Karim Aly, Vice-President of the Incentives Department at Emeco Travel

What are the trends in the incentive market?

Karim Aly - Emeco Travel was established in 1977. We have become the largest MICE agency in Egypt and handled over 6,000 incentive clients last year alone. Around 40 % of our business comes from France. In recent months, we've seen a drop in budgets. Programmes generally last between four and seven days, with one or two nights in Luxor. A basic four-night stay costs a minimum of €400 to €500 per person, excluding flights, and €800 to €900 if you add extra services such as excursions and evening events.

What types of services do you offer?

K. A. - From Alexandria to the Nile Valley, from a 4×4 raid in the desert to a cruise on the Nile, not forgetting team buildings in the plantations... the programmes are extremely varied. The temples, for example, lend themselves to exceptional private evenings, as do most of Egypt's monuments and museums. Pyramids included. It's a chance to discover them without the crowds of tourists. All you need to do is apply for permission several weeks in advance and put your hand in your pocket. The Habu temple, for example, near Luxor, can accommodate up to 300 people, for a budget of around 500 dollars per person; Karnak or Philae several hundred guests.

Isn't the lack of a convention centre a handicap?

K. A. - It's true that the Nile Valley doesn't have any major facilities, although there are plans for a conference centre in Luxor, near the airport. But the international hotels have rooms that can accommodate several hundred people. This is the case in Luxor at the Hilton, the Sonesta and the Steigenberger hotel, formerly the Meridien. For operations involving just a few dozen people, there's no problem...