ISSUE 67 / ConfErEnCE & MEEtIngS World / 7common theme illuminating this issue of CMW is the experience of achievers. We examine the patterns and paths to success both on the individual level and around some of our strongest MICE destinations worldwide.We offer two keynote interviews: first with communications and event agency Grass Roots Group's Chairman and founding guru David Evans who finds some Methodism in the meetings madness. ADNEC's Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Humaid Al Dhaheri also speaks to CMW during the flagship Abu Dhabi venue's first major international association congress. Now that the construction is Whatever the economic backdrop and financial Leaderchallenges, quality will always outmanaging EditorPaUl ColStonPColSton@MaShMEdIa.nEtadvErtising managErStEPhEn KIlShaWSKIlShaW@MaShMEdIa.nEt© CoPyrIght ConfErEnCE + MEEtIngS World all MatErIal PUblIShEd In ConfErEnCE + MEEtIngS World IS CoPyrIght and rEMaInS thE ProPErty of thE PUblIShErS. no MatErIal May bE rEProdUCEd WIthoUt thE WrIttEn PErMISSIon of thE PUblIShErS. thE PUblIShErS do not nECESSarIly agrEE WIth thE vIEWS ExPrESSEd by ContrIbUtorS, nor do thEy aCCEPt any rESPonSIbIlIty for any ErrorS or IntErPrEtatIon In thE SUbjECt MattEr of thIS PUblICatIon.no Part of thIS PUblICatIon May bE CoPIEd or rEProdUCEd, StorEd In a rEtrIEval SyStEM, or bE tranSMIttEd In any forM by any MEanS ElECtronIC, MEChanICal, PhotoCoPyIng, rECordIng or othErWISE WIthoUt thE PrIor PErMISSIon of thE PUblIShErS.dEPUty EditorvIKKI CarlEyvCarlEy@MaShMEdIa.nEtPUBLisHing dirECtorPaUl davIESPdavIES@MaShMEdIa.nEtProdUCtion managErlUKE SPaldInglSPaldIng@MaShMEdIa.nEtProdUCtion assistantjUlIa ballsEnior dEsignErClaUdIa CoUtSIdESstaff WritErSarah o'donnEllCirCULation ExECUtivE:tIM PardIngtoncomplete, it is time to fill the world class venue.Our feature on Singapore looks at what it takes to remain No. 1 in Asia for meetings, at least according to the ICCA rankings. As Thailand, China and Malaysia continue to make big sprinter's strides into the market, Singapore shows just why it is so good at reinventing itself to remain ahead of the pack in the meetings marathon.Our Nordic Lights also illuminate some event planners' compasses in Europe and countries famous for topping the quality of life charts showcase what they have to offer the meetings industry.It seems whatever the economic backdrop and financial challenges, quality will always out.And if you need to demonstrate value of meetings but lack the tools to do so, it is worth checking out MPI's Business Values of Meetings (BVOM) research. We offer an edited extract of the Perception versus Reality White Paper.As we enter a busy season of industry trade shows, CMW editors look forward to meeting our readers in Baltimore (AIBTM), Amsterdam (AIPC) and Frankfurt (IMEX) and several other industry forums.Our gallery pages also reflect some of the action from recent industry shows and forums in Slovenia, London, Budapest and Johannesburg.Managing Editor, Paul ColstonPrintEd by PEnSordmasH mEdia groUP Ltd 4th floor, StErlIng hoUSE6-10 St gEorgE'S roadWIMblEdonlondon SW19 4dPtEL: +44 (0)20 8971 8282 fax: +44 (0)20 8971 8283EmaiL: Info@MaShMEdIa.nEtWEBsitE: WWW.C-MW.nEtLeading lights show the wayA

News8 / ConferenCe & Meetings World / issUe 67AFRICA - Global workspace provider Regus has opened its first business centre in Madagascar, its 95th country.Regus is looking to grow its network by at least 75 per cent by 2014, adding 30 new countries. The Economist magazine has predicted that seven of the 10 fastest growing economies in the world will be in Africa. Regus CEO Mark Dixon said: "Africa is an important development market for companies of all sizes. "We have invested significantly in new centres in Madagascar, Zambia, Senegal, Ghana and Tanzania opening the way for businesses, to explore those emerging and frontier markets." Regus customers include more than half of the companies in the Fortune 500.CHINA - Reed Travel Exhibitions' international meetings industry event for the Chinese market, CIBTM, has published research indicating good growth in outbound events from China. Nearly three-quarters (74%) of buyers surveyed for The 2011 China and Asia Meetings Industry Research Report, and 52 per cent of suppliers, forecast they would increase the number of outbound events organised over the next year.Nearly half (48%) of hosted buyers surveyed said they were interested in placing business in Europe and Jeffrey Xu, Event Director CIBTM, expects the Chinese meetings market to grow significantly in 2012. Meetings Show UK launchChina outbound market movesFor all the latest breaking news, daily updates, visit:www.c-mw.netemail the cmw editorial team with all your industry news: pcolston@mashmedia.netQATAR - The Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), has hosted 52 events involving 30,000 visitors since it opened at the end of 2011. The estimated delegate spend from overseas visitors is US$11.2m.The QNCC welcomed its first event in November 2011, for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) association, then hosted 1,200 delegates for the World Innovation Summit for Education 2011 (WISE) and the 20th World Petroleum Congress 2011, 4-8 December.Qatar up and running to 52 eventsRegus expands into MadagascarUK - UK-based Centaur Exhibitions has launched the Meetings Show UK, promising 1,000 hosted buyers when it debuts at London's new Olympia Hall in July 2013. Former Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) man Steve Knight has been recruited as Event Director. The move forced a fast reshuffle at his former employer. Knight had EUROPE - Nick de Bois, MP, and Chair of the Parliamentary Group for Events in the UK, will deliver the keynote at the IMEX opening ceremony in Frankfurt, 22 May. De Bois used to run an events company and will also speak at the IMEX Politicians Forum, this year to be held at Rocco Forte's Villa Kennedy hotel.IMEX organisers expect the Forum to attract 30 politicians from around the globe. MP to speak at IMEXfronted RTE's AIBTM show in Baltimore and joins the former RTE boss Paul Kennedy who is now Strategic Advisor at Centaur."Centaur's decision to launch a hosted buyer led meetings show has come at the perfect time for an industry looking to achieve maximum value from budgets and time," said Knight. RTE Portfolio Director Craig Moyes told CMW: "While a replacement for Steve Knight is being sought, Graeme Barnett is Interim Event Director for AIBTM and will be leading the show team from the the Reed Exhibition offices in Norwalk."Graeme continues with his role as Event Director for EIBTM but, while he is in the US, that show will be directed by Mandy Torrens, the IBTM Head of Marketing and Buyer Programmes who ran EIBTM from 2005 to 2009."The new Centaur show was announced as the current UK leading meetings show, International Confex opened at Excel London in March.Centaur Exhibitions' MD Andrew Evans said the Meetings Show UK was based on four things: "It's purely about the meetings, conference and incentives sector; it features a large-scale hosted buyer programme and thousands of pre-scheduled appointments which this generates; a professional education programme not on the show floor but in the Olympia Conference Centre, and a team of meeting industry professionals will manage the event, not exhibition organisers."