the event has clearly been met with approval from the Emirate’s leading employers.” said Chris Fountain, Director of Tawdheef and Managing Director of Turret Media.

“Tawdheef is the region’s most important and influential recruitment event. For an event of such caliber, ADNEC serves as a perfect venue with its state-of-the-art design and facilities.” he added.

ADNEC’s 200 sqm stand (A-74), located in the Atrium has been designed to ensure job seekers can obtain information and enquire about career options in a welcoming and friendly environment. Stand visitors will be received at the reception desk, guided through the application process and encouraged to submit their CVs via the kiosks at the stand. The ADNEC stand will also have facilities for onsite interviews. Additionally, exciting contests and competitions will also be hosted with attractive prizes on offer.