14th April 2025 INCON-ADCEB Masterclass
15th -17th April 2025 INCON Board and University

Arrival and Departure

INCON welcomes all university participants and Board members to attend the INCON-ADCEB Masterclass which is taking place in Abu Dhabi on 14th of April 8.30-18.30. The INCON Board and University programme will take place from 15th of April at 9.00 am to 16th of April until Dinner time. There will be some social tours planned on 17th of April so INCON Board and University delegates can attend if they are interested. Depart that evening or 18th morning.

Welcome to the 2025 INCON Leadership Retreat and University! 

We are thrilled to organize the INCON 2025 University in the beautiful city of Abu Dhabi. We thank our sponsors the Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau for their considerable support and expertise in helping us make such a tremendous meeting and immersive and educational experience. Abu Dhabi is a city renowned for its vibrant culture and as a hub for global conferences. INCON’s University participants will have the opportunity to network with local leaders and explore the highlights of Abu Dhabi as a premier meetings destination. This year’s theme focuses on harmonising financial and operational strategies, providing you with the essential skills and knowledge to excel in managing conferences effectively, efficiently, and on budget.

Leadership Team

Event Partner

Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau’s main mission is to champion the emirate as a dynamic global business events leader. Since March 2013 it has driven and supported the development and promotion of business events throughout the emirate efficiently, effectively and transparently, and in partnership with all its stakeholders.

Abu Dhabi Convention and Exhibition Bureau is a ‘one-stop-shop’ offering solutions, help with planning the event and share local expertise. Key assistance includes researching bid opportunities, facilitating tailored bid strategies to ensure competitiveness, providing destination promotional collateral and boosting delegate numbers through the authority’s international offices.

INCON-ADCEB Masterclass -
Monday 14th April

Introduction

INCON has developed a targeted masterclass to empower Abu Dhabi's local meetings ecosystem by focusing on strategic collaboration and aligning stakeholders. The program highlights how partnerships among key players, the CVB, destination marketing teams, venues, government entities, PCOs, hotels, and DMCs, can position Abu Dhabi as a hub for international meetings and events.

The program addresses the importance of local market readiness and how Abu Dhabi can capitalize on its unique infrastructure and global appeal to attract and host international events. Participants will explore strategies to create value and deliver service excellence, with a strong focus on bidding for international conferences and leveraging a Key Opinion Leader (KOL) program. We invite all participants to attend the masterclass for the entire day we do not encourage people to come and go for different sessions.

Who should attend?

• Government entities

• Destination marketing teams

• CVBs

• PCOs

• DMCs

• Venues 

• INCON Partners

• INCON Teams

Learning Objectives

1. Understand Strategic Collaboration:
   Attending this masterclass will provide practical tools to elevate Abu Dhabi’s profile in the global meetings industry. By bridging local opportunities with international potential, the program aims to position Abu Dhabi as a leader in the region and a hub for world-class events.

2. Enhance Market Readiness and Bidding Strategies:
   Provide tools and insights for crafting competitive bids, leveraging Abu Dhabi’s infrastructure, and engaging a Key Opinion Leader (KOL) program to successfully attract international conferences.

3. Elevate Service Excellence:
   Develop skills to differentiate Abu Dhabi as a premium destination by aligning service standards with global expectations, fostering innovation, and creating models for stakeholder collaboration and representation.

4. Harness Emerging Trends in Niche Markets:
   Explore innovations in medical and specialised events, equipping participants with strategies to prepare Abu Dhabi for leadership in niche markets while addressing global trends like sustainability and legacy.

INCON Board & University -
15 - 17 April

Introduction to the INCON University

This is a high level program with peer to peer education and knowledge exchange where participants take time to reflect, share perspectives, explore challenges and identify business opportunities. It aims to equip participants with the essential skills and knowledge needed to excel in managing conferences effectively, efficiently and on budget. Throughout the University, interactive discussions, real-world case studies, and hands-on exercises will ensure participants walk away with actionable insights and practical strategies to merge financial and operational management successfully for improved financial outcomes and enhanced client satisfaction. 

Who should attend?

INCON Partners and INCON Teams

Learning Objectives 

1. Understand the concept of the value proposition and its importance in the context of financial and operational management.

2. Develop commercial savvy by learning to identify and capitalize on revenue opportunities

3. Enhance negotiation skills to effectively secure contracts at the right rate with clients, vendors, sponsors, and venues for a successful financial outcome.

4. Gain financial prowess by mastering budgeting, financial forecasting, and cost management strategies specific to conference planning and management.

5. Putting you in the right mindset so that finance and operational teams work hand in glove to ensure a successful outcome for the client and for the PCO.