The Gulf Property Show, a key regional event being organised by Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions (HCE), has become the first real estate and property expo in the world to feature a property search engine on its website.

A boutique showcase in Bahrain for the real estate and property development sectors, Gulf Property Show will lead the way among real estate exhibitions with this novel initiative, said a statement from HCE.

The annual event runs from May 12 to 14 at the Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre under the patronage of the Prime Minister of Bahrain HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

The property search feature will allow visitors to view listed properties from exhibitors which are available for sale prior to the expo and to contact the sales agents accordingly, said a top official.

"The Property Search feature provides companies the opportunity to promote their property portfolios, with a view to exhibition pre-sales and enquiries before the show begins," stated Jubran Abdulrahman, the managing director of HCE.

The search availability will be promoted extensively around the GCC and globally through social media, print and online advertising as well as through targeted email and SMS campaigns, he added.

The exhibitors have welcomed this novel initiative. "The property search engine is a welcome initiative as it means that, as an exhibitor, it gives us to market our wider portfolio which space at the exhibition may not allow us to," remarked Aziz Mithaiwala, the managing director of Arabian Property Awards winner Pegasus Realty.

"We have been involved with the Gulf Property Show since its inception and are impressed by its innate understanding of business development for the property sector," stated Mithaiwala.

Gulf Property Show 2015 is a milestone year in its development as the region's boutique property show. It has attracted interest from realtors selling properties in  Bahrain and the rest of the GCC, Turkey, Bosnia, Bulgaria and the UK, with interest from Cyprus and Spain.

"The property search feature will be added to with an online virtual exhibition for a further 200 days after the exhibition get over, " explained Ahmed Suleiman, the exhibition director of the Gulf property Show.

"This will provide exhibitors with a wider marketing appeal and also the opportunity to close deals before and after the exhibition from clients who may not be able to visit the show,” he added.

The Property Search feature is being managed by 4Spots, the IT channel partners of Hilal Conferences and Exhibitions.

An annual feature, The Gulf Property Show has garnered support from the Bahrain Property Developers Association, the Middle East Facilities Management Association and the German Chambers of Commerce.

The event is dedicated to promoting Bahrain and the GCC’s real estate and property developments, said the organiser.

It brings exposure to commercial and residential real estates by showcasing local as well as international developers, investors and realtors to their targeted audiences, they added.

Gulf Property Show takes place alongside two other major exhibitions, gulfBID and gulfInteriors, thus ensuring the continued success of the biggest integrated business-to-business showcase for the construction, interiors and property in the Northern Gulf.-TradeArabia News Service