Strengthening a destination’s business events industry starts with investing in its people.
From 19–21 October, IAPCO Hosted EDGE Oman took place in Muscat, hosted by the Oman Convention Bureau, under the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism – Sultanate of Oman, bringing together IAPCO’s global expertise and educational excellence with regional perspectives to create valuable opportunities for knowledge exchange, professional development and the continued growth of the region’s business events industry.
This collaboration reflects IAPCO’s commitment to advancing excellence through education and global knowledge exchange, alongside Oman’s strategic ambition to strengthen its business events ecosystem and develop local industry capabilities, creating meaningful learning opportunities tailored to the destination’s needs.
Held at Kempinski Hotel Muscat, the three-day programme brought together over 80 students, representatives from more than 50 associations and over 100 industry stakeholders, alongside focused discussions with Oman Convention Bureau.
The programme was led by Ajay Bhojwani (MCI Middle East), IAPCO Council Member and IAPCO Training Academy Regional Representative for the Middle East & Africa (MEA), and featured sessions delivered by IAPCO faculty Benoît Dubuisson (Downtown Europe), IAPCO Council Member, and Florian Fehringer (Mondial Congress & Events), alongside Alexander John and Kavitha Prabhu (MCI Middle East). Together, they brought international expertise, practical insights and regional perspectives to support professional development across the region.
Hosted EDGE Oman demonstrates the value of strategic collaboration between destinations and international industry associations. By aligning Oman’s investment in local talent and industry development with IAPCO’s commitment to education, knowledge exchange and professional excellence, the partnership supports the destination’s long-term ambitions while contributing to stronger capabilities and higher professional standards across the wider Middle East.
Khalid Walid Al Zadjali, Director of the Oman Convention Bureau at the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism, said:
“Hosting IAPCO EDGE Oman was an important milestone for the Oman Convention Bureau. It provided a valuable platform to connect local industry professionals, Faculties, students, and associations with international expertise, encouraging knowledge exchange and professional development.
This collaboration reflects the Oman Convention Bureau's commitment to strengthening industry partnerships, developing local capabilities, and positioning Oman as a destination for international conferences and business events.”
Our sincere appreciation goes to Oman Convention Bureau under the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for their vision, commitment and investment in industry education; to Kempinski Hotel Muscat for their hospitality; to Ajay Bhojwani for his leadership; to our IAPCO faculty and session contributors for sharing their expertise; and to all participants for their engagement and contributions.
Together, we are investing in people, strengthening destinations and Unlocking Excellence.
See how to Host an IAPCO EDGE Seminar