The Hive is now open in Abu Dhabi. The 9,300-square-foot venue was designed as a workspace, but also for meetings and events use. The Hive is an outgrowth of Abu Dhabu National Exhibitions Company’s (ADNEC) Innovation Lab concept.
Originally the space was created for the ADNEC staff to come together to host meetings and to work on internal projects related to innovation. It didn’t take long to realize that if their own meetings felt different in a different space, a client’s meeting or event would also result in a different experience.
“The objective was to create a space where everyone is welcome, and all ideas and problems are heard.” Said Robin Miller, director of sales for conferences and events at ADNEC. “It led to a major rethink on the part the venue plays in the outputs of our clients’ events, and how critical that space and experience is to all parties.”
The Hive consists of an 80-seat auditorium informally named The Collaboratorium, and The Lab a nearly 3,500-square-foot configurable space as well as three meeting rooms. Across the main hall, The White Rooms are three separate meeting spaces.
The Hive features different furniture, color palettes, flooring and ceilings in each separate space. Floor-to-ceiling glass panels separate the rooms, and most of the eclectically colored furniture is on wheels so that groups can personalize them as needed.
The Hive also offers “grazing catering” for attendees. This grab-and-go concept allows participants to enjoy food and drink as they need it versus a traditional coffee break or lunch.
Al Dhaheri added: “ADNEC is keeping an open mind about who will use The Hive, and the many purposes it can fulfil.
“Truly, this is an experiment and disruption of the age-old meeting room concept, where we work with our clients to envision the future of face-to-face events,” said Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, group CEO of ADNEC.
