Annual Report 2014
adnec.ae
Annual Report 2014 : 2
ADNEC at a glance Economic
AED 2.56 billion economic impact to Abu Dhabi 1.6 million visitors 327 events
Industry achievements
Excellence
5 international congress wins 9 award wins for ADNEC Group
37 of ADNEC senior leadership team received EFQM excellence training and received certification in excellence
Sustainability
ADNEC recycled
3
39 tonnes of paper; saving 658 trees
ADNEC has “adopted� schools in Abu Dhabi to support local community and build environmental practices among the young generation
600 live events tickets given to local community disadvantaged groups
Acronyms used within this annual review ADCB ADIPEC ADNEC ADSG EHSMS
Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company Abu Dhabi Sustainability Group Environment, Health and Safety Management
IAPCO
International Association of Professional Congress Organisers
ICCA IDEX MICE SPWLA TCA Abu Dhabi UFI WFES
International Congress and Convention Association International Defence Exhibition and Conference Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions Society of Petro-physicists and Well Log Analysts Tourism and Culture Authority of Abu Dhabi The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry World Future Energy Summit
Contents
ADNEC at a glance
2
Message from the Chairman Message from the Managing Director Group CEO review
5 7 9
Board of Directors Management Team
11 12
ADNEC Group Our Vision, Mission & Values Strategy and Excellence Our Stakeholders Awards and Accolades
13 19 21 23 24
The MICE Industry Group Highlights Group Photos
25 29 39
ADNEC Employees
43
Sustainability and CSR
51
Contact details Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company Khaleej Al Arabi Street P.O.Box 5546, Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates Tel: +971 (0) 2 444 6900 Fax: +971 (0) 2 444 6135
Message from the Chairman
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At the outset, on behalf of all board members of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, I commend you for your diligent efforts and valuable contribution towards delivering the performance goals of ADNEC and its group companies across all segments of our business. Although 2014 has been a year full of challenges, we have maintained the positive momentum set in the previous year and achieved optimal growth rates that matched our projections. These achievements have helped us solidify Abu Dhabi’s reputation as a leading MICE destination, building on its success in hosting a number of top international exhibitions and conferences. At ADNEC, our vision is based on attracting a host of new international conferences for the first time to the Middle East, such as the World Energy Summit and the World Road Conference. In bidding for these events, we fended off stiff competition from prominent international cities that hold a long-standing reputation in organising and managing major events. Our perseverance helped us win the hosting rights for these events in 2019. Notably, we have redoubled our efforts in developing and upgrading our facilities to expand our capacity for hosting a larger number of international and regional events. We look forward to the support of our strategic partners in pursuing our endeavors and placing ADNEC at the forefront of MICE industry. Our venues in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and London have proven their capability to keep up with the exponential growth rates in the sector. I am proud of our achievements in the past year and to see our initiatives bearing positive results, which could not have been possible without the outstanding performance of all our employees. I am confident that through the continued efforts of our employees and stakeholders as well as pursuing a vision and strategy that focus on strengthening our solid position in the MICE industry at local, regional and international levels, we will be able to stay the course of achievements in the years to come.
Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan Chairman
Message from the Managing Director
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ADNEC plays an important role in implementing the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 through the development and promotion of the MICE sector. To this end, we have developed a strategy that focuses on increasing the share of business tourism in overall economic growth, raising the emirate’s profile as a leading destination for international and regional events and galvanising the support of our partners in both public and private sectors towards developing our existing event portfolio. Â
At ADNEC, we seek to attract more international events to Abu Dhabi, leveraging our strategic geographical positioning at the crossroads of many fast growing economies in Asia, Europe and the Americas, with over one billion people living within a six-hour flying distance from the emirate.
In 2014, we maintained steady growth rates and recorded a strong year-end performance. This was achieved despite the grim challenges and tough economic conditions in most part of the world that definitely had a direct and indirect impact on multiple economic sectors, including the exhibitions and conferences sector. Overall, our impact on Abu Dhabi’s economy reached AED2.56 billion.
ADNEC today is staffed with a team of talented Emiratis who are the driving force behind the development of the organisation as our potential leaders of tomorrow. Towards the end of 2014, we had achieved a 51% Emiratisation target. Additionally, 83% of our senior management positions are held today by qualified, young UAE nationals.
I thank all our employees at ADNEC for their continued dedication and diligent efforts towards achieving excellent results. I would also like to thank our partners in both public and private sectors for supporting our purpose to increase business tourism in Abu Dhabi.
Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri Managing Director
Group CEO review
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Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) has just completed another eventful and highly successful year. As we gear up to mark the 10th anniversary of our operations in 2015, it is perhaps a fitting time to look back on the past decade, and take stock of some milestones that we have achieved along the way thanks to the diligent efforts of our national talents. I will summarise here our achievements over the past year and give you an overview of our future plans to stay on the growth trajectory and transform ADNEC to one of the best players in the MICE sector, regionally and internationally. In 2014, our strategy focused on creating new opportunities for ADNEC’s exhibitions and conferences portfolio, while expanding the existing facilities to host more events and visitors. In tandem, we also developed our supporting infrastructure, including hotels to meet the evolving requirements of the industry. In the exhibitions sector, we witnessed several landmark achievements in 2014, and hosted 327 events and more than 1.6 million visitors, an increase of 5.2% over 2013. ADNEC has also successfully attracted several new international conferences and this number is set to rise in 2015. To promote our event portfolio, we are working closely with our strategic partners to strengthen mutual cooperation. This year, we will continue our ongoing efforts to expand and upgrade our facilities to accommodate the anticipated growth in ADNEC’s activities and events. I am confident that through leveraging the talent, creativity and professionalism of our competent workforce, we will continue our efforts to achieve more milestones and seize further opportunities, while overcoming the challenges that stand in the way of implementing our various projects and schemes. We also reaffirm our commitment to further developing ADNEC as a premier event venue through integrating new ideas. While we devote all efforts to becoming the best events venue in the region, we also extend unique opportunities to our partners and stakeholders through catering to their evolving requirements and creating a constantly improving environment. We will also seek to continually develop our business and services through adopting international best practices in MICE industry.
Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri Group Chief Executive Officer (Acting)
Board of Directors
His Excellency
Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan Chairman
His Excellency
His Excellency
His Excellency
Mubarak Hamad Al Muhairi
Mohammed Omar Abdulla
Her Excellency
His Excellency
His Excellency
Reem Yousif Al Shemari
Khalifa Nasser Al Mansoori
Saif Mohamed Al Hajeri
Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri Managing Director Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
Board Member
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Management Team
Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri
Group Chief Executive Officer (Acting)
Mike Henderson
Group Chief Strategy and Finance Officer
Salah Al Jaeedi
Chief Financial Officer
Saleh Hassan Al Marzooqi
IDEX LLC Chief Executive Officer
Ahmed Al Obaidli
Chief Operating Officer (Acting)
ADNEC Group Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company is playing a vital role in the Emirate’s ambition to become a leading destination for business meetings and events. The Group is made up of Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, Al Ain Convention Centre, ExCeL London, Capital Gate, Hyatt Capital Gate Hotel, Aloft Abu Dhabi, Aloft London ExCeL and IDEX LLC.
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The Group
Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre is a multi-award winning venue offering organisers of exhibitions, conferences and live events a total space of 133,000 square metres. This incorporates two large conference halls that can seat 1,400 people combined, 20 meeting rooms, 11 halls, a purpose-built banquet facility that can seat 700 people in a dinner setting and a multi-functional 7,920 square metre, 6,000 seat conference centre facility. The venue also boasts a range of restaurants, cafés, shops, on-site hotels and business facilities as well as outdoor event spaces and the stunning Waterfront Quayside.
Al Ain Convention Centre Al Ain Convention Centre provides the city of Al Ain with an exceptional venue for exhibitions, conferences, weddings and other special events. It is built in a unique architectural style that is in harmony with the city’s existing architecture with a marquee-style roof. It offers combined (indoor and outdoor) event space of 20,000 square metres.
ExCeL London ExCeL London, London’s largest international exhibition and convention centre, was acquired by Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company in 2008. It sits on a 100-acre campus alongside Royal Victoria Dock in London’s Docklands and has hosted a variety of events including the 2012 London Olympics. The venue offers 100,000 square metres of multi-purpose, flexible event space, including the Capital’s only International Convention Centre; ICC London. ICC London includes the UK’s largest fully-flexible auditorium for up to 5,000 delegates. There’s also London’s largest banqueting hall for up to 3,000 guests and a conference suite comprising 17 individual meeting rooms, suitable for anything from 50 to 1,200 delegates.
Capital Gate Owned and developed by Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, Capital Gate is certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the World’s furthest leaning Man-made tower. It was built to lean 18 degrees and is the ultimate business address in the UAE capital. With far reaching views across Abu Dhabi and the Arabian gulf, the gravity defying tower accommodates approximately 15,000 square metres of exclusive office space, as well as the five star Hyatt Capital Gate hotel.
Hyatt Capital Gate - Abu Dhabi Located in the iconic Capital Gate tower, the five star Hyatt Capital Gate hotel provides 189 rooms and unsurpassed views of the city and coastline. It was the first Hyatt hotel in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. The on-site hotel supports Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre’s business tourism needs.
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Aloft Abu Dhabi Owned by ADNEC and operated by Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Aloft Abu Dhabi is the largest Aloft hotel in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region. The four star hotel offers 408 rooms over 12-storeys and is interconnected to Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
Aloft London ExCeL In 2011, ExCeL London opened the UK’s first Starwood Aloft hotel. Aloft London ExCeL was built by Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company and is linked to the ICC London ExCeL. The four-star, 252 room hotel is located right next to the Prince Regent DLR station and is just minutes away from London City Airport, Canary Wharf, and from the O2 Arena on the new Emirates Air Line cable car.
IDEX LLC First held in 1993, IDEX is the largest tri-service defence exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. IDEX takes place biennially under the patronage of HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and is organised by Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company in association with the UAE Armed Forces GHQ. IDEX is the only international defence and maritime security exhibition in the MENA region and demonstrates the latest technology across land, sea and air sectors of defence. It is a unique platform to establish and strengthen relationships with government departments, businesses and armed forces.
Our Vision, Mission & Values ADNEC’s strength comes from championing and implementing its vision and goals across the whole company. ADNEC has four core company values which all ADNEC employees are empowered to uphold and bring to life. These four values shape the culture of ADNEC.
Vision To become the most successful exhibition, conference and events centre in the region.
Mission ll To increase business tourism for Abu Dhabi. ll To raise the Emirate’s regional and international profile through hosting major exhibitions and conferences. ll To create an exciting and diverse calendar of entertainment, cultural and sports events that deliver memorable experiences.
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Values Our four values shape the culture of our company and guide us in everything we do. They steer our behaviours and inspire work accountability.
In 2014, we developed the meaning of our Embrace Opportunity value further. This was in line with our focus on Knowledge Management and Innovation for ADNEC. We renamed this value Innovation & Creativity.
People First ll
We believe in sustainable growth and Emiratisation
ll
We are dedicated to attracting and nurturing the best talent
ll
We maintain a collaborative, engaging and creative culture in which our people can thrive and grow
ll
We are committed to the continued development of our skills, experience and knowledge management practices
Strive for Excellence ll
Our commitment to growing the company is driven by our passion for excellence and enthusiasm to exceed client expectations
ll
We have an unfaltering dedication to be the preferred venue choice in the region
ll
We strive towards a common purpose
ll
We work in an environment driven by continuous improvement
Innovation & Creativity ll
For our clients and stakeholders we create opportunity by remaining agile and innovative
ll
We are focused on finding solutions and implementing suggestions
ll
We are capable of adapting to changes now and in the future to best serve our customers and community
ll
We take informed risks and champion new ideas
Transparency ll
We act with integrity and value all our people, partners and clients
ll
We are accountable for our actions and always behave in an honest and trustworthy way
ll
We communicate with positive intent and actively listen for understanding
ll
We share information to enable knowledgeable business decisions
Strategy and Excellence ADNEC developed its strategy using a well-known structured methodology and a participatory approach involving internal and external stakeholders capturing inputs from the management team, staff and key partners. This approach enabled the company to develop a five year strategy plan as well as continuously monitor and enhance performance and achievements. The five year strategy plan is refreshed annually to capitalise on lessons learnt, build on successes and capture needed corrective actions. The plan summarises ADNEC’s long term strategic aspirations, goals, objectives and targets for the coming five years and is a challenging plan to boost performance and improve service delivery in a sustainable manner and continue promoting Abu Dhabi and contributing to its prosperity through business tourism. To support strategic management and execution, a structured corporate performance management governance has been put in place to enable ADNEC to regularly measure and communicate its performance.
“ADNEC’s clear strategic focus has enabled us to hit our financial milestones year on year. Last year we hosted a stakeholder workshop whereby we discussed the local and international business tourism sector. Initiatives such as these help us to refine our strategic objectives as necessary and also demonstrate our on-going commitment to excellence.” Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri, Managing Director
Excellence at ADNEC ADNEC aims to contribute to further develop Abu Dhabi as an attractive destination for conferences and exhibitions through striving for corporate excellence and continuous improvement of our services. We adopt excellence in everything we do; from providing excellent customer service, maintaining operational excellence and harnessing excellence in our employees. Our journey to excellence has seen us improve our services and processes, exceed customer expectations and provide more value to Abu Dhabi. We are seeing positive trends in number of visitors, growth and customer satisfaction. 37 of our senior leadership team received EFQM excellence training In 2014. This demonstrates our commitment to excellence and our focus on creating an excellent employee culture and organisation. In line with this training and learning, our senior leadership team reviewed and enhanced their departmental strategies accordingly for the benefit of the business.
Knowledge Management In 2014, ADNEC set up a dedicated internal Knowledge Management team. This team has received specific Knowledge Management training and has the objective of helping ADNEC become an effective learning organisation. To date, the team has worked with a number of departments from across the company to ensure that knowledge is being harnessed, shared and transferred. The Knowledge Management team ensures that ADNEC captures, shares and uses information that helps ADNEC employees and senior management make timely and informed decisions. This initiative and commitment to knowledge sharing means individuals and teams have access to relevant information to better achieve objectives.
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Stakeholder Workshop In June of 2014, ADNEC hosted a workshop at our Abu Dhabi venue titled “Together for Better Business Tourism.” The objective of the day was to update the local business tourism community and our strategic partners with latest developments. The event was attended by ADNEC’s key stakeholders covering Government’s organisations, organisers, suppliers, service partners, events patrons and others. The workshop outlined the anticipated role of the MICE sector in supporting the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. Our Managing Director, Ali Saeed Bin Harmal Al Dhaheri opened the workshop, with further presentations from ExCeL London Executive Director, James Rees, Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi) and our Group CEO. The workshop analysed the business tourism sector locally and globally, and factors that impact the competitiveness of Abu Dhabi and ADNEC. This workshop follows on from the Strategy Retreat that was held at the end of 2013. ADNEC has committed to hosting two further stakeholder events in 2015.
Strategy and Excellence Our Stakeholders Thank you to all our stakeholders, partners and clients that we worked with in 2014:
Ministry of Presidential Affairs Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Court The General Secretariat of Executive Council Ministry of Interior Abu Dhabi Police GHQ - Ministry of Interior UAE Ministry of Cabinet Affairs (Prime Minister's Office) Federal Authority for Government Human Resources Abu Dhabi Judicial Department Department of Municipal Affairs General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments (GAIAE) Ruler's Representative Court - Eastern Region (RRCER) Abu Dhabi Airports Abu Dhabi Centre for Technical & Vocational Education & Training (ACTVET) Abu Dhabi Chamber (Al Ain Branch) Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce & Industry Abu Dhabi Farmers’ Services Centre Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Limited (GASCO) Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority Abu Dhabi University Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Coucil ADCO - Abu Dhabi Company for Onshore Oil Operations Action Impact (Dubai) ADNH Compass ADNOC - Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi Mafraq Hospital Al Rahba Hospital Emirates Aluminium (emal) Emirates Foundation Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) Etihad Rail twofour54 NESA Family Development Foundation HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival MASDAR Flash Entertainment Al Bader Exhibition Organizers (Al Ain) Al Hader Exhibitions and Conferences Al Ibrahimi Group LLC Al Jazeera Exhibition Organisers LLC Al Multaqa Local and International Exhibitions Al Sadaqa Exhibition Al Telal Al Aliyah Exhibitions Org All of Us Abu Dhabi Group Alshamel Travel LLC
Arabian Reach FZ LLC Art Hub Abu Dhabi Bavaria International Exhibition & Conferences Bin Murshed Holding CFA Institute Cox & Kings Tours LLC dmg :: events Abu Dhabi dmg :: events Middle East Dome Exhibitions EAGLE HILLS Embassy of The United States of America Emirates Falconers Club Emirates Treasures Exhibitions Excon Middle East Focus Direct Exhibition LLC General Electric International (Dubai) GL Events Dubai Gulf Treasures Exhibitions IIR (Informa) Middle East Intermat Middle East FZ LLC International Conferences & Exhibitions (ICE) LLC IQPC FZ LLC K.I.T. Group Lujain Exhibition Organizer LLC Lunar Events Planning Massbetter Exhibitions and Conferences (MIE Group) MCI Middle East LLC (Dubai) MDC General Services Holding Company Men At Work Est. Mind Power International MMK Network Co., Ltd Oenoke Holdings, LLC dba WorldTek Event & Travel Management PennWell Corporation Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency Promise Welfare Society Reed Exhibitions FZ LLC Reed Travel Exhibitions RSCI Travel (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland) SIAL Middle East FZ LLC SMAP Events & Exhibitions FZ-LLC SPWLA ( Society of Petrophysicists and Well Log Analysts) Abu Dhabi Chapter tgp LLC Turret Media FZ LLC UAE Elections Office of Independent High Electoral Commission of Iraq W&O Event Management
Awards and accolades
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ADNEC group has won seventy-two regional and international awards since 2007 demonistrating our commitment to excellence.
The MICE Industry
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The MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) industry, is one of the fastest growing segments within the tourism industry and is an increasingly important economic contributor for Abu Dhabi. The expenditure of a MICE-related visitor exceeds that of the leisure visitor. In fact, research conducted by TCA Abu Dhabi suggests that this economic impact figure is set to grow by seven per cent annually to reach AED 5.1 billion by 2020. With this in mind, ADNEC has committed to strengthening and enhancing our venues and offerings to accommodate large international meetings to support business tourism.
The MICE Industry Business tourism Business tourism is an important component of international tourism. Studies commissioned by TCA Abu Dhabi and ADNEC suggest that business visitors spend seven times more than the average tourist. According to TCA Abu Dhabi, by 2020 the business travel sector is expected to contribute US$1.39 billion to the Emirate. The events sector significantly contributes to the emirate’s GDP and is considered as one of the fastest growing markets. This is due to the global nature of the emirate and its robust economy. ADNEC and Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau work in close partnership to drive the MICE sector to its next level of growth as well as build partnerships with associations and other stakeholders to attract more international activities and events to Abu Dhabi.
ADNEC economic impact A key objective of ADNEC is to generate economic impact for Abu Dhabi through the MICE industry and business tourism. The economic impact generated by ADNEC represents the financial benefit created for local businesses, employees and residents as a result of hosting exhibitions and conferences at the exhibition centre. The economic impact figure for 2014 was AED 2.56 billion. Actual visitor numbers were 1.6 million; a rise of 5.2 per cent from 2013. Total economic impact since the exhibition and conference centre first opened in 2007 is AED 17.9 billion. Visitors, exhibitors and delegates generate economic impact by spending money on flights, hotels, restaurants, shopping, ground transport, business services, casual staff and local suppliers. Organisers, exhibitors and other businesses involved in exhibitions and conferences also generate economic benefit through employment of staff and utilising services such as catering, rigging, stand builders, media and advertising.
Total economic impact since the exhibition and conference centre first opened in 2007 is AED 17.9 billion In addition, many business visitors to exhibitions and conferences bring spouses to events and others return later for leisure holidays, which creates further benefit for the economy.
How Economic Impact is measured Our economic impact model is updated annually and created by an independent third party consultant with all the relevant data needed. When measuring the economic impact of ADNEC we exclude events that could be hosted at other venues such as hotels. This way, we measure the direct economic impact that has been generated as a result of the Government investing in the exhibition and conference centre.
“Despite the current economic climate, ADNEC continues to deliver sustainable economic impact for Abu Dhabi. Our enhanced facilities and dedicated sales teams ensure that we are able to support and attract business tourism to the Emirate. By investing in our people, our partnerships and improving our value proposition, 2015 will see us continue to forge ahead with our strategic objective of increasing economic impact for Abu Dhabi.� Mike Henderson, Group Chief Strategy and Finance Officer
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ADNEC’s events participation ADNEC’s specialist sales team participate in a number of road shows and tradeshows with the objective of raising the profile of our venue and region.
Exhibition for the Incentive Business Travel and Meetings, Barcelona (EIBTM) EIBTM is the place to grow the business in the meetings, events, conference, incentives and business travel industry. Through highly-targeted introductions, EIBTM brings a face-to-face with the right people in the right organisations, to build relations, and develop businesses. The event attracted more than 15,000 international business opportunities professionals in the market industry.
The Worldwide Exhibition for incentive travel (IMEX Frankfurt) ADNEC participated in the global event IMEX 2014. The show innovates, inspires and presents new opportunities for the global meetings industry. The largest European trade show for the international congress, conference and events sector is a spring board to expand ADNEC portfolio and promote Abu Dhabi as one of the most happening cities worldwide for the MICE sector. ADNEC’s participation is in line with its objective of strengthening international cooperation and attracting conference delegates, meeting planners, buyers, and event organisers to bring their prestigious events to Abu Dhabi.
The Worldwide Exhibition for incentive travel (IMEX America) The 2014 edition of IMEX America witnessed a participation growth of 13 per cent compared to the previous year, offering increased business and networking opportunities for leading global players. Last year’s event drew more than 2800 exhibitors and 1800 attendees from all corners of the world. IMEX America was launched in 2011 and has fast become the USA’s largest, global hosted buyer exhibition for the incentive travel, meetings and events industry. Post show research also confirmed that 99 per cent of Hosted Buyers surveyed were satisfied that the show delivered the right target audience and 96 per cent of exhibitors say that the show is a must attend event.
ICCA Congress The Conference team attended the ICCA Congress 2014, brought together a creative mix of clients, external experts, and a wide range of those ICCA members who are undertaking the most innovative and exciting initiatives around the world. More than 100 contributors drawn from all regions of the world participate each year as speakers, panellists, moderators, and discussion leaders - not only sharing existing know-how and experience, but creating entirely new practical ideas and alternative ways of thinking about the meetings industry. ADNEC has been selected as one of four ICCA members to showcase the PR initiatives to the ICCA members worldwide.
UFI Congress The Exhibition team attended the UFI Congress 2014 which brought together leaders and strategic thinkers for a three-day review of the state of the exhibition industry and hosted over 300 delegates from 46 nations. A number of additional internal UFI meetings, including the UFI board of directors meeting, the UFI Annual General Assembly, UFI regional chapter meetings and a meeting of the UFI associations’ committee, which brings together more than 50 national and international exhibition related associations, are also scheduled during this 81st UFI Congress.
Group highlights
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ADNEC’s Emiratisation Rate Reached 51 per cent ADNEC has achieved an Emiratisation rate of 51 per cent, as a share of total workforce. The number of Emirati employees is up from 44 per cent in 2013. ADNEC’s annual strategic plan has been carefully developed and is regularly updated to ensure that it meets the evolving demands of each department, and that it continues to arm employees with the skills required for sustained professional success.
Congress wins In 2014, ADNEC secured a number of notable large international congress wins including the World Road Congress 2019 and 24th edition of the World Energy Congress in 2019. ADNEC, through support from the Abu Dhabi Government entities, has been able to attract several new international conferences to Abu Dhabi. Through closer stakeholder collaboration, Abu Dhabi’s competitiveness has improved measurably. In 2015, ADNEC will host four international conferences and congresses, which are expected to draw in over 10,000 international delegates.
ADNEC Honour Bid Ambassadors ADNEC hosted an appreciation evening to honour industry partners that submitted bids for the hosting of various international events in the emirate during and prior to 2014. ADNEC has built close relationships with industry partners to attract prominent international events to Abu Dhabi. ADNEC brought together the best minds, ideas and expertise to produce compelling bids in promoting business tourism in Abu Dhabi.
Group highlights Khalifa Al Qubaisi elected Middle East ICCA Chairperson Khalifa Al Qubaisi, Head of Sales (Conferences and Congresses), has been elected for the position of Chairperson for ICCA Middle East Chapter. Khalifa has been deputy chair for the Middle East chapter for the last two years. This role demonstrates ADNEC’s commitment to the conference industry. Al Qubaisi has become the first UAE National to assume the coveted position in the conferences and meetings sector since ICCA’s inception in 1963.
ADNEC wins AEO Award ADNEC won the award for Most Sustainable Exhibition and Conference Venue at the prestigious annual Association of Event Organisers (AEO) awards ceremony held in London. This is confirmation of the great environmental and sustainability work ADNEC is committed to. The AEO Awards are perceived as one of the best event industry awards. The event recognises and celebrates organisers’ achievements, standards of excellence from venues and service quality by suppliers and contractors throughout the industry.
October busiest month for ADNEC October 2014 was the busiest month for exhibitions and conference events in the year to date. Welcoming tens of thousands of delegates and participants during October, ADNEC hosted eight large-scale events covering various industries including energy, health, water sustainability, show business and family and community awareness. Our continued growth marks us as a key player in the development of the business tourism sector in Abu Dhabi.
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Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi scoops two awards Hyatt Capital Gate Abu Dhabi won two awards in 2014. The ADNEC owned hotel won a tripadvisor Travellers Choice 2014 award. Travellers’ Choice Awards are based on millions of reviews and opinions from tripadvisor travellers’. In the same year, the five star hotel was also named the Best Business City Hotel at the Middle East Hotel Awards 2014.
Excel London wins seven awards In the heart of London’s most prestigious meeting point of the world’s busiest business networks, ExceL London continues its outstanding performance by winning seven regional and international awards in 2014. The international exhibition and convention centre, is the host venue for a variety of events from award winning exhibitions and conferences to international association meetings, product launches, banquets, award ceremonies, sporting events and great days out. In 2014, Excel London welcomed 20 million visitors, staging more than 4,500 events since 2000.
Dedicated Customer Services desk ADNEC prides itself on delivering the highest level of customer service at all times. On-site, visitors have access to range of personalised services including: Exhibitor Orders: IT & Telecommunications Stand Cleaning Security Furniture Rental Labour Orders Skip Orders Car Park Audio Visual Exhibition Visa First Aid Service
Basic Office Services: Photocopying/ Printing Internet café Lamination Binding Fax Scanning
Group highlights
ADIPEC 2014 Held every November at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, ADIPEC is the largest exhibition for the Middle East oil and gas industry and is supported by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and the UAE’s Ministry of Energy. Held under the theme “Challenges and Opportunities for the next 30 years” the 2014 edition of ADIPEC attracted record numbers across the event. The 30th Anniversary edition closed on the 13th November 2014 having attracted 1,868 exhibitors and 76,240 attendees from 112 countries during the four days of the event. This phenomenal success has firmly cemented ADIPEC as the global networking point for decision makers, industry leaders and experts in the oil and gas industry.
Capital Gate attracts regional and international eyes Considered one of the most outstanding iconic figures in Abu Dhabi, Capital Gate is growing to be the most attractive location for the media productions to express their creativity in an inspiring artistic zone. The place gained many regional and international visitors from film makers, photographers, directors, and advertising agencies. In May 2014, Capital Gate was home to the set of Fox Studio’s Bollywood film ‘Bang Bang’. More than 200 production staff descended upon Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre for the filming which included helicopter landings, abseiling down the outside of the building, and even welcoming Bollywood Superstar Katrina Kaif to film scenes in the Hyatt Capital Gate Hotel.
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“The level of interest shown in IDEX 2015 has been remarkable. We have witnessed the highest demand for exhibition space in the event’s two decade history. The enthusiasm expressed by the industry further qualifies IDEX as the world’s leading joint defence exhibition.” Saleh Al Marzooqi, Chief Executive Officer, IDEX LLC
IDEX IDEX is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. It is the only international defence exhibition and conference in the MENA region demonstrating the latest technology across land, sea and air sectors of defence. It is a unique platform to establish and strengthen relationships with government departments, businesses and armed forces throughout the region. Following the enormous success of IDEX 2013, the IDEX team spent 2014 preparing for the 2015 exhibitions which takes place from 22nd until 26th February.
The IDEX team also organises NAVDEX, the leading maritime and naval defence exhibition in the MENA region, and has launched UMEX the only exhibition dedicated to unmanned systems held in the Middle East. The international nature of the events has meant the team has been represented at many of the international defence exhibitions to promote and sell exhibition space for 2015 including SOFEX in Amman, AUVSI in Orlando, Eurosatory in Paris, Farnborough Air Show, UAV Europe in Bordeaux and Euronaval in Paris.
Al Ain Convention Centre supports MICE sector Al Ain Convention Centre has marked a major milestone in the promotion and development of the specialised MICE sector in Al Ain. The centre currently plays a crucial role in the development of Al Ain city through supporting its business tourism and economic initiatives, and hosting a wide variety of community and trade events. Among the major exhibitions hosted by AACC in 2014 was the Al Ain Reads Book Show, which attracted thousands of visitors of all ages. Drawing over 68 exhibitors, up from 25 in the previous edition, the exhibition posted an impressive growth in its latest edition. AACC also staged Al Ain Education & Career Fair, which witnessed 30 per cent increase in visitor turnout over the previous editions. In 2014, AACC attracted over 500,000 visitors, reflecting the centre’s ability to accommodate the anticipated growth in the number of events hosted across diverse economic domains.
Group highlights
ADNEC launches new sales video As part of ADNEC’s continuous drive for creativity and innovation, a bespoke sales video was created to showcase the venue’s services and facilities. The video is accessible and distributed in different media channels.
Media highlights 2014 was a successful year for ADNEC in terms of media exposure. Major media and public relations highlights included the mark of the five year anniversary of the acquisition of ExCeL London. ADNEC conducted a media tour to London – featuring 13 of the most prominent local business publications and TV stations.
International Media Coverage
9,599 AED121.5m
40,652
followers
likes
UAE Reach
UAE Reach
41% Audience
70% Male
29% Female
Jan
Dec
136%
2,193 followers
77%
Audience
82% Male
YEARLY GROWTH
which represents an increase of
18% Female
YEARLY GROWTH Jan
Dec
62.9%
424% 701 YEARLY GROWTH
Jan
Dec
photos & videos
36.5% above 2014 target
In 2014 Media coverage values registered an increase of
11.4%
over the same period of 2013 Since October 2014, ADNEC witnessed a hike in international hits/exposure by
290%
Annual Report 2014 : 36
Smart ADNEC As part of ADNEC’s continuing commitment to develop our technology capabilities in line with customer expectations, we developed a specific IT strategy; SMART ADNEC. While the MICE industry will always remain people facing and customer driven, the rise of digital technology and its capabilities will certainly have an impact on our business. With this in mind, our SMART strategy ensures that the technology we offer, both now and in the future, exceeds our customer’s needs.
“In order to meet and exceed the requirements of our visitors and clients, we introduced our SMART IT strategy, where we are focused on developing and implementing comprehensive IT solutions. This SMART strategy specifically focuses on E-Services, our integrated applications portfolio and feature technology that ensures our venues remain leading in terms of technological solutions.” Salah Al Jaeedi, Chief Financial Officer
SMA R T
ADNEC IT Vision
To deliver SMART VENUE
Simple
Modern
Provide functionalities to stakeholders to avail e-services via channels
Enable e- services via ADNEC online, AUH Govt. portals and Mobile Application
Online platform to enable integrated stakeholder interface (Enterprise Service Bus)
Revenue Generating
Technology Enabled
Tier 3 Hosting Facility to accommodate infrastructure
Modular & Scalable IT Architecture
E Services Portfolio Development
CRM and Core Application Development(EBMS)
Advanced
Comprehensive Wireless Capability
Cloud & colocation services for clients
E Services & Mobility Solutions
Integrated Applications Portfolio
Feature Technology Platform to support Exhibition & Conferences & Sales
Back End Integrated System enhancing Efficiency of Service(ERP)
ExCeL London “Excel London is one of ADNEC’s most prominent and important foreign investments of the past five years.” Sultan Bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman
ExCeL London is the host venue for a variety of events from award winning exhibitions and conferences to international association meetings, product launches, banquets, award ceremonies, sporting events and great days out. Vision To be the home of world leading events Values • Provide world class facilities • Innovate • Deliver service excellence • Collaborate • Provide the best people
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ExCeL London has staged more than 4,500 events since 2000
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In 2014 ExCeL welcomed its 20 millionth visitor
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2014 saw ExCeL London grow the number of exhibitions they host from 64 to over 90
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ExCeL London won all three relevant industries Awards in 2014
Annual Report 2014 : 38
Business Superbrand 2014 Following an independently coordinated process managed by The Centre for Brand Analysis (TCBA), ExCeL London has officially been awarded Business Superbrand status for 2014. The affirmation of Superbrand status follows the latest assessment of the annual survey, which has been identifying the UK’s strongest business-to-business brands since 2001.
20 millionth visitor 2014 saw ExCeL London welcome its 20 millionth visitor, during London Tech Week and The Protection and Management Series.
“This is a fantastic achievement for ExCeL London and underpins our ambition to be the home of world of leading events. Since opening in 2000, we have hosted over 4,500 events and welcomed 20 million people from every corner of the globe. We look forward to the continued success of our customers’ events and anticipate that we will welcome our 30 millionth visitor within the next three years.” David Pegler, CEO, ExCeL London
Major Association Wins In 2014, ExCeL London and London & Partners announced three major association wins for the City in 2016 with The European Respiratory Society and Euroanaesthesia and EULAR (The European League Against Rheumatism). Looking forward, 2015 will be ExCeL London’s best ever year for congresses, with more ICCA rated events than ever before. This includes the European Society of Cardiology, which will be welcoming 35,000 international delegates in August.
“The record number of associations that are now choosing London is an endorsement of the decision to open our International Convention Centre. The world renowned attraction of London is responsible for delivering record breaking attendance and is why so many associations are now seeing our city as a prime location for their events. London continues to invest in its product and infrastructure and now, more than ever, is in a position to deliver the best possible delegate experience and value-for-money. We are committed to continuing our investment in the venue, in the build-up to the opening of our Crossrail station in 2019 and beyond.” James Rees, Executive Director, ExCeL London
Award Grand Slam ExCeL London scooped an impressive seven awards throughout the year including winning all possible exhibition venue awards for 2014. This is the second time ExCeL London has held all three UK industry titles.
ExCeL London Media Tour The beginning of 2014 saw the ADNEC PR and Marketing team organise and run an extensive media programme to highlight the five year anniversary of its acquisition of Excel London as one of the biggest foreign investments success stories of Abu Dhabi within Europe. The media programme involved taking a select group of local journalists on a four-day tour of ExCeL London facilities to provide them with a closer look at the ongoing developments at the venue. The tour included conducting extensive interviews with key personnel from ExCeL London, senior officials from London City and important decision makers from the exhibition industry.
Group photos
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6 1 - National Day celebration 2 - ADNEC Staff Conference 3 - Flag Day celebrations at ADNEC
4 - MYweb launch 5 - Laitifa Al Kaabi speaks at SPWLA 6 - ExCeL London secondees
Annual Report 2014 : 40
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محطة توقف وتبرع Stop and Drop
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Station
Donate your reusable items:
10
:تبرع بأغراضك القابلة إلعادة اإلستخدام
»
Books
الكتب
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Clothing
المالبس
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Footwear
األحذية
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Working Electronics
اإللكترونيات المستعملة
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And your recyclable items:
:والمواد القابلة إلعادة التدوير مثل
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Newspapers
الصحف
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Magazines
المجالت
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Plastic
البالستيك
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Cardboard
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Aluminium Cans
الكرتون علب األلمنيوم
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13 7 - IMEX Frankfurt participation 8 - Evacuation drill in collaboration with Civil Defence 9 - Stop and Drop campaign 10 - Nabil Al Yafeai speaks at WFES – IRENA workshop
11 - Earth Hour participation 12 - Earth Hour ADNEC staff promises 13 - ADNEC, Hyatt & Aloft Cricket tournament 14 - ADNEC turns iconic Capital Gate pink in Celebration of Nobel Peace Prize Winner Malala Yousafzai
Group photos
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7 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 -
ABILITIESme Abu Dhabi International Book Fair ADIHEX ADIPEC
5 - Al Ain Reads 6 - Electronics Shopper (ADES - Abu Dhabi) 7 - Emirates Skills
Annual Report 2014 : 42
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8 - New food and beverage outlets at ADNEC 9 - Abu Dhabi Business Centre branch at ADNEC 10 - Power GEN Middle East 11 - SIAL
12 - Slava’s Snowshow 13 - Weddex – Al Ain 14 - WFES 15 - ISNR
ADNEC Employees
Quite simply our company is our people. ADNEC is committed to develop our experienced and talented people. One of our four core values is People First. We believe in sustainable growth and Emiratisation. We’re dedicated to attracting and nurturing the best talent and we maintain a collaborative, engaging and creative environment in which our people can thrive and grow.
Annual Report 2014 : 44
Our People
People and Talent We know that talent will determine our ability to achieve our vision and strategic goals. Everything we do has transparency and inclusion at its heart. It is only by helping all our people to be the best they can be that we can reach our own objectives. We believe in sustainable growth and Emiratisation. We’re dedicated to attracting and nurturing the best talent and we maintain a collaborative, engaging and creative environment in which our people can thrive and grow.
“The retention and development of national talent is an upmost priority for ADNEC. Our business ensures the provision of quality training and career development opportunities that allows nationals to continue to make a contribution to this organisation’s management and leadership.” Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri Group Chief Executive Officer (Acting)
A Space to Perform: ExCeL London Our Space to Perform programme is one of ADNEC’s most important training opportunities. Our UAE National employees spend time at our London venue gaining additional hospitality and MICE industry experience. The programme provides the opportunity for UAE Nationals to experience first-hand an established venue in the European market. Space to Perform has been successful since its launch in 2009. 29 delegates have graduated from the programme of which 20 remain with the business today. 6 ADNEC employees completed the eight week programme in 2014.
300+ employees 51% Emiratisation 83% Emiratisation at
Senior Level 12,000+ training hours
Emiratisation: a year of progress In 2014 we saw significant progress in our Emiratisation strategy. We have improved on our existing initiatives and implemented a number of new specialised development programmes and activities designed to maximise potential, support and retain our UAE National talent. At the end of 2014, ADNEC achieved an Emiratisation rate of 51 per cent.
Annual Report 2014 : 46
Leadership Development Programme All UAE National employees have the opportunity of participating in a career path and coaching programme. This innovative programme measures ability, aspiration, motivation, engagement and potential. Individuals are provided with independent feedback and follow up mentoring support to ensure that bespoke learning solutions are provided to realise the employees full potential as a future leader.
ADNEC UAE National Forum The ADNEC UAE National Forum provides a twice yearly opportunity for all UAE Nationals to attend a meeting with the Managing Director and other senior executives. This open forum provides an opportunity for views to be exchanged on a wide range of topics, concerns and issues from our UAE National colleagues. It also provides a platform for exchanging and promoting ideas about how ADNEC can continue to improve and develop as a business.
buddy up mentoring
Mentoring and Coaching Programme Our “buddy up” mentoring programme was launched in 2012 to specifically develop and support ADNEC’s UAE National talent. ADNEC’s mentors are all fully trained. We encourage all our UAE Nationals to actively participate in this programme. Mentoring is an important facilitator in reinforcing personal development and ensuring people can be accountable for their own career paths.
Our People National Service ADNEC is proud to be supporting the UAE National Service Government initiative. At the end of 2014, six of our male colleagues joined the thousands of UAE Nationals who were selected for National Service. We see this as a fantastic honour for both the individuals and ADNEC. We are looking forward to the employees returning to the business better prepared for the challenges ahead.
Engaging and Empowering our Employees It is crucial that our people understand our company objectives and goals, and that they are engaged with the business.
Employee Satisfaction Our You Speak survey is conducted annually and is an important source of data to inform our human resource policies, communication and employee engagement strategies. The 2014 survey recorded overall employee satisfaction at 76 per cent. That was a four per cent increase from 2013.
Hayakum 2014 ADNEC is committed to hosting an annual all staff conference. This development day is managed and put together by a committee of ADNEC people. The objective of the day is to encourage teamwork, learning and networking. What makes our annual event unique is the fact it is completely managed and delivered by ADNEC people from across the business. The day includes presentations from ADNEC’s senior management as well as keynote speeches from external special guests.
Annual Report 2014 : 48
Recognising our Shining Stars A Time to Shine is ADNEC’s recognition and reward programme. It was launched in 2012 to thank individuals who demonstrate achievements in support of ADNEC’s values. The scheme also recognises our people who have demonstrated outstanding commitment. In 2014, we recognised our long-serving employees, including 20 employees have been with ADNEC for ten years or longer.
Innovation & Creativity ADNEC has increased its focus on harnessing innovation and creativity. We recognise the importance of championing ideas from all our people.
Contribute
Knowledge Management
In 2011 we launched our dedicated employee suggestion scheme. This initiative aims to capture all ADNEC people’s brilliant ideas and suggestions - however small or big.
2014 saw ADNEC form a dedicated internal team Knowledge Management team who are committed to ensuring that we are implementing and living best Knowledge Management practices. The objective is to ensure individuals and teams have access to relevant information to better achieve objectives.
Stakeholder workshop In 2014 ADNEC held its first stakeholder workshop: “Together for Better Business Tourism.” The objective of this event is to work with our strategic partners to harness great ideas and support Abu Dhabi business tourism and the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030.
By capturing and harnessing knowledge, ADNEC can form and implement new ideas (innovation) and better ways of working.
Our People Internal Communications The way we communicate with each other is central to our success. ADNEC employees are the heart of our business. With that in mind, ADNEC has an internal communications strategy and plan to ensure that all our people have access to the right information at the right time. We have a number of communication channels to ensure that our messages, news and information are available for all ADNEC people.
Company magazine (MYmag) ADNEC’s company magazine, MYmag, is published three times a year. It is a magazine by ADNEC people for ADNEC people. The editorial team is made up of ADNEC people from around the business.
Internal newsletter (MYnews) ADNEC has a monthly newsletter that enables all ADNEC people to stay up to date with current activities and achievements. It is published on ADNEC’s Intranet as well as being displayed in our internal offices.
Annual Report 2014 : 50
Intranet news items (MYweb) Through our Intranet, we publish daily news stories allowing all ADNEC people to have up-to-date and instant information. The internal website is the primary place to visit to find information.
Videos The 2014 internal communication survey suggested that ADNEC employees would like to receive company information via video. This channel was set up and our first video was delivered to all staff via MYweb from our Group CEO.
Notice boards ADNEC has notice boards across all offices to ensure that all ADNEC people have access to information. These boards include posters, MYnews newsletter, health and safety information, memos and more.
Town hall meetings and staff conferences ADNEC is committed to two all staff gatherings a year. These meetings encourage teamwork, networking and enable ADNEC people to ask questions to senior management.
Sustainability and CSR
ADNEC is passionate about operating as a responsible corporate company. We are committed to balance our environmental, economic, and social objectives to develop a sustainable corporate business model. In alignment with our core values, ADNEC is committed to continuous improvement in not only our services and products, but in all that we do to conserve resources, prevent waste and foster environmental, social and financial sustainability for the benefit of for our stakeholders including shareholders, employees, customers and the wider society. We actively increase knowledge, understanding and awareness across all our ADNEC people encouraging participation and engagement in our sustainability initiatives.
Annual Report 2014 : 52
Sustainability and CSR Our Sustainability Awards ADNEC Most Sustainable Exhibition and Conference Venue – AEO Awards 2014 Outstanding contribution to sustainability - Middle East Event Awards 2011 Green Award - Middle East Event Awards 2010
ExCeL London London’s Business Energy Challenge scheme - Gold Award 2014 Best Venue for Sustainability - C&IT Hotlist 2011 Diamond Award - Mayors Green 500 Awards Gold Award 3 Stars - National Recycling Stars Scheme
Our sustainability partnerships
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Group (ADSG) The Abu Dhabi Sustainability Group (ADSG) promotes sustainability management in Abu Dhabi by providing learning and knowledge sharing opportunities for government, private companies and not for profit organisations in a spirit of cooperation and open dialogue. ADNEC formally joined ADSG in 2012, and since then we have actively participated in a number of development workshops. In addition to this, ADNEC is represented in Facilitation and Coordination Committee FCC which reports directly the ADSC Management.
UFI Sustainability Development Committee ADNEC is a member of the UFI Sustainability Development Committee. The UFI Committee on Sustainable Development was formally established in 2008 to support UFI as it focuses on the issue of Sustainable Development in the Exhibition Industry. ADNEC was one of six members who actively helped the UFI Sustainability Development Committee create the Sustainability Reporting Framework for the exhibition industry.
Caring for the environment
Annual Report 2014 : 54
Here at ADNEC it is our policy to continuously evolve and implement practices that deliver social and environmental benefits. We have a dedicated team in place to tackle environmental issues comprising representatives from various departments who meet on a regular basis to discuss new recycling ideas. “At ADNEC, we are constantly developing new systems and procedures that will allow us to minimise the impact of our business on environment through the use of innovative technologies. Today, ADNEC stands out as a regional success model for the implementation of sustainability standards as an integral part of our daily work. We also encourage other organisations to follow our suit in this regards.� Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Group CEO (Acting)
Recycling In 2014, ADNEC recycled various types of cardboards, plastic cans, aluminium cans, paper, scrap metal, glass, printer cartridge, batteries as well as gypsum boards, which are widely used in the construction of exhibition pavilions. These efforts have significantly contributed to achieving the sustainability and recycling goal of ADNEC and have reduced our carbon footprint. More specifically, ADNEC recycled 39 tons of paper, reducing about 51 tons of carbon emissions and saving 658 trees, as well as 18 gallons of oil and over 271 gallons of water. Additionally, we recycled 63 tons of cardboard in different types, cutting down 94 tons of carbon emissions. Three tons of metals, three tons of iron, three tons of coal, 203 kg of soft drink cans were also recycled resulting in savings of 3,132 kilowatt hour electricity. While the recycling of three tons of plastic bottles saved up to 12,318 kilowatt hour electricity, the recycling of food wastes resulted in the production of 17 tons of fertilizer, which is equivalent to taking 18 cars off the road for a full year.
Sharing Best Practice In 2014, our head of the Environmental Team spoke at The World Future Energy Summit at the IRENA session about how ADNEC recycles cooking oil and our commitment to going green.
Sustainability and CSR Recycling reverse vending machines ADNEC has joined forces with international environmental solutions and waste management provider, Averda, to launch eight recycling reverse vending machines on-site at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre to encourage a more sustainable attitude to waste management. The machines allow users to dispose of their used cans and plastic bottles. The money generated from these recycled items is automatically donated to Gulf Autism Centre; a local charity as voted for by ADNEC employees.
Recycling our kitchen waste ADNEC recycles used cooking oil from Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre kitchen and turns this into green bio-diesel that can be used for on-site plant machinery and small cranes that are used across the venue. 30 per cent of our machinery is powered from this cooking oil waste. Additionally, Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre composts the food waste generated from its kitchens. This compost is then reused as fertiliser for the centre’s landscaping and greenery.
Solar Panels Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre uses electrical energy generated by a 1,000 square meter solar panel facility installed on the roof of Car Park B for the operation of elevators as well as the lighting of three floors of parking buildings with a total capacity to produce 111 kilowatts of electricity.
Earth Hour ADNEC has committed to supporting Earth Hour since 2011. Earth Hour is a global event that was set up and organised by World Wide Fund for Nature and has been held on the last Saturday of March for the last six years. It encourages households and businesses to turn off their non-essential lights for one hour to raise awareness about the need to take action on climate change. ADNEC employees participated in a video where they were asked to make a pledge to save energy. They all made an individual promise for how to help reduce their energy consumption either at work or at home. The lighting across a number of areas at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre is partially or completely shut down including: External Façade Capital Gate, bridge link to Marina, Marina illuminated sign, all Capital Suites not in use, entrance sign at the front of the building and more. As a result, 521KWH Energy saved 70 Kgs Coal saved and 210 Kgs of greenhouse gas reduced from releasing to atmosphere.
Annual Report 2014 : 56
Choose Wisely The last 30 years has seen commercial fish in the UAE decline by 80 per cent. Choose Wisely is a UAE campaign spearheaded by Emirates Wildlife Society. The objective is to increase consumer awareness for organisations and individuals to lower the demand for threatened fish species. Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, Hyatt Capital Gate and Aloft Abu Dhabi Hotel have revised their menus to support this initiative.
Stop and Drop Stop and Drop is a recycling and donation campaign initiative that ADNEC introduced in 2012. Our Abu Dhabi venue actively encourages all ADNEC people and those from our local community to donate reusable and recyclable items to our designated drop off areas. All reusable items are donated to the charity UAE Red Crescent. We hold two of these campaigns a year. Our Stop and Drop initiative supports the UAE show Compassion Campaign.
Social Responsibility ADNEC recognises that we have an ever increasing role to play in supporting communities. We have a dedicated committee, as part of the overall sustainability committee, who actively engage with and support our local communities and society.
School Adoption ADNEC has “adopted” three schools in Abu Dhabi. This initiative was developed by ADNEC to support our local community and to build environmental practices among the young generation. The ADNEC Environmental team has developed a waste management system for recycling waste in schools. We have donated carton bins to the schools and our recycling partner, Averda, ensure regular collection. We have also presented to the children at the schools on how to recycle, why it’s so important to recycle and the benefits of recycling in their homes.
Live Events free tickets As part of our commitment to sustainability, we designate a number of Live Events free tickets to give away to schools and charities. We also supply transport and provide free parking as relevant. In 2014, we donated over 600 tickets for our Slava’s Snowshow event. The tickets were given to local community disadvantaged groups including The UAE Down Syndrome Association, the Ability Centre, Special Care Centre, Gulf Autism School, Al Noor Training Centre for Children with Special Needs, Church Family Group, Gulf Autism Centre, the Future Centre for Special Needs, Zayed Higher Organisation Autism and Rehabilitation Care Centre, MBM Camp, SKMC and the Make-a-Wish Foundation were some of the community associations that were invited to the shows.
Recycle for a Cause Since 2012, ADNEC has supported the Philippine Community Fund (PCF) and Abu Dhabi’s Cause Connect Recycle for a Cause initiative. The charity PCF commits to rescue children and families from living in deep poverty by providing shelter, food and education for them. As part of this initiative, we have four plastic bag and nine ring pull tab collection boxes placed around our Abu Dhabi venue. The ring pulls and plastic bags that are collected are sent to the PCF to make handicrafts and merchandise. These are then sold to raise an income to sustain these children and families. We have also held bazaars at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, enabling Recycle for a Cause to sell their merchandise items made from ring pulls and plastic bags to ADNEC employees and visitors of the venue. All money is donated to the PCF.
Sustainability and CSR Employee Awareness Sessions As part of ADNEC’s commitment to sustainability, we invite a number of health care providers who facilitate wellness and information sessions for our employees at our venues. For example: • • • • • •
Go Red for Women: World Heart Day Session Daman Health Screening Campaign Diabetes forum Healthy Eating forum Heat Stress Awareness and Guidance Ramadan Health and Safety Guidance
We also publish a “healthy tip of the week” every Thursday on our Intranet.
Sports activities ADNEC actively encourages team and sports activities for its employees. Our participation and activities over the last few years have included:
Abu Dhabi Corporate Games ADNEC participates in the annual Abu Dhabi Corporate Games. This is a great event for ADNEC people to take part in and ADNEC actively encourages family participation too.
Aloft Charity Fun Run for UNICEF ADNEC has supported Aloft Abu Dhabi and it’s charity fun run for the last five years. The event, which is held indoors at our Abu Dhabi venue, is the first of its kind in the Middle East where runners and families can enjoy a sporty fun day inside a cooled venue.
Cricket tournament ADNEC organises and takes part in a triangle cricket tournament against our two Abu Dhabi hotels; Aloft Abu Dhabi and Hyatt Capital Gate. This initiative encourages team activity, networking and friendly competition!
Health and Safety ADNEC has a dedicated Health and Safety team who are responsible for the development of the ADNEC’s safety management system with the objective to improve the health and safety performance of the company and to raise EHS awareness and compliance in all our operations.
A safe place to work ADNEC is committed to maintaining high standards of safety and welfare for all its employees. All members of staff are provided with: • • • • •
A safe place to work Clear and consistent health and safety policies and standards A management team that is accountable for implementing agreed safe systems of work Safe work equipment Training, to equip all staff with the necessary knowledge to allow them to work safely
Annual Report 2014 : 58
Environment, Health and Safety Management System (EHSMS) ADNEC’s EHSMS has been approved and accredited by the OSHAD (Occupational Safety and Health Abu Dhabi) Centre. This initiative was developed to regulate and maintain an occupational health and safety culture in the exhibition and event sector both at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre and across the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. In addition to complying with legal UAE requirements, a positive health and safety culture within the exhibition and event sector in Abu Dhabi enables ADNEC to manage and control risks sensibly, reduce accidents and ill health and reduce related costs to our businesses.
Evacuation Drill In 2014, in addition to ADNEC Internal Drills, ADNEC held a company-wide mock fire drill in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Civil Defence Directorate (ADCD) drawing the participation of key stakeholders including 15 federal and local entities. This was the biggest drill hosted to date by ADNEC. The initiative aimed to assess the level of preparedness, procedures, response times and coordination among various entities in dealing with crisis and emergencies.
“This drill helped us test the efficiency of ADNEC’s contingency plan while hosting major conferences and exhibitions. The exercise proved a learning experience bringing to light areas for improvement to align ADNEC’s emergency plan with that of the other entities in order to step up the readiness of all parties involved and expedite response time.” Ahmed Al Obaidli, Chief Operations Officer (Acting)
Operational Excellence ADNEC Health and Safety worked closely with other departments in ensuring compliance in successful exhibitions and events. The incident rate decreased from previous years with increased reporting via updated Health and Safety database management system and reporting. ADNEC ensures that all its employees have relevant training to ensure they can deliver operational excellence. 133 ADNEC people received training in 2014 in the following : • • • • • • • •
IOSH Directing Safely for Directors IOSH Managing safely for all key managers IOSH Working Safely for all employees IOSH Safe Management in Events and Exhibitions IOSH Safe Operations in Events and Exhibitions NEBOSH International general certificate for Planners and Health and Safety team Manual Handling Training PASMA Mobile scaffold training
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) ADNEC’s senior management and “on the ground” staff all have full PPE. In addition to this, ADNEC has established a PPE purchase area for all our event contractors and labourers to ensure they are in appropriate health and safety wear at our venues.