ADNEC launches ‘The Hive’

Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company, ADNEC, has unveiled ‘The Hive’, a new meeting and conference facility, offering 865 square metres of space for its clients.

Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Group CEO of ADNEC, said, “Abu Dhabi’s rapid rise through the International Congress and Convention Association, ICCA, global rankings for the number of events hosted clearly shows its acclaim as a world-class MICE destination. Regardless of that success and recognition, ADNEC is not resting on its laurels. We are committed to developing and growing the conference and meeting sector. Among the key observations we have made at meetings was the insight that audiences are becoming increasingly distracted with traditional meeting formats.”

He added, “Our view is that one-way dialogue – where a presenter lectures an audience – is losing its ability to compete with the distractions of mobile technologies. The Hive is a significantly different environment yet one that complements the existing conference and event facilities at ADNEC. It also gives us the opportunity to fully align with our clients’ objectives and work together to enhance learning, engagement, innovation, networking, training and creativity.”

The Hive is an outgrowth of ADNEC’s Innovation Lab concept, a space originally designed with the objective of providing ADNEC staff with a place within their building to come together to exchange knowledge and to work on internal projects related to innovation.

Robin Miller, Director of Sales for Conferences and Events at ADNEC, said, “The objective was to create a space where everyone is welcome, and all ideas and problems are heard. There was a general understanding that ideas could be challenged. Mistakes could be made, and cross-departmental teams could discuss areas of mutual concern from different perspectives, all with the aim of identifying proposed solutions. These ideas are validated and new, refined iterations challenged through the same process.”

The Hive, consists of an 80-seat auditorium informally named The Collaboratorium, and The Lab that offers 320 square metres of configurable space as well as three meeting rooms offset from the main area. Across the main hall, The White Rooms are a separate meeting area and comprise three meeting spots.