M&I Expo 2027

How it compares

M&I Expo occupies a different place in the meetings calendar from the large European marketplaces. IMEX Frankfurt offers a broad sourcing sweep: its 2026 supplier base comprised 2,900 destinations, venues and suppliers representing 100 countries. Frankfurt suits planners comparing many destinations, service providers and venue types in one trip, and suppliers seeking access to the German outbound market as well as international buyers. Its scale leaves more room for a broad industry agenda around the appointment diary.

IBTM World combines Barcelona's international supplier marketplace with event technology and its Exceptional Experiences program for in-house event leaders and brand marketers. The November show belongs on the shortlist when destination sourcing and the design of brand experiences carry equal weight. Its 2026 program is built around 2,500 suppliers.

M&I Expo makes the strongest case for a more concentrated diary with vetted senior counterparts and hospitality woven into the commercial program. Abu Dhabi also gives buyers a chance to assess the host destination through property showcases and familiarization opportunities. Suppliers selling hotels, venues or destinations gain a format built around meeting schedules and shared hospitality, including a choice between a single exhibitor backdrop and a pavilion with several partners.

M&I Expo suits senior meeting and incentive planners who want a concentrated international sourcing diary and firsthand experience of Abu Dhabi's event offer.

Who exhibits

Hotel portfolios and destination groups are central to the stand model. Marriott International describes a shared hub bringing together more than 50 hotels across 30 brands, a useful format for planners comparing several properties within one group. Boutique properties and meeting venues also fit the supplier mix. Solo stands serve individual exhibitors, while Spotlight and Space-Only options allow partners to share a larger presence. The commercial unit is the meeting schedule, so the mix rewards suppliers able to discuss specific event requirements directly with senior buyers.

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M&I Expo 2027

M&I Expo 2027 brings the exhibition to Abu Dhabi after the planned 2026 launch was postponed. The program combines curated appointments with education, buyer property showcases and a farewell dinner. The incentive education includes generational research from SITE and a workshop using group design sprints. Green Tick recognition, reviewed by event:decision, highlights suppliers' sustainability credentials in Wyred and other Expo channels. Hosted and Flex buyer packages support different levels of participation, alongside a visitor option for local buyers and additional delegates.

• Use the buyer property showcases and FAM opportunities to test Abu Dhabi as a destination for your own meeting or incentive brief, beyond the supplier conversations at ADNEC.
• For an incentive project aimed at a younger workforce, pair supplier appointments with the generational trends workshop and its group design sprint.
• Use Green Tick recognition to identify suppliers with reviewed sustainability credentials, then discuss the reporting and planning support your event requires.

Exhibiting

The stand options are organized around meeting schedules: Solo for an individual presence, Spotlight for a branded shared stand, and Space-Only for a larger pavilion. Packages combine appointments with an exhibitor pass for each partner, hospitality, Wyred listing and meeting analysis. This format suits hotels, venues and destinations whose sales team can turn a detailed buyer brief into a tailored proposal. Extra delegates, stand upgrades and Wi-Fi are separate add-ons.