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15 Feb 23. SANDF Armed Forces Day 2023 to be the biggest yet.
The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) is aiming to make this year’s Armed Forces Day commemorations, in Richard’s Bay, the largest and most successful to date. Over 8 000 troops will be involved in what is also being used as a large-scale force deployment exercise.
This is according to Brigadier General Andries Mahapa, Director Defence Corporate Communication, when briefing the media aboard the frigate SAS Mendi in Richard’s Bay on Tuesday.
The South African Navy is organising this year’s event, which is centred around Richard’s Bay and the uMhlathuze municipality (the other cities considered for Armed Forces Day 2023 were East London and Saldanha).
The Chief of the SANDF, General Rudzani Maphwanya, said Armed Forces Day (AFD) started out a decade ago with the purpose of bringing the SANDF to the people, and has grown since the first edition was held in Atteridgeville when a single company’s worth of soldiers took part. Now, a brigade size force is involved this year, with over 8 000 personnel deployed along with four Navy ships, dozens of aircraft, and hundreds of vehicles.
“Why spend all this money?” Mahapa asked. He explained that it is the SANDF’s constitutional mandate to safeguard against threats and this ability must be tested through the deployment and sustainment of those deployed forces. “Armed Forces Day functions as a large-scale force deployment exercise and people can see what’s happening with their tax money.”
Maphwanya said that in spite of the harsh budget cuts which the SANDF is grappling, the SANDF is trying to use its funds smartly. For Armed Forces Day, it has diverted some force preparation funds to cover the event because AFD “is part of force preparation”. He added that, “we feel the pinch but it’s for good use.”
SANDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Fhurani Michael Ramantswana said that “from a military point of view, deployment is part of training…The ability to win wars is based on training for high morale and agility of mind. We need that. We can’t sit back while there is budgetary constraints.”
The SANDF, with Armed Forces Day, purports to, among other things honour serving members and pay tribute to soldiers who paid the ultimate price and lost their lives in the line of duty, such as Corporal Tebogo Edwin Radebe, killed in Mozambique while serving with SAMIM, and more recently, Flight Sergeant Vusi Mabena, who was killed by a sniper’s bullet in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Armed Forces Day has continued to grow over the years, with capability demonstrations and night shoots being added as well as gala concerts, sports clinics, interfaith services and community projects. Foreign militaries and the diplomatic corps are also now invited.
The first Armed Forces Day 2023 events began on 6 February with SA Military Health Service community outreach projects that are seeing the provision of free healthcare services. These continue until 17 February.
Armed Forces Week celebrations start today (15 February) with the opening of a fan park at the uMhlathuze Sports ground. Then Fan Park will remain open from 15–19 Feb, wherein military hardware will be on display, and career awareness and military demonstrations conducted. Buses roving over a 150 km radius will bring 3 600 children a day to the fan park.
Sports clinics will be held between 15 and 19 February from 8:00-16:00 and will focus on rugby, soccer, cricket and other sports. The SANDF will also bus grade 5 and 6 learners in for these events at the Umfolozi College Sports Grounds.
The SA Military Health Service will host recruitment drives at the University of Zululand and the University of KwaZulu–Natal from 15 to 17 February at the KwaDlangezwa and Richard’s Bay campuses. Students who are interested in following medical careers in the SANDF are invited to attend the career drives. A mini capability demonstration will also take place at Unizulu Sports Field whereby SAMHS will demonstrate their capabilities, such as medical evacuation.
From 16 to 19 February, four navy ships (the frigate SAS Mendi, hydrographic survey vessel SAS Protea, inshore patrol vessel SAS King Sekhukhune I and inshore patrol craft SAS Tekwane) will be open to the public, from 9-15:00.
A gala concert will be held on 17 February at the University of Zululand, from 18-21:00.The public will be invited to attend.
A capability demonstration at Naval Island in Richard’s Bay harbour will take place on 17 and 18 February, with members of the public invited to attend on 17 February and VIPs and invited guests on the 18th.
On the 18th, a Chief SANDF5 km fun run and walk will be held at the uMhlathuze Sports Complex from 7:00-9:00, while an interfaith service will take place at King Bhekizulu Hall at 9:00 on the 19th.
A night shoot at Alkantstrand Beach will be open to the public between 17:00 and 19:00 on 19 February while VIPs will attend a night shoot on 20 February.
Armed Forces Day events will culminate with President Cyril Ramaphosa laying a wreath at the Empangeni Civic Centre at 10:00 on 21 February, a date commemorating the sinking of the SAS Mendi in 1917 with the loss of 614 SA Native Labour Corps members and 33 crew. This will be followed by the main military parade along Bullion Boulevard, followed by a Presidential address.
Mahapa acknowledged that AFD 2023 will “bring Richards Bay to a standstill, but the people will be rewarded through local spending.” He said the SANDF is using local contractors wherever possible, and has booked out almost all the accommodation available in the areas.
To say thank you to the locals for hosting the SANDF, an appreciation concert will be held at the uMhlathuze Sports Complex on 21 February 17:00. Military bands and other artists will take part.
The last item on the Armed Forces Day calendar is a VIP Golf Day on 22 February with the Chief of the SANDF. (Source: https://www.defenceweb.co.za/)
15 Feb 23. ADNEC Group and Ministry of Defence launch IDEX Think Tank sessions to explore sustainable solutions for industry challenges. ADNEC Group, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence, announced the launch of IDEX Think Tank sessions for the first time at the 16th edition of IDEX 2023 and the 7th edition of NAVDEX 2023. The exhibitions will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE from 20 to 24 February 2023 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
The IDEX Think Tank sessions are a new and innovative concept that will facilitate discussions around topics in the field of defence and security. The sessions will be held during IDEX and NAVDEX 2023 exhibitions, which will attract more than 130,000 defence and security professionals. These closed sessions will be divided among 6 groups of leading defence and security experts from around the world to participate in strategic discussions on a number of significant topics.
The sessions will be moderated by a number of strategic partners and will include a review of studies, research papers and relevant global experiences, to find radical solutions and effective outcomes that can meet the future challenges of the sector.
IDEX and NAVDEX are the largest events of their kind in the world, and the upcoming edition of IDEX coincides with the 30th anniversary of this exhibition. Senior leaders, officials, decision-makers, ministers, industry experts, and specialists from all over the world will participate in the exhibitions.
IDEX and NAVDEX provide a world-class platform for showcasing the latest innovations and technologies of the international defence sector.
14 Feb 23. Lockheed Martin, a global technology leader in aerospace, space and security, hosted an event last week (8th February) to help SMEs unlock the growing opportunities of space in the North East of England.
Over 100 attendees from companies across the region joined Lockheed Martin and partners RTC North and the Ministry of Defence (MoD) at the Discovery Museum in Newcastle, where a series of talks were given and exhibits on show from across the space and defence industry.
With over 75% of Lockheed Martin’s suppliers in the SME space, the event provided an exciting opportunity for companies to learn about ways of working with larger enterprises and the value of these partnerships in delivering unique capabilities.
The Ministry of Defence engaged with SMEs from the region on how they can help their businesses grow, with RTC North discussing the future of robust supply chains to demonstrate how SME’s can build new opportunities.
Paul Livingston, Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin UK, said, “SMEs play an important role for us in the UK and so we were delighted to host this event and support the development of the North East’s already thriving space sector. We are committed to helping the UK become a space nation and contribute to Levelling-Up the economy.”
A representative from the Ministry of Defence, added: “Today’s event with Lockheed Martin and RTC North highlighted the scope and range of supplier capability in the North East. We hope that the event will help more of these diverse and innovative suppliers fulfil their potential to deliver defence capability and contribute to regional and UK prosperity.”
Alan Whittaker, Head of Supply Chain Programmes at RTC North, commented: “It was great to work with Lockheed Martin in delivering a highly informative event for SME’s involved in supply chains. The excellent line up of speakers and subject areas helped the delegates to understand more about accessing supply chain opportunities in the defence and space sectors.
“We look forward to delivering further activities across the north of England and understanding the impact through more engagement within supply chain programmes.”
This event builds on The Space Sector Skills and Supplier Summit Lockheed Martin hosted last year, that brought together supply chain representatives from the North East industry, with a view to identifying new partners from industry and academia to support the North East’s UK space ambitions.
13 Feb 23. Kromek Leads a Technology Showcase and Seminar at the Royal Academy of Engineering. Kromek, the radiation detection specialists, has hosted its annual seminar and future concepts showcase at the Royal Academy of Engineering in London. A group of international experts presented and discussed the options for the future deployment of detection systems to help make the world a safer place. One of the most important conclusions reached was that better decisions are made when decision makers have access to accurate, timely, meaningful data. This was amply illustrated by the fascinating talk and discussion led by Dr Vincent Tang from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), who was the Programme Manager of the US SIGMA programme, which built a data provision and analysis network system. The fascinating session was backed up by a lively discussion on the utility and deployment of the SIGMA Network and the need to provide robust, deployable and effective modern detectors. Such detectors must have the capability to rapidly provide useable data that can be processed into formats decision makers can use without difficulty. The counterpoint to this was an equally fascinating presentation of the impact the War in Ukraine has had on the radiation detection system in that country. This session showed the utility of the deployability, sensitivity and effectiveness of the Kromek Radiation detection systems. Dr Oleg Voitsekhovych, Head of the Environmental Monitoring Department of the Ukrainian Hydrometerological Institute in Kyiv joined the seminar by zoom and his colleague Matthew Wrigley, Head of Operations in Ukraine for Hala, was present in person. They elaborated on the efforts to rebuild and develop the system in Ukraine. Some of the current system has been rendered useless by hazards of the war and Russian activity, while some of it is nearly obsolete. They also briefed the audience on the challenges of keeping the system operational in the light of the proximity to conflict areas of both the Chernobyl and Zaporizhzhia nuclear plants and the irresponsible behaviour by the Russians in such dangerous sites. There was a specific session on Kromek’s suite of radiation detectors, including the launch of its newest static node detector, the Static Note R, which is equipped with both cellular and satellite connectivity for enhanced endurance in remote or high-hazard situations. It has sufficient power for a seven-day period and has a built-in full-spectral capability. Additional enhancements to existing detectors were also unveiled, including the new languages capability for the handheld D5 RIID.
Kromek’s demonstration of its radiological capabilities was backed up by a presentation on biological detection. Here, the rapid advances in the capability and deployability of Kromek’s multi sequencing rapid biological detector was a key point of the discussion and was given weight by the fact that the system is designed to be deployed against health pandemics as well as war-fighting agents.
Dr Arnab Basu, Chief Executive of Kromek said: “We were delighted to host a global panel of experts to discuss the importance of radiation detection and resilience in a time of conflict. The war in Ukraine has heightened public awareness of the genuine risks of a radiological incident and the need for national programmes for detection and resilience.
13 Feb 23. ADNEC Group, in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence, has announced the launch of IDEX Next Gen for the first time during the 16th edition of IDEX 2023 and the 7th edition of NAVDEX 2023. The exhibitions will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, from 20-24 February 2023 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
The IDEX and NAVDEX 2023 exhibitions are organized by ADNEC Group in cooperation with the Ministry of Defence, to provide an international platform to showcase technologies and innovations in the international defence sector, and to serve as global forums to highlight the latest developments in the defence industry. The exhibitions also aim to facilitate strategic partnerships between leaders in the defence and military industries from around the world.
With the participation of more than 82 startups from 25 countries around the world, IDEX Next Gen will serve as an ideal platform for companies to present their ideas, products and business strategies, and showcase the latest innovations and technological solutions in the defence sector to global leaders, decision-makers, official delegations, and major international companies.
IDEX Next Gen will enable entrepreneurs to strengthen their relationships and support their businesses by networking with investors and VIPs in the global defence sector, and establishing effective partnerships to foster trade and investment opportunities across all defence industries.
The launch of IDEX Next Gen for the first time at IDEX and NAVDEX 2023 comes in line with the position of Abu Dhabi and the UAE as leaders in the defence industry and global hubs for innovation. IDEX Next Gen will present an opportunity to benefit from the expertise of startups by enabling them to highlight the most innovative solutions, technologies, and defence equipment that are highly efficient and will contribute to enhancing the development of defence and military industries.
The IDEX Next Gen platform is a valuable addition to IDEX and NAVDEX 2023 as it will contribute to strengthening their leading global position as the largest defence exhibitions in the world. IDEX Next Gen will also provide startups from around the world with an opportunity to showcase their advanced solutions, systems, and technologies that have become pivotal in supporting the development of defence industries worldwide.
IDEX and NAVDEX are the largest events of their kind in the world, and the upcoming edition of IDEX will coincide with the 30th anniversary since the launch of its first edition. The exhibitions will see the participation of senior leaders, officials, decision-makers, and ministers, industry experts, and specialists from all over the world.
IDEX and NAVDEX will provide a world-class platform for showcasing the latest innovations and technologies in the international defence sector. The previous edition of the two exhibitions in 2021 was a remarkable success, with over 62,000 visitors and more than 900 local, regional, and international companies from 59 countries, in addition to 35 national pavilions.
10 Feb 23. ADNEC Group achieves record performance in 2022.
- ADNEC Group’s work scope expanded to include new sectors and geographic areas in the Middle East and Europe
- The Group’s economic contributions in 2022 increased by 48% compared to 2021, reaching AED 3.56bn
- Launch of Marina Hall, the largest of its kind in the Middle East with an area of more than 10,000 square metres
- Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre expands to more than 152,000 square metres, making it the largest in the region
- The Group won 9 prestigious international awards, brining its total of awards to 109
- Number of visitors increased by 155% compared to 2021
- Number of exhibitions, conferences, and specialized events in 2022 increased by 37%
- Providing more than 21,000 job opportunities in various support sectors, an increase of 31% from 2021
- Customer happiness index rises to 96.1%, one of the highest global in the sector
- Activities contributed to raising hotel bookings in Abu Dhabi by more than 471,000 new hotel rooms
- Third stage of expansion work at ExCeL London centre has begun, adding 25,000 square metres of exhibition areas
- ExCeL London hosted 250 events, 15 of them being held for the first time
- New branches of 365 Tourism, the Group’s tourism subsidiary, opened in Germany and Jordan
- Tourism 365 is working with more than 100 major global travel companies to promote tourism in Abu Dhabi
- ADNEC Services expands work, holding various activities in the UAE and Arabian Gulf area
- More than 14 million meals provided to clients of Capital Catering, the Group’s food services and hospitality subsidiary
ADNEC Group has announced record performance in 2022 thanks to the success of its business units, which has contributed to invigorating economic development in Abu Dhabi. This has supported growth across the business tourism and leisure tourism sectors, two prominent industries that are vital to the future development plans for non-oil sectors in the UAE.
This achievement comes hot on the heels of the Group launching its new corporate identity, which involves six key business sectors, including exhibition and conference centres, event organising, hospitality and food, event services, hotels and leisure tourism. The new corporate identity reflects the Group’s renewed vision and message, as it works to expand its scope of business and its geographic presence.
Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and CEO of ADNEC Group, said: “This strong performance during 2022 is an extension of the Group’s continuous success stories, reaffirming Abu Dhabi’s leading position on the global map of business tourism, in addition to consolidating ADNEC’s Group’s standing as a key player in achieving the future vision of our wise leadership for the diversification and sustainability of income sources. This has been achieved by constant development of our capabilities and the quality of services, as well diversifying the portfolio to bring positive income in economic and social terms, in addition to serving the interests of current and future partners.
“The Group’s business sectors achieved record results in 2022 by building upon the achievements in the traditional business areas, and expanding our scope of work to cover new sectors and geographic regions in the Middle East and Europe. This highlights the company’s ongoing strategy of capitalizing on investment opportunities across various economic sectors, and helping to reaffirm Abu Dhabi’s standing as a capital for the business tourism and leisure tourism industries in the region,” he added.
New corporate identity
In 2022, ADNEC Group unveiled its new corporate identity, a step aimed at strengthening the presence of its six key business sectors, including exhibition and conference centres, event organising, hospitality and food, event services, hotels, and leisure tourism. The new corporate identity reflects the Group’s renewed vision and message, as it works to expand its scope of business and its geographic presence.
A number of specialized companies work harmoniously within ADNEC Group in six key business areas, led by ADNEC Convention and Exhibition Centres, which boast a rich agenda of leading specialised events. The Group also owns and operates three prominent international centres, including the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, Al Ain Convention Centre, and ExCeL London.
ADNEC’s second business sector is covered by ADNEC Events, which organises high-profile events both locally and internationally, including eight international exhibitions organised by the Group. These are the International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX), the Maritime Defence Exhibition (NAVDEX), the Unmanned Systems Exhibition (UMEX), the Simulation and Training Exhibition (SIMTEX), the International National Security and Risk Prevention Exhibition (ISNR), the Global Media Congress (GMC), the Abu Dhabi International Boat Show (ADIBS) and the Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition (ADIFE).
The third business sector is overseen by ADNEC Hotels, which owns six prestigious international hotels serving both business and leisure travellers. They include Aloft London ExCeL, DoubleTree by Hilton London ExCeL, Aloft Abu Dhabi, Andaz Capital Gate Abu Dhabi, Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Abu Dhabi, and Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, in addition to acquiring a stake in hotels such as Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Park Rotana Abu Dhabi, and Traders Hotel Qaryat Al Beri.
The fourth sector involves ADNEC Services, which offers a wide range of customized solutions including design, audio and visual production, booth building, major contracting, printing, graphics and forging for the events industry. ADNEC Food & Hospitality provides hospitality and catering services across the UAE, as well as operating Etihad Catering Services.
ADNEC Tourism focuses on leisure tourism with the aim of consolidating the position of Abu Dhabi, the UAE, and other markets in which the company operates as leading tourism destinations that attract as many visitors as possible from all over the world. This is done by providing unique experiences that allow tourists to explore these destinations and enjoy their attractions. These goals are achieved through Tourism 365, which includes Capital Travel, Capital Experience, Capital Holidays, and Capital Drive.
Inauguration of largest waterfront exhibition hall
In 2022, ADNEC Group inaugurated the Marina Hall, the largest waterfront exhibition hall in the MENA region at 10,000 square metre, by hosting the 4th edition of the Abu Dhabi International Boat Show (ADIBS). The inauguration of the new hall helped consolidate the Centre’s standing as it is the only one in the region that can hold indoor, outdoor, and maritime events simultaneously. It is the largest centre for exhibitions and conferences in the region in terms of the area allocated for indoor and outdoor shows, which exceeds 153,000 square metres.
The Marina Hall enjoys a panoramic view of the marine canal area, and is located on the Arabian Gulf Street, which provides easy access to all visitors from inside and outside the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It provides its visitors with more than 700 parking spaces, and is linked to the Centre through a pedestrian bridge.
Exhibitions and activities centres sector
The Group’s exhibition centres in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain brought in direct and indirect return to Abu Dhabi’s economy at an overall value of AED 3.56bn by the end of 2022, marking an increase of 48% compared to 2021. These remarkable results come alongside an increase in the number of visitors for the events hosted by the Group at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, which increased by 155% compared to 2021.
The number of events hosted at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre and Al Ain Convention Centre last year increased by 37% to 238 events compared to 174 in 2021.
In 2022, the Centre hosted 11 new exhibitions, some of which were held for the first time in Abu Dhabi and the Middle East, bringing the total number of exhibitions and events hosted by it to 211, an increase of 225% compared to 2021.
Last year, the Centre hosted 24 prominent international conferences, 9 of which held for the first time in the Middle East, and the Group won 10 bids to organize and host prominent international conferences which also will be held for the first time in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the region, marking a growth of 400% over the previous year.
ADNEC Group announced that it has helped create 21,000 new jobs in related sectors, marking an increase of 31% compared to 2021. The events hosted by the Group’s centres contributed to an increase in hotel bookings by 471,000 hotel nights across the Emirate.
ExCel London
In 2022, ExCel London welcomed more than two million visitors to 250 events hosted by the centre, while ADNEC Group continued the development of its wholly-owned ExCel London Exhibition Centre and announced the start of expansion works, which include the addition of 25,000 square metres of exhibition space, as well as the inclusion of new meeting and conference rooms and service facilities distributed across three floors.
In 2022, ADNEC Group’s ExCel London hosted more than 250 exhibitions, 15 of them being held for the first time there, which included the Formula E World Championship for electric cars, the Olympia London International Horse Show, and many more.
Last year, the ExCeL London centre witnessed a leap in the field of sustainability, as the centre became the first building in the UK to be carbon-neutral according to the PAS 2060 standard. It reached the final stages of developing an integrated strategy for environmental, social, and governance responsibility, and was recertified by the international standard for environmental management system ISO 14001, and ISO 20121 standard for sustainable event management.
In 2022, the centre also obtained regulatory approvals to develop its waterfront, and this kilometre-long project will be a special addition to the centre that will enhance its competitiveness to attract more international brands and major events.
Two phases of the centre’s digital transformation project were completed in 2022, which contributes to generating additional revenues for it. In addition, the Elizabeth Line train line was also launched, which contributes to reducing the travel time for visitors, exhibitors, and participants in the centre’s activities. The opening of this line provided a shorter way to reach Heathrow International Airport in no more than 43 minutes.
Also in 2022, the centre won 5 prestigious international awards, namely the Centre of the Year award from the World Exhibitions News magazine, an award for the most diverse venue in London, an award for the best conference centre in England, as well as an award for the best event of the year for the Formula E World Championship for electric cars.
Exhibitions and events organization sector
In 2022, Capital Events, in cooperation with a group of partners and government agencies, organized 5 major events that attracted thousands of visitors and exhibitors, including 3 new events.
The list of events included the UMEX and SimTEX exhibitions and their accompanying conference in February, which attracted major companies from all over the world, and witnessed the signing of deals worth a total value exceeding AED 2 billion, marking an increase of 177% compared to the deals signed in the 4th edition in 2020. The two exhibitions’ overall area increased 20% compared to the previous edition, and the number of exhibitors reached 141 companies from 27 countries, attracting 15,874 visitors, and hosting 264 official delegations at a 32% increase from the previous edition.
The company also organized the 4th edition of Abu Dhabi International Boat Show (ADIBS) this year on an area of 42,000 square metres, which saw an increase in the number of participating companies and brands by 55% with more than 548 prominent local and international brands. The number of participating countries increased by 57% to 44 countries, while the number of international companies participating increased by 400% compared to last year’s edition.
In 2022, Capital Events launched 3 new events for the first time, namely International Exhibition for National Security and Risk Prevention (ISNR Abu Dhabi) for the first time after its acquisition in 2020. The exhibition saw record participation, attracting more than 19,000 visitors, along with companies from 33 countries, and 120 official delegations from all over the world.
ADNEC Group also organized the first edition of the Global Media Congress, and the first edition of the three-day event attracted more than 13,656 visitors , attracted more than 192 international media companies and organizations representing 42 countries around the world. GMC witnessed the participation of more than 1,200 pioneers, experts and specialists in the media sector.
The Group also organized the first edition of Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition (ADIFE), which attracted more than 445 specialized companies from 41 countries, featuring 20 national pavilions. The event witnessed the signing of 55 deals worth more than AED 3.2 billion concluded by government and private entities, in addition to the signing of 27 memorandums of understanding (MoUs).
Leisure tourism sector
365 Tourism, the leisure tourism subsidiary of ADNEC Group, realized many achievements in a short amount its time via its companies, both on the local and international levels, in addition to opening new branches in Germany and Jordan,
Where Capital Experience employed more than 100 tour operators to support efforts to consolidate Abu Dhabi’s position as a main destination on the global tourism map, and in the last quarter of last year it launched Oasis Capital for organizing desert camping events to showcase the capital as a unique desert tourism destination.
Capital Travel, a subsidiary of tourism 365, achieved significant milestones in its efforts to promote Abu Dhabi’s tourism potential, contracting more than 145 global tourism and travel agencies, hotels, holiday homes, cruise operators, luxury limousine rental companies, travel insurance companies, and other suppliers, and signing partnership agreements with more than 20 international airlines, led by Etihad Aviation Group
Since its acquisition of Etihad Holidays in early June 2022, the company has realised a wide range of achievements and launched several promotional campaigns for Abu Dhabi as a major tourism destination characterized by diversity and integration, through its cooperation with more than 35 partners in the UAE.
Hospitality and food services sector
Capital Hospitality continued its achievements in 2022, launching a new corporate identity after its acquisition o Etihad Catering company which services airlines, providing more than 14 million meals to its partners in the public and private sectors.
In 2022, the company signed a number of contracts to provide food services to airlines affiliated with a number of national companies, and to manage the Etihad Airport lounges, in addition to launching new brands specialized in food services, including Good Life.
During its participation in the first edition of the Abu Dhabi International Food Exhibition (ADIFE), the company signed partnership agreements and memorandums of understanding with a total value of around AED 104m. ADIFE 2022 was organized by Capital Events, a subsidiary of the Group, at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre.
Also in 2022, Capital Hospitality won several awards, including the Excellence in Food Safety award, which was won by Restaurant 76 during the Middle East Facilities Awards.
Hotels sector
ADNEC Hotels, which includes six prestigious international hotels, and provides services to business and leisure travellers alike, achieved exceptional performance in 2022 which was accompanied by an increase in the number of visitors and participants in events hosted by the Group’s centres in the UAE and the UK.
ADNEC Group owned many hotels which are: Aloft London ExCeL, DoubleTree by Hilton London ExCeL, Aloft Abu Dhabi, Andaz Capital Gate Abu Dhabi, Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Abu Dhabi, and Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara.
These six hotels have also won 18 prestigious international awards in 2022.
Event services sector
In 2022, ADNEC Services, a subsidiary of ADNEC Group, continued to explore new business opportunities, and to support events by offering a more diverse range of services and enhancing the services offered outside Abu Dhabi, opening a new office in Dubai as part of the company’s efforts to enhance its reach to a wide range of partners and customers.
The company also organized the Abu Dhabi Sports Summer event, which was held on a total area of 27,000 square metres and included more than 25 tracks and courts equipped according to the highest specifications and standards.
In addition to being selected by Abu Dhabi Digital Authority (ADDA) as the official partner for the design and construction of the Abu Dhabi Government Pavilion at GITEX, the company has provided logistics services for many of the largest events including Etihad Fort 8, the implementation and preparation of the joint Bahraini-Emirati exercise (Jalmud 3), and also serviced many local and international companies at a number of major events in the UAE.
Customer satisfaction
On the other hand, the customer satisfaction indicator increased in 2022 to 96.1%, which is one of the highest global rates in the business tourism sector, as the satisfaction rate of event organizers increased to 97.75%, while visitor satisfaction increased to 96.32%, while exhibitor satisfaction increased to 94.25%.
Prestigious international awards
ADNEC Group won 9 prestigious awards last year, including “Best Employer” at the Middle East Events Awards, among others, bringing the Group’s total of international awards to 109.
Sustainability
As part of its commitment to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, and in line with the UAE’s directions, ADNEC Group has launched for the first time a long-term strategic plan for ESG practices that includes identifying future priorities related to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
The plan is based on 3 main phases: the continuous assessment of the carbon footprint and the prioritization of the sustainable development goals, periodic sustainability reports, and the launch of initiatives to achieve comprehensive sustainability.
In 2022, ADNEC Group’s subsidiaries recycled 78 tons of food waste and converted it into organic fertilizer, in addition to recycling 53.77 tons of cardboard, 2 tons of plastic, and 5 tons of paper.
10 Feb 23. Fit for Defence – An introduction to the Defence Sector.
1st March 2023, Hilton, York.
This is primarily aimed at companies who are new to defence or who have limited experience in the sector. However, any company is welcome to come along to keep up to date with what is happening. Steve Hill will provide a current overview of the Defence Sector including: How Procurement Works – The Buying Cycle, UK Equipment Plan – What the customer wants, Key Requirements for operating in Defence and Where to find Opportunities. There will also be An Overview of the Defence & Security Accelerator (DASA)by Tracey North ACIB, Access to Mentoring and Finance Partner
When – 1st March, 10:30 – 13:00
Where – Hilton, York, YO1 9WD
Free to attend
10:30 – Welcome, Katheryn Gregory, The Supply Chain Network
10:35 – An introduction to the Defence Sector, Steve Hill, Make UK Defence
- Overview of the Defence Sector
- How Procurement Works – The Buying Cycle
- UK Equipment Plan – What the customer wants
- Key Requirements for operating in Defence
- Where to find Opportunities
11:50 – Make UK Defence Support, Andrew Kinniburgh, Director General, Make UK Defence
12:00 – An Overview of the Defence & Security Accelerator (DASA), Tracey North ACIB, Access to Mentoring and Finance Partner
12:15 – Q&A
12:25 – Close, Katheryn Gregory, The Supply Chain Network
12:30 – Networking Lunch
13:00 – Close
Book here: https://www.thesupplychainnetwork.co.uk/Events.aspx
(Source: MAKE UK DEFENCE)
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DSEI 2023 – POWERING PROGRESS, DEFINING YOUR FUTURE
DSEI connects governments, national armed forces, industry thought leaders and the entire defence & security supply chain on a global scale. With a range of valuable opportunities for networking, a platform for business, access to relevant content & live-action demonstrations, the DSEI community can strengthen relationships, share knowledge and engage in the latest capabilities across the exhibition’s Aerospace, Land, Naval, Security & Joint Zones.
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