Press Releases ITB Berlin Convention - The Leading Travel Industry Think Tank

O P E N I N G R E P O R T

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:00:00 GMT

ITB Berlin 2010 fully booked and with slight expansion:
11,127 exhibiting companies from 187 countries

World's leading trade fair for the international travel industry benefits from the strength of the markets - Travel sector represented in its entirety on Berlin's Exhibition Grounds - Exhibitors have invested in new stands and two-storey structures - Driving innovation: Travel Technology and Mobile Travel Services presenting a sophisticated range - Added value for exhibitors and visitors: ITB Social Media Lounge � Partner country Turkey the largest individual exhibitor - Innovations, expansion and new exhibitors - Compact knowledge free of charge at ITB Berlin Convention: approx. 100 papers and 250 speakers and discussion partners revealing trends in demographics, climate change, technology and consumer behaviour

ITB Berlin is fully booked again. From 10 to 14 March 2010 more exhibitors than ever before will be presenting their products and services, which cover the entire added value chain of the international travel industry.

The 11,127 exhibiting companies (2009:11,098) from 187 countries occupy the whole of the Exhibition Grounds, comprising 26 halls and covering 160,000 square metres. "At a time of reduced marketing budgets the worldwide market leader ITB Berlin enjoys a clear competitive edge", states Dr. Christian G�ke, Chief Operating Officer of Messe Berlin. "We are proud to announce that the number of exhibitors has increased again. Moreover, with new sections and new exhibitors, ITB Berlin confirms its role as a trendsetter and opinion leader."

A fresh impetus for the travel industry

At the start of the 44th ITB Berlin there are encouraging signs for the travel industry. As revealed by the figures supplied by the latest GfK Tourism Sales Panel, demand across Europe is recovering. Exhibitors are looking to the future and investing to make their presentations at the fair a success. South Africa, Egypt, Malaysia, England, Italy, the Balearics, Hamburg, Bremen and Singapore Airlines all have new stands this year in Berlin. Emirates has given its rotating sphere a completely new external facade, a new stand design that is making its world debut at ITB Berlin. Two storey stands are becoming more popular too: Malaysia has added another storey, the Dominican Republic is exhibiting on two floors, and Turkish Airlines, Rixos Hotels and the new exhibitor Harlequin Hotels, a luxury hotel group from the Caribbean, have also expanded upwards.

ITB Berlin as a pioneer: Mobile Travel Services

The market for providers of mobile internet services is growing at a breath-taking pace and ITB Berlin is the first trade fair for the travel industry that is providing it with a separate platform. The "Mobile Travel Services" section in the exhibition area in Hall 7.1.c provides a compact overview, supplemented by information in the form of papers and presentations on a stage from, among others, Air Berlin, Avis Autovermietung, Deutsche Bahn, HRS, Microsoft Deutschland, Netbiscuits, TOURIAS Mobile and Sabre Holdings. Mobile services were in a very early stage of development only a few months ago but are now being presented as surprisingly tangible, clearly defined and user-ready products.

There is plenty to discover at ITB Berlin 2010, including advice about suitable strategies for creating one's own mobile page and the technical details needed to adapt it for use with various terminals, as well as an integrated smartphone marketing campaign. Anyone who is interested in mobile internet applications should not confine themselves to Hall 7.1c. Travel Technology has traditionally been strongly represented at ITB Berlin, and this year major players such as Sabre are back again, this time joined by new exhibitors that include XClirion, Lute Tec, Hotel Net Solutions, Vertical Booking and Hotelreservierung.de.

Many of the suppliers at Travel Technology, including Sabre, Siemens and Anite, as well as travel IT and travel companies, are featuring B2B and B2C services. A compact overview is being presented for the first time this year by the new Travel Technology Guide 2010 by ITB Berlin. This can also be accessed on the internet at
www.itb-berlin.com/library.

Added value for exhibitors and visitors: ITB Social Media Lounge

Tourism in Web 2.0 will without doubt be the subject of some of the most controversial trends to be discussed at this year's fair. Initiated by FAKTOR 3, the ITB Berlin Social Media Lounge provides the impetus for the right online communication strategy in tourism. It has been created in collaboration with the Hamburg advertising agency FAKTOR 3 as a source of practical knowledge. Each day during the trade visitors' days the programme will include some ten papers and discussions about various aspects of social media. Participation is free of charge. On the weekend, when the fair is also open to the public, ITB Berlin extends an invitation to find out more about its own social media programme.

Focus on the partner country Turkey

As one of the largest exhibitors, Turkey's display in Hall 3.2 ranges from the traditional to the modern. Occupying some 3,000 square metres, it presents the cultural wealth, the wide range of tourism attractions, the diversity of the vacation regions and the culinary delights of this popular holiday destination. One of this year's highlights is provided by Istanbul, and visitors to the Exhibition Grounds can experience something of the diversity and dynamism of the current European capital of culture. They will be able to see how the culture and art of Istanbul provide a spiritual and artistic bridge between the Orient and the Occident. Another fascinating aspect is a reproduction of the highly ornate gateway of the Divri�i Ulucami mosque. The oldest Islamic building in Anatolia, it was constructed in 1229 in the province of Sivas and has been declared part of the world cultural heritage by UNESCO. Visitors can admire another world cultural heritage site in Hall 10.2, with the traditional architecture of the Safranbolu houses.

See, smell, taste is the slogan in the world's oldest shopping centre, "Kapalicarsi". In the six typical shops visitors can experience, with all their senses, all the vitality of a bazaar. And there is even more to experience, with the culinary specialities from all the regions of Turkey, which are being offered by the partner country in the SAHAN Restaurant adjoining Hall 3.2 and in two Turkish snack bars located between Halls 3.2 and 4.2.

On the days when the public are admitted audiences can thrill to the shows on the Turkey stand and on the large stage in Hall 4.1, where live Turkish music and the rhythms of the country�s folk traditions will be helping to create an authentic atmosphere.

Other new additions on the Exhibition Grounds

A second new section can be found in Hall 2.1 at ITB Berlin, featuring Gay and Lesbian Travel. The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association IGLTA from the USA, along with its members and independent exhibitors in this sector from Thailand and Argentina, will be exhibiting at the Gay & Lesbian Pavilion. A networking area featuring a photo display devoted to the city of Vienna will provide an ideal meeting place and discussion venue. The importance of this new section is underlined by an accompanying congress. On Friday, 12 March, the ITB Marketing and Distribution Day will be devoted to the requirements of this target group with a workshop entitled "Strategies for the expanding market of gay & lesbian tourism: lessons learned from the first movers". The findings of an exclusive study of gay & lesbian tourism will also be presented.

In the new hall for "Central and Inner Asian Countries" (CIA) destinations in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will be promoting their fascinating landscapes and cultural attractions.

For the first time ITB Berlin will also feature a closing show, in cooperation with the International Delphic Council. "The Festival of the Delphic Games - at the grand Closing Show of ITB Berlin 2010" on 14 March 2010, starting at 3 p.m. at the Palais am Funkturm, will present contemporary and traditional artists from Turkey, South Korea, Greece, Madagascar, then USA and Germany, with pulsating rhythms, fascinating sounds, exciting dancing and comedy too.

Expansion and new exhibitors

The airline industry is well represented this year at ITB Berlin. Garuda Indonesia is making its first appearance and has its own stand in Hall 26. Singapore Airlines has relocated and its stand can now be found in Hall 5.2. United Airlines is back, in the USA hall, 2.1. Fraport is again represented in the Hesse hall. Exhibiting for the first time here, in Hall 25, are the airlines Al Masira, German Sky Airlines (on the GTI stand) and Germania.

The boom in Asia shows no sign of letting up. A new region on show at ITB Berlin for the first time is Wuxi in China. There has been a considerable expansion by Indonesia and Thailand in Hall 26. Phuket has doubled its stand area and Koh Samui is also occupying a much larger display space. There are some new private sector exhibitors from Vietnam, including Ami Tourist, Footprint Vietnam Travel (also appearing at ITB Asia this year) and Fusion Management.

Many people are keen to visit the Indian display in Hall 5.2b. Once again Kerala has increased its display area, while the Rajasthan Tourism Board has a combined stand for the region for the first time, and the Indian adventure park "Kingdom of dreams" is making its world debut.

This year the African countries exhibiting in Hall 20/21 are also occupying the lobby area and the foyer. Among the newcomers are the African Travel Agencies' Association Retosa (DRV Africa) and some new tour operators.

Adventure travel, in Hall 4.1, remains a very popular display at ITB Berlin. With exhibitors from more than 30 countries, including Australia, Canada, USA, and South Africa, as well as countries in Europe, Asia, Latin America, North Africa and other parts of Africa, this section is more international than ever before. Trade visitors and the general public can gain insights into the various attractions offered by the providers of adventure and nature travel, with the emphasis on "Sustainable Travel".

For the first time the Discover America Pavilion in Hall 2.1 will also include the Apache Spirit Ranch, the EOV Group, Myrtle Beach SC and Vantage Hospitality.

New exhibitors among the hotels include Langham Hotels in Hall 9 and Harlequin Hotels and Resorts in Hall 3.1.

Training and employment at ITB Berlin

The leading trade fair for the worldwide travel industry offers numerous job prospects for students and first-time employees with a tourism back-ground. "Training and Employment in Tourism" in Hall 5.1 presents offers from 73 exhibiting companies from 17 countries.

Well known tourism companies and institutes are providing details about study courses and advanced training opportunities. At the ITB Employment Exchange, powered by YOURCAREERGROUP, job-seekers can find out about positions on offer by consulting the vacancies board throughout the five days of the fair. For those in search of a job there is a unique opportunity to let the professionals from personnel departments in the tourism sector study their application folders. Following last year's success the employment agency Agentur f�r Arbeit Suhl is attending once again with its "MeerArbeit" (maritime job vacancies) project. Specialising in finding qualified personnel for cruise ships and shipping lines, this agency enables those seeking employment at sea to make contact with the main cruise providers during ITB Berlin.

Main themes of the ITB Berlin Convention

The ITB Berlin Convention is regarded as the leading think tank for the global travel industry. Attendance at the world's largest tourism convention, which presents invaluable, up-to-date information in a concentrated form over a three-day period, is free of charge. In some 100 events it provides people in the industry with details about the inner workings of the financial crisis and of social changes. Over 200 outstanding speakers will be discussing trends, innovative strategies and vital issues. This year sees the launch of a new event, the ITB Global Future Summit. The speakers and panel guests will be Paul Flatters, Partner, trajectory - the futures partnership, Prof. Dr. Claudia Kemfert, Departmental Director for Energy, Transport, Environment, German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin), Hertie School of Governance, Dr. Reiner Klingholz, Director, Berlin Institute for Population and Development, Patrick Sch�nemann, Geo Sales Manager DACH & Nordics, Google Enterprise.

The leading trade fair for the worldwide travel industry is introducing an ITB Marketing und Distribution Day for the first time as an opportunity to host in-depth discussions about the far-reaching changes taking place in the way that people make reservations, and their changing information requirements. In the series of discussions about "Individualised Package Tours" experts will reveal that the much quoted paradigm shift to "longtail offers" is already taking place. The internet as a medium will also be scrutinised in order to find attractive niche markets and to tailor discussions with customers in order to meet individual requirements.

The future of customer acquisition and securing customer loyalty will be dealt with under the heading of "Web 2.0 und Social Media" and in the section on mobile travel solutions for business and leisure travellers. The final item on the agenda, "ITB Tourism and Climate Panel", will investigate the subjects of climate protection and ecology as the main challenges of this century.

On the Thursday the ITB Hospitality Day will address a number of issues including the question of how hotels should revise their offers in view of climate change. Among the speakers on the panel of CEOs will be top executives from leading hotel chains, who will be talking about the market and their own strategies for survival.

In the context of CSR the subjects being covered at ITB Berlin are extremely topical. This is evident from the range of fascinating papers dealing with "CSR in Tourism" in Halls 4.1 and 5.1 and at the ICC Berlin, and from the involvement of the world's leading travel trade fair in the ITB Berlin Convention, with the CRS Day on the Thursday. Various aspects of climate change and sustainable tourism will be dealt with in more than twenty separate events. All the events are listed in a printed programme which is available at all the information counters on the Exhibition Grounds.

The first Media Summit at ITB Berlin on 12 March will be attended by prominent representatives of the media, politics and the travel industry, who will be discussing many questions surrounding the future of tourism media: How will the travellers of the future obtain their information? Are the traditional media losing their importance as news providers? What will the future bring for travel journalists? Wolfgang Clement, former Federal Minister of Economics and Labour and, as a trained journalist, for many years the editor in chief of various daily newspapers, will provide the keynote address. The discussions will be chaired by the Berlin media correspondent Hajo Schumacher and those taking part are: Romanus Otte, General Manager Welt Online, Michael Ramstetter, Editor in Chief of ADAC Motorwelt and of the ADAC Travel Magazine as well as Head of Public Relations for ADAC e.V. , Tobias J�ngert, Director of Corporate Communications for REWE Touristik GmbH, and Benjamin Jost, General Manager of TrustYou.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention

ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday, 10 to Sunday, 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. ITB Berlin is the world's leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors. Parallel with the trade fair, the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 March 2010. Full details of the programme can be found at www.itb-convention.com/program.

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Slight easing of pressure in the business travel sector

Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Recovery in sight - The current survey of members of the Association of German Travel Management (VDR) reveals a mood of cautious optimism in the business travel sector

There is light at the end of the tunnel and positive signals are changing the mood in the travel industry. Ahead of the world's leading travel trade show the end of the global recession is also reflected by the business travel sector. This was revealed by the latest survey of members of the Association of German Travel management (VDR). In collaboration with ITB Berlin, the world's leading platform for the global travel industry, the VDR asked its members to predict what the impact of the world economic and financial crisis would be on business travel during the current business year. Their findings: more than half of the companies that were polled, consisting of suppliers as well as German companies with their own travel management departments, are confident that there will be an upturn before this year is over. Furthermore almost a quarter of those questioned expect to see a recovery in business travel activity at the start of next year. Only ten per cent of companies expressed their concern that there would not be a recovery in business travel.

"The trend that has been revealed by the latest snap poll by the VDR is giving the industry reasons for cautious optimism. This is good news for ITB Berlin", comments Dr. Martin Buck, Director of the Competence Centre Travel & Logistics at Messe Berlin, referring to the findings of this survey. "Stringent travel guidelines, which have met with complete acceptance within the companies, and are being consistently applied, not only offer tangible benefits for travel management but also ensure high levels of reliability and professionalism in the dealings between companies' customers and service providers."

The economic situation continues to have a significant impact on the business travel activities of German companies. However, following a sharp downturn a year ago there seems to have been something of a recovery. Nevertheless the situation is having a noticeable effect on cost-saving, and almost 60 per cent of VDR member companies are still paying particular attention to costs and are seeking cheaper travel options. However, the survey did reveal that cost-cutting is not being applied as rigorously as it was during the initial phase of the economic and financial crisis at the beginning of last year. Only
11 per cent of these companies are cutting out all travel which is not absolutely necessary, compared with twice as many in October 2009, according to the latest survey by the VDR.

Companies are making more use of web, video and telephone conferencing as a means of reducing their travel costs. One third of the VDR member companies that were questioned now apply such technology as a substitute for business travel. A further 20 per cent are following this trend for other reasons, such as improving internal communication. "The shift in the direction of virtual conferences is one of many topical issues being dealt with during the Business Travel Days, which are taking place during ITB Berlin", Dr. Buck reports. "This convention will provide decision-makers in travel management with a valuable stimulus for addressing strategies when the crisis is over. Experts will be explaining, for example, the extent to which the use of telecommunications can replace face-to-face discussions."

The snap poll was conducted among the 512 members of the VDR at the beginning of February. A total of 126 companies took part.

Reduced-rate tickets: online for school pupils and students

Anyone attending ITB Berlin on the public days, Saturday and Sunday, 13 and 14 March 2010, can obtain their tickets from the comfort of their own homes and at a reduced rate by booking online at www.itb-berlin.com/tickets. Online tickets cost 12 euros compared with the usual price of 14 euros. The cost on the day from the ticket offices on the grounds is 14 euros. Children up to the age of 14 accompanied by parents will be admitted free of charge. Schoolchildren and students can obtain reduced rate day tickets costing just eight euros. Last Minute tickets for 14 March, valid from 2 to 6 p.m., cost eight euros from the ticket offices. Tickets for the public days at ITB Berlin are also available until 12 March 2010 from all BVG sales outlets and BVG ticket dispensers at stations throughout the city. To facilitate travel to and from the fair and for other journeys by public transport the VBB day ticket, costing
6.10 euros (Berlin AB), is recommended. ITB Berlin is open daily from
10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention

ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday, 10 to Sunday, 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. ITB Berlin is the world's leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors. Parallel with the trade fair, the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 March 2010. Full details of the programme can be found at www.itb-convention.com/program.

Fachhochschule Worms and the US-based market research company for the travel industry PhoCusWright Inc are partners of the ITB Berlin Convention 2010. SkyTeam is among the premium sponsors of the ITB Aviation Day, TopAlliance is responsible for VIP service, airliners.de is media partner of the airport session within the ITB Aviation Day and hospitalityInside.com is media partner of the ITB Hospitality Day.
Futouris, Kiel Earth Institute, Landau Media, news aktuell and Wilde & Partner are sponsors of particular sessions. Partners cooperating with the ITB Business Travel Days 2010 are: Deutsche Bahn AG, DRV Deutscher ReiseVerband e.V., Europ�ische Reiseversicherung AG (ERV), FCm Travel Solutions, hotel.de, HSMA (Hospitality Sales und Marketing Association) Deutschland e.V., schaefer mobility group GmbH, Seminaris Campushotel Berlin Science & Conference Center, Veranstaltungsplaner.de, the travel management association Verband Deutsches Reisemanagement e.V. (VDR) and Schlosshotel F�rstlich Drehna.
The media partners cooperating with the ITB Business Travel Days 2010 are BIZ Travel, Business&IT, connect, DMM Der Mobilit�tsmanager, Gesch�ftsreise Effektiv, Markt und Mittelstand,Tempra, travel manager, TW TagungsWirtschaft and working@office.

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Big names and leading international companies at the ITB Berlin Convention

Tue, 02 Mar 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Royal celebrities, among them His Royal Highness, the Hon. Chief Mukuni of Zambia, and Fabien Cousteau, the world famous oceanographer, will figure on the list of more than 200 speakers - leading enterprises, ranging from Google to the World Wide Fund For Nature, will be debating the future of travel

As the international travel industry's think tank, from 10 to 12 March 2010 this year's ITB Berlin Convention is once again presenting an outstanding programme, with more than 200 leading speakers. The list of speakers and participants from practical fields, science and politics, reads like a Who's Who of the travel industry. His Royal Highness, the Hon. Chief Mukuni of Zambia will add royal flair to the ITB Destination Days, which run over a period of three days. At the Africa Forum, at a discussion round with the Hon. Najib Mohamed Balala, Minister of Tourism of the Republic of Kenya, and Martina Kohl of the World Wide Fund For Nature (WWF), His Royal Highness, the Hon. Chief Mukuni will be discussing how important tourism is among the measures for combating poverty, as well as the role of development aid. Well known author and TV presenter Manuel Andrack will speak on the subject of spirituality and tourism. Vural �ger, owner of �ger Tours, will also be setting the tone with his keynote speech on the challenges posed by the creation of sustainable tourism destinations.

At the ITB CSR Day the world famous oceanographer and environmental activist Fabien Cousteau will be raising some fundamental issues. In the second keynote speech he will be examining whether ocean protection and tourism are friends or foes. Along with other participants from the travel industry, Dr. Volker B�ttcher, CEO, TUI Deutschland GmbH, will examine the topic of customer experiences as regards sales, and whether CSR is simply a fake concept. Along with other panel discussion members, Pier Luigi Foschi, Chairman & CEO, Costa Crociere S.p.A., will be answering questions from the audience at a session debating whether the expanding cruise market has a negative effect on the environment.

Leading figures will also be attending the ITB Aviation Day. Dr. Temel Kotil, CEO, Turkish Airlines will hold a keynote speech opening this headline event of the world's aviation industry. At the global CEO Panel the following will take part in the panel discussion on the future of the world's aviation industry: Joachim Hunold, CEO, Air Berlin, Stefan Pichler, CEO, Jazeera Airways and Emirsyah Satar, President & CEO, Garuda Indonesia. Mauro Oretti, Vice President Sales and Marketing SkyTeam, will examine the future of strategic alliances in aviation. Along with leading airport experts, Dr. Stefan Schulte, Chairman of the Board of Fraport AG, will be highlighting best practice examples for increasing public acceptance of air traffic in the vicinity of airports.

Prof. Dr. Claudia Kemfert, Head of the Energy, Transport and Environment Department at the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin), will open the ITB Global Future Summit at the ITB Future Day. Along with other experts she will be discussing the main trends as regards demographics, climate change, natural resources, technology and consumer behaviour. In a discussion round with other high-ranking participants, Peter Hill, CEO, Oman Air, will be analysing whether luxury tourism is still a viable market.

Finally, the search engine giant Google will be represented at the Global Future Summit with Patrick Sch�nemann, Geo Sales Manager DACH & Nordics, Google Enterprise, as well as at the PhoCusWright@ITB Berlin Technology Convention with Javier Gonz�lez-Soria. The paper due to be held by the CEO of Google Travel Spain, entitled "What's New With Google", promises fascinating insights and a look ahead regarding the latest developments of the enterprise heading the World Wide Web.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention

ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday, 10 to Sunday, 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. ITB Berlin is the world's leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors. Parallel with the trade fair, the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 March 2010. Full details of the programme can be found at www.itb-convention.com/program.

Fachhochschule Worms and the US-based market research company for the travel industry PhoCusWright Inc are partners of the ITB Berlin Convention 2010. SkyTeam is among the premium sponsors of the ITB Aviation Day, TopAlliance is responsible for VIP service, airliners.de is media partner of the airport session within the ITB Aviation Day and hospitalityInside.com is media partner of the ITB Hospitality Day.
Futouris, Kiel Earth Institute, Landau Media, news aktuell and Wilde & Partner are sponsors of particular sessions. Partners cooperating with the ITB Business Travel Days 2010 are: Deutsche Bahn AG, DRV Deutscher ReiseVerband e.V., Europ�ische Reiseversicherung AG (ERV), FCm Travel Solutions, hotel.de, HSMA (Hospitality Sales und Marketing Association) Deutschland e.V., schaefer mobility group GmbH, Seminaris Campushotel Berlin Science & Conference Center, Veranstaltungsplaner.de, the travel management association Verband Deutsches Reisemanagement e.V. (VDR) and Schlosshotel F�rstlich Drehna.
The media partners cooperating with the ITB Business Travel Days 2010 are BIZ Travel, Business&IT, connect, DMM Der Mobilit�tsmanager, Gesch�ftsreise Effektiv, Markt und Mittelstand,Tempra, travel manager, TW TagungsWirtschaft and working@office.

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The complete guide to ITB Berlin on your mobile � for free

Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:00:00 GMT

This is the second year that ITB Berlin is offering its visitors a trade fair guide for mobiles and smartphones. The ITB Mobile Guide - provided by GIATA & TOURIAS Mobile - lets visitors navigate their way easily around the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. Besides a map of the grounds, information includes the programme of the ITB Convention, a list of events along with press conferences, presentations, receptions, and a function for looking up exhibitors. After the fair closes the ITB Mobile Guide provides users with information on the quickest way to the city centre and tips on Berlin nightlife. Also included are restaurants, bars and information on tourist attractions. This clever pocket-sized trade fair companion can be easily downloaded onto many standard mobiles and smartphones, for example at www.itb-berlin.de/mobil via an internet landline, at itb-berlin.mobi via a mobile phone / smartphone browser, by texting (only one-time, low-cost charges for a text message and/or download), or via a Bluetooth station at the TOURIAS Mobile Stand in Hall 7.1c/Stand 129) in the new Mobile Travel Services section.

Once again, this year's ITB Mobile Guide has been developed by leading tourism content providers TOURIAS Mobile and GIATA. TOURIAS tips&deals, a product marketed by both companies, offers hotels, tour operators and travel portals comprehensive solutions for mobiles and smartphones. The TOURIAS tips&deals HotelGuide lets hotels advertise their services by providing extensive hotel information in up to 11 languages, a complete travel guide, as well as numerous practical features such as maps and weather information. Christoph Schotter, Managing Director of Tourias Mobile GmbH: "Applications are now a big trend in the tourism industry as well. They offer destinations, tour operators and hotels altogether new opportunities for marketing and winning customers."

About TOURIAS Mobile

TOURIAS Mobile, W�rzburg, develops, operates and markets applications for mobile devices. Among its customers are TUI Deutschland, ITB Berlin, Swiss Railways (SBB), Hamburg Tourismus and City Airport Train in Vienna. Besides customised items, TOURIAS Mobile markets standard products for a variety of customers in the tourism industry, e.g. for hotels, destinations and tour operators.

About GIATA

GIATA mbH, an association which develops and markets interactive tourism applications, is the leading content provider for the tourism industry. GIATA obtains and standardises (normalises) digital images and texts supplied by nearly all the well known tour operators and travel agencies: TUI, Thomas Cook, Easyjet, ITS, FTI, Alltours, �ger Tours, Expedia, Travelchannel, Opodo, Lastminute.com and billigweg.de. Overall, Giata produces and distributes data for close to 18,000 customers.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention

ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday, 10 to Sunday, 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. ITB Berlin is the world's leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors. Parallel with the trade fair, the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 March 2010. Full details of the programme can be found at www.itb-convention.com/program.

Join ITB Berlin Pressenetz at www.xing.com
Support ITB Berlin at www.facebook.de/ITBBerlin
Follow ITB Berlin on www.twitter.com

ITB Supply und Mobile Travel Services � packed with innovation and information from international market leaders

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Tourism industry platform for mobile travel services and suppliers in Hall 7.1c for the first time - free first-hand expert information on the presentation stage and at the ITB Convention

There is no stopping the rapidly expanding market offering mobile communications and technological solutions for the global travel industry. The fact that there are so many international technology companies offering mobile travel services at ITB Berlin is proof of this, and for the first time they will be exhibiting jointly under one roof in the ITB Supply section in Hall 7.1c. They include the world�s leading global innovators and mobile internet page operators Netbiscuits GmbH, the network operators Ecocarrier, a subsidiary of the Canadian mobile communications operator QiiQ, the audio guide portal for art and cultural tourism Pausanio GmbH & Co. KG, the travel guide suppliers for mobile phones Tourias and Tourist Mobile, Europe's leading hotel portal HRS, Sixt, car hire service providers throughout Europe, as well as YOC, SpotMySpots, In&Phone, GIATA mbH, Deutsche Bahn, Clanmo and Avinotec. Companies in the adjacent halls will also be exhibiting their mobile technology products. Among them will be Heidelberg Mobil International (Hall 6.2), Mvolution (Hall 6.1), Diginet Media (Hall 6.1), Fast Booking (Hall 8.1), Green Solutions (Hall 6.1), Hotel.de (Hall 8.1), Hubermedia (Hall 6.1) and IC Tourismus (Hall 6.1).

In order to provide clearer information on this abundance of mobile travel services, over the first four days of the fair well known industry experts will be answering questions on the presentation stage in Hall 7.1c. Topics such as "Mobile sales channels offering tourism services and products", "Working with mobile networks" and "Working on the move? Yes, of course!" will be aimed at providing transparency for visitors.

Industry experts at the ITB Berlin Convention

A number of sessions at the world's largest tourism convention will also be discussing mobile travel services. At the ITB Hospitality Day on 11 March the topic will be "Mobile devices: smartphones, how are they changing hotel booking patterns?". Participants will include Olivier Harnisch, Vice President, International Operations Germany and Switzerland, Hilton Worldwide, Marco Nussbaum, Managing Director, prizeotel, Tobias Ragge, Managing Director, HRS-HOTEL RESERVATION SERVICE and Martin Thyssen, Director Alliances EMEA, Research In Motion. At the ITB Business Travel Days on 12 March the keynote speaker Gerry Samuels, founder and executive director of Mobile Travel Technologies Ltd., will talk about how mobile travel services are changing the world of business travel.

ITB Supply - an important platform for tourism industry suppliers

With the Mobile Travel Services and ITB Supply sections exhibiting in a joint display area in Hall 7.1c, trade visitors need cover only short distances to find all the information they need. What is more, Hall 7.1c is in the middle of the grounds at ITB Berlin and very close to international hotel chains, carriers and other tourism companies in Halls 8.1 and 9.

The wide range of products and services which tourism industry suppliers are exhibiting at the fair includes hotel and wellness facilities, systems for conferences, shows and events, sales promotion, promotional items and name badges. Melitta SystemService, one of the world�s leading manufacturers of coffee machines for industrial applications, is exhibiting customised coffee machines for breakfast and banquet events, and for use in bars and restaurants. The international manufacturer of technology and design products Bartech is presenting its latest innovation, a flat fridge. Measuring only 230 millimetres in depth, this refrigerator fits in perfectly alongside the latest flat screen TVs. VSL Hotel Consulting, a service provider offering housekeeping and lodging, will have information on its new Gadget Pro system. Samina is offering individual "healthy sleep concepts" for hotels. Specialists in accessoires Kerler is exhibiting all kinds of textiles, whether printed, embroidered, woven or with rhinestones. DryD Videoproduktion has information on unusual promotional films and on the accompanying, comprehensive services which it offers. Hamburg-based cadooz AG is exhibiting its latest products for the German-speaking market for vouchers, bonuses, experiences and incentives, and the well known companies Badgepoint and Unisto are showing their current range of name badges at ITB Supply.

About the ITB Berlin Social Media Lounge

Visitors can find the ITB Berlin Social Media Lounge, which has been set up by the Hamburg advertising agency FAKTOR 3, in Hall 25, Stand 140. The papers and discussions will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from 10 to 12 March, and trade visitors and exhibitors will be able to attend free of charge. The content partners of the ITB Berlin Social Media Lounge are: Aperto AG, Complexium GmbH, compuccino, facebookbiz.de, Freshmilk, hotel webservice, NEUSITE GmbH, netz|vitamine, SAINT ELMO'S Entertainment, Social Media Club Berlin, Tourismuszukunft, TrendOne, Tweet Akademie. On 13 and 14 March the Lounge will also be open to consumers, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Anyone with an interest in travel will be able to become a fan of the event and make their views felt directly from the fair, for example on Facebook, commenting on what they liked best this year. Alternatively they can use Twitter to follow ITB Berlin and keep up to date with the latest travel trends.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention

ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday, 10 to Sunday, 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. ITB Berlin is the world's leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors. Parallel with the trade fair, the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 March 2010. Full details of the programme can be found at www.itb-convention.com/program.

Join ITB Berlin Pressenetz at www.xing.com.
Support ITB Berlin at www.facebook.de/ITBBerlin
Follow ITB Berlin on www.twitter.com.

Destination Web 2.0: The first "ITB Berlin Social Media Lounge" casts some light on the social media myth

Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Initiated by FAKTOR 3, the ITB Berlin Social Media Lounge provides the impetus for the right online communication strategy in tourism.

Tourism in Web 2.0 will without doubt be one of the trends arousing the greatest controversy during discussions at this year's ITB Berlin. The fair is therefore providing a forum for this subject and, in cooperation with the Hamburg advertising agency FAKTOR 3, is presenting a special feature: the "ITB Berlin Social Media Lounge". "Social media is an important topic for us in our role as a think tank for the tourism sector. With this lounge we are offering something of real value to our exhibitors and trade visitors", states David Ruetz, Director of ITB Berlin. From 10 to 12 March, in relaxed surroundings in Hall 25, visitors can meet with the designers of the social web, as well as discussing strategies, opportunities and risks with them, and compare experiences. "The social web is currently in a phase of very rapid development. Taking a realistic but critical stance, we shall be using the lounge to investigate what is of most use to the tourism sector," explains Volker Martens, member of the board of FAKTOR 3 AG.

The dialogue will be further stimulated by the extensive programme of the ITB Berlin Social Media Lounge: Is all the hype surrounding Twitter really justified? Do travel trade professionals need Facebook? What purpose does the Outernet serve? And what does the Social Graph tell us? Well-known experts will be answering these and other questions in the papers and the discussions about specific themes. The topics of the day will be commented on and dealt with in greater depth, from a number of different perspectives, during the Social Media Discussions which will take place each day from 4 to 5 p.m.

The programme will be rounded off at 5 p.m. with the Happy Hour, providing the ideal surroundings for networking.

Details about the extensive programme of the ITB Berlin Social Media Lounge and all the speakers, times and topics can be found at: www.itb-berlin.de/socialmedialounge Admission is free of charge.
On the weekend of 13 and 14 March, when the public are admitted to ITB Berlin, visitors will be able to take a virtual tour of the fair via the internet between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. While on the Exhibition Grounds you can become a fan of ITB on Facebook, or follow events at the world's largest travel trade fair on Twitter, which is yet another way of keeping informed about the latest trends in travel.

About the ITB Berlin Social Media Lounge

Visitors can find the ITB Berlin Social Media Lounge, which has been set up by the Hamburg advertising agency FAKTOR 3, in Hall 25, Stand 140. The papers and discussions will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from 10 to 12 March, and trade visitors and exhibitors will be able to attend free of charge. The content partners of the ITB Berlin Social Media Lounge are: Aperto AG, Complexium GmbH, compuccino, facebookbiz.de, Freshmilk, hotel webservice, NEUSITE GmbH, netz|vitamine, SAINT ELMO'S Entertainment, Social Media Club Berlin, Tourismuszukunft, TrendOne, Tweet Akademie. On 13 and 14 March the Lounge will also be open to consumers, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Anyone with an interest in travel will be able to become a fan of the event and make their views felt directly from the fair, for example on Facebook, commenting on what they liked best this year. Alternatively they can use Twitter to follow ITB Berlin and keep up to date with the latest travel trends.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention

ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday, 10 to Sunday, 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. ITB Berlin is the world's leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors. Parallel with the trade fair, the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 March 2010. Full details of the programme can be found at www.itb-convention.com/program.

Join ITB Berlin Pressenetz at www.xing.com
Support ITB Berlin at www.facebook.de/ITBBerlin
Follow ITB Berlin on www.twitter.com.

I N V I T A T I O N: Opening Press Conference of ITB Berlin 2010

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Dear Sir/Madam,

The signs bode well for this year's ITB Berlin. From 10 to 14 March 2010, approximately 11,000 exhibitors from more than 180 countries will be presenting the latest travel trends and tourism products. The world's leading travel trade show expects around 100,000 trade visitors and 70,000 members of the general public to attend. This year bookings have once again been very high, a reflection of the many innovations on display.

Two new sections at ITB Berlin, Mobile Travel Services and Gay & Lesbian Tourism reflect important industry trends. In order to meet demand from exhibitors from countries in Central Asia ITB Berlin has opened a third Asia Hall. This year, major players such as Fraport, United Airlines and Sabre Travel Network are returning to ITB Berlin. Parallel with the trade fair, leading speakers from the international tourism industry will be gathering at the ITB Berlin Convention.

At ITB Berlin 2010 the focus is on Turkey, this year's partner country. Taking as its slogan "Fascinating Turkey", together with the Capital of Culture Istanbul this popular holiday destination will be presenting itself as a country spanning East and West, with many attractions to offer.

We cordially invite you to attend the

OPENING PRESS CONFERENCE

on Tuesday, 9 March 2010 at 11 a.m.
at the Palais am Funkturm, Hammarskj�ldplatz.

The following will be speaking: Klaus Laepple, President of the Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry (BTW) and President of the German Travel Association e.V. (DRV), Berlin, Dr. Christian G�ke, COO Messe Berlin,
Ertugrul G�nay, Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey.

The opening press conference will be streamed live on www.itb-berlin.com.

Please let us know if you wish to attend under presse-itb@messe-berlin.de.

CSR in Tourism: Sustainability as an overarching theme at ITB Berlin

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 23:00:00 GMT

New ideas and a fresh impetus for more corporate social responsibility in tourism - ITB CSR Day with controversial topics and a presentation of an exclusive study in association with the GfK on the subject of "Top CSR companies from the customers' viewpoint"

Corporate social responsibility has an increas-ingly important role to play in tourism. In the context of CSR the subjects being covered at ITB Berlin are extremely topical. This is evident from the range of fascinating papers on the subject of "CSR in Tourism" in Halls 4.1 and 5.1 and at the ICC Berlin, and from the extent of the involvement of the world's leading travel trade fair in the ITB Berlin Convention. Various aspects of climate change and sustainable tourism will be dealt with in more than twenty separate events. In addition the ITB CSR Day, which was launched so successfully last year, is being repeated again on 11 March 2010. The highlight of the day will be the presentation of the exclusive GfK study, commissioned by ITB Berlin, on the subject of "The Top CSR Companies from the Customers' Viewpoint".

The ITB CSR Day will be opened by Klaus Betz, Study Group for Tourism and Development and there will also be a welcoming address by Andreas Storm, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. Prof. Michael Hopkins, Chair & Partner, MHCinternational Ltd. will discuss which aspects of social, ecological and economic sustainability are of particular relevance to the tourism industry, and what are the most appropriate examples of best practice for successfully integrating CSR in corporate strategies. In a second keynote speech the internationally renowned marine researcher and environmental activist Fabien Cousteau will provide some spectacular insights into the world's oceans.

There are bound to be some lively discussions about "Cruises - booking market: growth at the expense of the environment?"
Prof. Martin Visbeck, Spokesman for the Programme Committee World Climate Conference 3 (WCC-3), Leibniz Institute for Marine Sciences at the University of Kiel IFM-GEOMAR, will fuel the debate with his paper. Together with the guests on the panel, Pier Luigi Foschi, Chairman & CEO, Costa Crociere S.p.A., Member of the European Cruise Council (ECC) Executive Committee, and
R�diger Pallentin, General Manager, Lloyd Werft Bremerhaven, he will examine the negative impact of this expansion, which includes the destruction of marine flora and fauna, and how this development can be rectified through the application of CSR.

"Is CSR a labelling trick?" This issue will be investigated in depth by the chairman, Volker Angres, Head of the Editorial Department for Environmental Affairs at ZDF and prominent industry representatives including Thomas B�sl, General Manager, Raiffeisen-Tours RT-Reisen GmbH, Dr. Volker B�ttcher, Chairman of the Board, TUI Deutschland GmbH, Jens Hulvershorn, 1st Deputy Chairman Futouris, Director of Marketing and Sales Gebeco, and Rolf Pfeifer, Divisional Management CSR, forum anders reisen. Film excerpts from a current empirical study will be used to illustrate the discussions.

This will be followed by a session entitled "Socially Responsible Investing", dealing with companies that operate in a sustainable way and, according to the findings of various studies, are demonstrably more successful. The guests on the panel are Mila Dahle, Director Group Environmental Management / Sustainable Development,
TUI AG, Andreas Kn�rzer, Managing Director and Head of the Business Division for Sustainable Investment, Bank Sarasin and Werner Landwehr, Departmental Director, GLS Bank Berlin. In the final panel Dr. Christoph Willers, Senior Consultant, AFC Risk & Crisis Consult GmbH, will focus on the "CSR-fit Strategy" vs. "Greenwashing" CSR as a new paradigm of brand management. One thing is already certain: CSR measures must be seamlessly adapted to corporate and marketing strategies, because otherwise they will not achieve their full effect, or will even be counter-productive.

Apart from the ITB CSR Day there will be a number of other events dealing with the subject of CSR on other days during the Convention, as well as in Halls 4.1, 5.1 and in the ICC. All the events will be listed in a printed programme which will be available at all the information counters on the Exhibition Grounds. All the events at the ITB Berlin Convention which deal with various aspects of climate change and sustainable tourism are marked with the CSR symbol in the convention programme.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention

ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday, 10 to Sunday, 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. ITB Berlin is the world's leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors. Parallel with the trade fair, the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 March 2010. Full details of the programme can be found at www.itb-convention.com/program.

Fachhochschule Worms and the US-based market research company for the travel industry PhoCusWright Inc are partners of the ITB Berlin Convention 2010. SkyTeam is among the premium sponsors of the ITB Aviation Day, TopAlliance is responsible for VIP service, airliners.de is media partner of the airport session within the ITB Aviation Day and hospitalityInside.com is media partner of the ITB Hospitality Day.
Futouris, Kiel Earth Institute, Landau Media, news aktuell and Wilde & Partner are sponsors of particular sessions. Partners cooperating with the ITB Business Travel Days 2010 are: Deutsche Bahn AG, DRV Deutscher ReiseVerband e.V., Europ�ische Reiseversicherung AG (ERV), FCm Travel Solutions, hotel.de, HSMA (Hospitality Sales und Marketing Association) Deutschland e.V., schaefer mobility group GmbH, Seminaris Campushotel Berlin Science & Conference Center, Veranstaltungsplaner.de, the travel management association Verband Deutsches Reisemanagement e.V. (VDR) and Schlosshotel F�rstlich Drehna.
The media partners cooperating with the ITB Business Travel Days 2010 are BIZ Travel, Business&IT, connect, DMM Der Mobilit�tsmanager, Gesch�ftsreise Effektiv, Markt und Mittelstand,Tempra, travel manager, TW TagungsWirtschaft and working@office.

Join ITB Berlin Pressenetz at www.xing.com.
Support ITB Berlin on www.facebook.de/ITBBerlin.
Follow ITB Berlin on www.twitter.com.

New: Exhibitors from central and inner Asia have their own hall

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 23:00:00 GMT

ITB Berlin now has third Asia hall - Exhibitors from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia have their own platform in Hall 7.2b

The Asian market continues to grow. It was not only ITB Asia which recorded a slight increase last October: larger numbers of exhibitors from the central and inner Asian region have also registered to attend this year's ITB Berlin. To accommodate them ITB Berlin has allocated Hall 7.2b as a third Asia hall, in addition to Halls 26 and 5.2. Exhibitors from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan will now be offering their varied range of products and attractions under one roof.

Tour operators, tourism offices and hotels are presenting Kazakhstan in all its diversity as a tourism destination: the lowland plains of the north and west, the high mountain ranges in the south east and east, deserts, steppes, the Caspian and Aral Seas. With an excellent network of routes the national carrier Air Astana makes Kazakhstan more accessible for European vacationers too, with flights now available from all of the major European airports. Unspoiled nature is Kyrgyzstan's main tourism factor, and a number of tour operators are featuring guided walking holidays and undemanding trekking tours in the foothills of the Tien Shan mountains. The more than ninety massive mountain chains in Kyrgyzstan are a favoured destination for many climbers.

There are many outstanding mountain sports regions in Tajikistan too. The majestic Pamir range is still largely unexplored and is a well-kept secret among mountaineers. The lakes of the Pamir are also worth seeing, including Lake Kara-Kul, 3,915 metres above sea level, and Lake Sares, which was only created in 1911 as the result of a powerful earthquake which caused major landslides. The seven lakes of Marghuzor are one of nature's wonders, with their varied shades of blue and green, which alter according to the light and the time of day.

Mongolia owes its uniqueness to the nomads of the steppes and their fascinating culture. Visitors to ITB Berlin can find out how mystical traditions and an untouched natural world combine to create a breath-taking experience, and will also be made aware of the traditional hospitality of a proud people. On the Active and Adventure Tours stand visitors can see for themselves a genuine yurt, giving them an authentic impression of the everyday lives of the nomads. Uzbekistan is being presented as a land for dreamers and discoverers. The great Silk Roads and major cultural centres such as Samarkand, Buchara, Chiwa, Shakhrisabz and Tashkent are the epitome of oriental beauty and mystery.

In Turkmenistan tourists with an interest in culture can discover traces of antiquity in places such as K�neurgenc, the city with the highest minaret in Central Asia, the abandoned oasis of Merv, which has been declared a world cultural heritage site by UNESCO, the burning craters of Derweze, the thermal underground lake of K�v Ata and the world's largest saline waterfall in the bay of Garabogaz-Gol.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention

ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday, 10 to Sunday, 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. ITB Berlin is the world's leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors. Parallel with the trade fair, the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 March 2010. Full details of the programme can be found at www.itb-convention.com/program.

Join ITB Berlin Pressenetz at www.xing.com.
Support ITB Berlin on www.facebook.de/ITBBerlin.
Follow ITB Berlin on www.twitter.com.

ITB Aviation Day � the future of world aviation

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Senior international aviation executives to discuss future strategies, airline pricing and public acceptance of air traffic near to airports - Airline Product Summit to award prizes for new passenger cabin concepts

For the aviation industry unstable fuel prices, crisis-ridden capital markets and climate protection constraints were the issues dominating the headlines last year. However, the recession has also led to positive developments. The over-capacity of the world's airline industries has been reduced, older planes which consume large amounts of kerosene have been taken out of service, and business models have come under scrutiny. High-ranking representatives of airlines, aircraft manufacturers and airports will be discussing both these and other topics at the ITB Berlin Aviation Day on 12 March 2010.

Dr. Temel Kotil, CEO, Turkish Airlines will hold a keynote opening this headline event of the world's aviation industry, which takes place at the ITB Berlin Convention. A panel with CEOs from around the world will examine the future of the airline industry in the face of growing pressure to save costs, long overdue consolidation and new business models. The following will take part: Joachim Hunold, CEO, Air Berlin, Stefan Pichler, CEO, Jazeera Airways and Emirsyah Satar, President & CEO, Garuda Indonesia. Afterwards Mauro Oretti, Vice President Sales and Marketing, SkyTeam, will talk about whether and to what degree strategic alliances are still relevant against the backdrop of much-needed consolidation.

This year marks the occasion of the first Airline Product Summit. In his introductory paper Robert Lange, Head of Aircraft Interiors Marketing, Airbus, will examine the following questions: What will passenger cabins of the future be like? Which airline product is most popular with tour operators and travel agencies? Airlines will be presenting the highlights of their cabin and service concepts. During the session a prize will be awarded for the most innovative concept.

Two other panel discussions are scheduled for the afternoon. Stuart Benzal, Managing Director, Global Onboard Product, United Airlines, David Post, Managing Director, SigmaZen, and Jay Sorensen, President, IdeaWorks Company, will discuss the radical shifts in airline pricing due to a lack of premium customers.

Discussion will focus on airline pricing in the future and which business models appear to be most promising. The last discussion round will deal with growing public resistance to air traffic near airports. People are become increasingly critical of aircraft noise and CO2 emissions. Ralph Beisel, Chief Executive, Der Flughafenverband ADV (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Deutscher Verkehrsflugh�fen), Dr. Stefan Schulte, Chairman of the Board, Fraport AG and Prof. Dr. Rainer Schwarz, Management Spokesman, Berliner Flugh�fen, will be debating how airports can win back popular support.

Aviation and climate protection regulations have now become headline topics. To round off the ITB Aviation Day, leading corporate and government consultant Dr. J�rgen Ringbeck will provide an update and highlight how new climate protection laws are changing aviation structures worldwide.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention

ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday, 10 to Sunday, 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. ITB Berlin is the world's leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors. Parallel with the trade fair, the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 March 2010. Full details of the programme can be found at www.itb-convention.com/program.

Fachhochschule Worms and the US-based market research company for the travel industry PhoCusWright Inc are partners of the ITB Berlin Convention 2010. SkyTeam is among the premium sponsors of the ITB Aviation Day, TopAlliance is responsible for VIP service, airliners.de is media partner of the airport session within the ITB Aviation Day and hospitalityInside.com is media partner of the ITB Hospitality Day.
Futouris, Kiel Earth Institute, Landau Media, news aktuell and Wilde & Partner are sponsors of particular sessions. Partners cooperating with the ITB Business Travel Days 2010 are: Deutsche Bahn AG, DRV Deutscher ReiseVerband e.V., Europ�ische Reiseversicherung AG (ERV), FCm Travel Solutions, hotel.de, HSMA (Hospitality Sales und Marketing Association) Deutschland e.V., schaefer mobility group GmbH, Seminaris Campushotel Berlin Science & Conference Center, Veranstaltungsplaner.de, the travel management association Verband Deutsches Reisemanagement e.V. (VDR) and Schlosshotel F�rstlich Drehna.
The media partners cooperating with the ITB Business Travel Days 2010 are BIZ Travel, Business&IT, connect, DMM Der Mobilit�tsmanager, Gesch�ftsreise Effektiv, Markt und Mittelstand,Tempra, travel manager, TW TagungsWirtschaft and working@office.

Join ITB Berlin Pressenetz at www.xing.com.
Support ITB Berlin on www.facebook.de/ITBBerlin.
Follow ITB Berlin on www.twitter.com.

Turkey - fascinating partner country at ITB Berlin

Tue, 09 Feb 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Culture, culinary delights and travel ideas from both East and West at the world�s leading travel trade show � SUN, a colourful show by Fire of Anatolia, to be performed at the opening ceremonies � focus on Istanbul, European Capital of Culture 2010

"Fascinating Turkey": From 10 to 14 March 2010 the focus will be on the partner country of ITB Berlin. Turkey, a favourite travel destination among Germans, will provide a fascinating and colourful programme of events, and spoil visitors with its legendary hospitality. On Tuesday, 9 March the opening ceremonies will kick off the world's leading travel trade show in spectacular fashion. A colourful display will present all the various aspects of Turkey at a gala event. SUN, a fascinating show by Fire of Anatolia, will perform musical and dancing highlights from a country which spans both Europe and Asia.

For the entire duration of ITB Berlin 2010 the focus will be on the partner country as a very special travel destination. As one of the largest exhibitors at the fair Turkey will be represented in Hall 3.2, showing both traditional and modern aspects of its culture. Displays in an area covering 3,000 square metres will exhibit a cultural treasure trove, a wide range of tourism products, holiday regions in all their variety, and culinary delights from this popular travel destination.

One of the highlights will be Istanbul. Visitors can experience the diversity and dynamism of the European Capital of Culture on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds, and see how Istanbul spans East and West intellectually and culturally with both art and cultural attractions. Visitors will also be fascinated by the richly ornamented portal of a reproduction of the Divri�i Great Mosque. Built in 1229 in the province of Sivas, Anatolia's oldest architectural testimony to Islam has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Yet another World Heritage Site can be admired in Hall 10.2 in the shape of traditionally built houses from Safranbolu.

Seeing, smelling and tasting is what Istanbul's Grand Bazaar, the world's oldest shopping centre, is all about. Visitors can experience the hustle and bustle of a covered bazaar with all their senses in six different shops. For those eager for more, there are culinary specialities from every Turkish region on offer at the SAHAN Restaurant next to Hall 3.2, as well as two Turkish snack bars between Halls 3.2 and 4.2.

During the open days for the general public fascinating shows on the stand of Turkey and on the large stage in Hall 4.1 will enthral visitors to the fair. Live Turkish music and folk tunes will provide just the right atmosphere. "ITB Berlin and Turkey have always maintained close ties", is how David Ruetz, Senior Manager and Director of ITB Berlin, comments the long-standing friendship between Turkey and Germany, which has now culminated in Turkey's participation as the partner country of ITB. "This popular travel destination has been represented on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds since 1968. ITB Berlin offers the ideal platform for Turkey to build on its standing in world tourism as a year-round holiday destination for holidaymakers and incentive travel organisers."

Ibrahim Yazar, Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey: "As far as travel is concerned Germany is Turkey's most important source market. We are very much looking forward to presenting Turkey in the role of official partner country at this year's ITB Berlin, particularly as this year Istanbul will fascinate visitors as the European Capital of Culture."

Turkish Airlines is offering a special ten per cent discount on all flights to the world's leading travel trade show, ITB Berlin 2010.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention

ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday, 10 to Sunday, 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. ITB Berlin is the world's leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors. Parallel with the trade fair, the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 March 2010. Full details of the programme can be found at www.itb-convention.com/program.

Join ITB Berlin Pressenetz at www.xing.com.
Support ITB Berlin on www.facebook.de/ITBBerlin.
Follow ITB Berlin on www.twitter.com.

Travel Blogging and Social Media take a First Class Seat at PhoCusWright@ITB

Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:00:00 GMT

PhoCusWright Bloggers Summit draws global acclaim for ITB Berlin

The PhoCusWright Bloggers Summit has become a highly regarded institution among the numerous members of the blogosphere and media who attend ITB Berlin. Founded three years ago when blogging was still considered peripheral to the travel press, the Bloggers Summit during PhoCusWright@ITB now serves as the main event for many travel commentators.

"The PhoCusWright Bloggers Summit was a unique idea in 2008," says Bruce Rosard, vice president, sales and marketing at PhoCusWright. "Now bloggers and media from around the world are attending and blogging and tweeting and have truly formed a community. Marketers in all segments of the travel industry use the Bloggers Summit workshops to stimulate their social media marketing strategies."

Each year, the event has drawn a wide range of renowned bloggers from around the world. Attendance at the workshops has consistently grown as the impact of social media continues to become more important to the travel industry.

Attendees of the PhoCusWright@ITB Bloggers Summit dedicate a day of their ITB Berlin experience to building their network and engaging in open conversation about blogging and social media in the travel industry. The 2010 Bloggers Summit takes place on Thursday, 11 March following Wednesday's PhoCusWright@ITB conference. Veteran bloggers will share techniques, strategies and advice in two free workshops that are open to all ITB Berlin attendees. Accredited bloggers receive admission to the private Bloggers Summit sessions as well as PhoCusWright@ITB, ITB Berlin and the Tnooz #tcamp3. A limited number of complimentary tickets are available.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention

ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday, 10 to Sunday, 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. ITB Berlin is the world's leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors. Parallel with the trade fair, the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 March 2010. Full details of the programme can be found at www.itb-convention.com/program.

Fachhochschule Worms and the US-based market research company for the travel industry PhoCusWright Inc are partners of the ITB Berlin Convention 2010. SkyTeam is among the premium sponsors of the ITB Aviation Day include, TopAlliance is responsible for VIP service, and hospitalityInside.com is media partner of the ITB Hospitality Day.
Futouris, Kiel Earth Institute, Landau Media, news aktuell and Wilde & Partner are sponsors of particular sessions. Partners cooperating with the ITB Business Travel Days 2010 are: Deutsche Bahn AG, DRV Deutscher ReiseVerband e.V., Europ�ische Reiseversicherung AG (ERV), FCm Travel Solutions, hotel.de, HSMA (Hospitality Sales und Marketing Association) Deutschland e.V., schaefer mobility group GmbH, Seminaris Campushotel Berlin Science & Conference Center, Veranstaltungsplaner.de, the travel management association Verband Deutsches Reisemanagement e.V. (VDR) and Schlosshotel F�rstlich Drehna.
The media partners cooperating with the ITB Business Travel Days 2010 are BIZ Travel, Business&IT, connect, DMM Der Mobilit�tsmanager, Gesch�ftsreise Effektiv, Markt und Mittelstand,Tempra, travel manager, TW TagungsWirtschaft and working@office.

Join ITB Berlin Pressenetz at www.xing.com.
Support ITB Berlin on www.facebook.de/ITBBerlin.
Follow ITB Berlin on www.twitter.com.

PhoCusWright@ITB gathers travel leaders from around the globe to discuss economy, trends and technology

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:00:00 GMT

"E-Travel Success Across Europe" - Headline theme of PhoCusWright@ITB, 10 March 2010

One of the pillars of globally recognized ITB Berlin is the unique "conference within a conference", PhoCusWright@ITB. Produced by travel industry research authority, PhoCusWright Inc., PhoCusWright@ITB is where travel, tourism and hospitality industry leaders gather to discuss, debate and define the future of travel.

The Tools to Succeed in Today�s Market

As the travel industry is left reeling from the downturn of 2009, companies are looking for answers and guidance on the road to recovery. PhoCusWright has gathered an unprecedented roster of speakers who will deliver the tools necessary to find E-Travel Success Across Europe. The European online travel market is expected to grow by 8% in 2010 according to PhoCusWright's European Online Travel Overview Fifth Edition. PhoCusWright@ITB, produced with PhoCusWright's signature level of professionalism, features keynotes and discussions on the trends that will allow travel companies to capitalize on this growth including: mobile, metasearch, capital, distribution and innovation.

Industry Leaders Share Their Wisdom

Senior level speakers will project to a savvy audience of thought leaders. Executives from Google, Microsoft's Bing Travel, Lonely Planet, FareCompare, eDreams, Venere and more will share what they are doing to leverage opportunities in today's marketplace. "Our speakers and attendees are executives and experts in the electronic distribution of travel. This creates a highly collaborative and collegial environment where strategies and opportunities are born," says Philip Wolf, president and CEO of PhoCusWright. "PhoCusWright@ITB generates the momentum that travel companies thrive on all year."

PhoCusWright@ITB is held Wednesday, 10 March 2010 in conjunction with ITB Berlin,The World's Leading Travel Trade Show, and is followed by the PhoCusWright@ITB Bloggers Summit on 11 March 2010. A PhoCusWright@ITB ticket includes access to ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention

ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday, 10 to Sunday, 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. ITB Berlin is the world's leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors. Parallel with the trade fair, the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 March 2010. Full details of the programme can be found at www.itb-convention.com/program.

Fachhochschule Worms and the US-based market research company for the travel industry PhoCusWright Inc are partners of the ITB Berlin Convention 2010. SkyTeam is among the premium sponsors of the ITB Aviation Day include, TopAlliance is responsible for VIP service, and hospitalityInside.com is media partner of the ITB Hospitality Day.
Futouris, Kiel Earth Institute, Landau Media, news aktuell and Wilde & Partner are sponsors of particular sessions. Partners cooperating with the ITB Business Travel Days 2010 are: Deutsche Bahn AG, DRV Deutscher ReiseVerband e.V., Europ�ische Reiseversicherung AG (ERV), FCm Travel Solutions, hotel.de, HSMA (Hospitality Sales und Marketing Association) Deutschland e.V., schaefer mobility group GmbH, Seminaris Campushotel Berlin Science & Conference Center, Veranstaltungsplaner.de, the travel management association Verband Deutsches Reisemanagement e.V. (VDR) and Schlosshotel F�rstlich Drehna.
The media partners cooperating with the ITB Business Travel Days 2010 are BIZ Travel, Business&IT, connect, DMM Der Mobilit�tsmanager, Gesch�ftsreise Effektiv, Markt und Mittelstand,Tempra, travel manager, TW TagungsWirtschaft and working@office.

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First ITB Media Summit � are blogs, Facebook & othersocial media replacing travel publications?

Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Leading figures from politics, the media and the travel sector to discuss the challenges posed by Web 2.0 at the world's largest travel trade show.

On 12 March leading figures from politics, the media and the travel sector will meet at the first ITB Berlin Media Summit to discuss issues concerning the future of communications in the tourism industry. How will travellers and tourists of the future obtain their information? Will the role of the traditional media as a disseminator of information decline? What future lies in store for travel journalists? Wolfgang Clement, former Federal Minister of Economics and Labour, and as a trained journalist for many years the Editor-in-Chief of various daily newspapers, will deliver the keynote address. Taking part in the discussions, which will be chaired by the Berlin media journalist Hajo Schumacher, will be Romanus Otte, General Manager Welt Online, Michael Ramstetter, Editor-in-Chief of ADAC Motorwelt and the ADAC Reisemagazin and also Public Relations Director for ADAC e.V., Tobias J�ngert, Area Manager of the Corporate Communication Division of REWE, and Benjamin Jost, Chief Executive of TrustYou.

Sales of traditional media such as daily newspapers and magazines are plummeting, and social media such as Facebook, which currently has more than 350 million users worldwide, are dramatically changing the way people communicate. Dr. Martin Buck, Director Competence Centre Travel and Logistics at Messe Berlin: "Changes in the way that the media are used will compel media companies to adopt a new way of thinking. Magazines are disappearing from the market, publications contain fewer pages, the daily papers are clearly losing their appeal, and their readers are turning to the internet. Quality journalism seems to be falling by the wayside. Meanwhile an uncertain travel industry is asking: How do we reach the consumer? At the ITB Media Summit we want to start people thinking, and provide some answers."

The choice of participants in this discussion promises a fascinating and controversial exchange of views. Romanus Otte provides a link between the online and offline media worlds, while Michael Ramstetter is an acknowledged champion of the traditional print media. Facing them will be Benjamin Jost - founder and Chief Executive of TrustYou, the world's first search engine for internet ratings. "The growing popularity of internet rating portals for hotels and travel recommendations via friends and social media have placed traditional forms of advertising and the tourism media under unprecedented pressure", is the view of Benjamin Jost. Speaking on behalf of the travel industry will be Tobias J�ngert, an acknowledged expert in his field, and until the end of 2008 Chief Executive of the German Travel Association (DRV). Prior to that he was Head of Communications for the association, and for many years an editor with the leading travel trade publication FVW International in Hamburg.

Part of the ITB Berlin Convention, this event is aimed at journalists, members of the media and of publishing companies, as well as advertising and marketing executives representing tour operators, the online travel industry, aviation, the hotel industry and tourism organisations.

The ITB Media Summit will be held on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds on Friday 12 March 2010 from 12 noon to 2 p.m. in Hall 7.1a, Saal New York 3. This event is an initiative of ITB Berlin in cooperation with its partners news aktuell/dpa Gruppe, Landau Media Monitoring AG, and travel industry specialists w&p Wilde & Partner Public Relations. If you wish to attend please apply here.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention

ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday, 10 to Sunday, 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. ITB Berlin is the world's leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors. Parallel with the trade fair, the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 March 2010. Full details of the programme can be found at www.itb-convention.com/program.

Fachhochschule Worms and the US-based market research company PhoCusWright Inc are partners of the ITB Berlin Convention 2010. SkyTeam is among the premium sponsors of the ITB Aviation Day include, TopAlliance is responsible for VIP service, and hospitalityInside.com is the media partner of the ITB Hospitality Day. Partners cooperating with the ITB Business Travel Days 2010 are: Deutsche Bahn AG, DRV Deutscher ReiseVerband e.V., Europ�ische Reiseversicherung AG (ERV), FCm Travel Solutions, hotel.de, HSMA (Hospitality Sales und Marketing Association) Deutschland e.V., schaefer mobility group GmbH, Seminaris Campushotel Berlin Science & Conference Center, Veranstaltungsplaner.de, the travel management association Verband Deutsches Reisemanagement e.V. (VDR) and Schlosshotel F�rstlich Drehna.
The media partners cooperating with the ITB Business Travel Days 2010 are BIZ Travel, Business&IT, connect, DMM Der Mobilit�tsmanager, Gesch�ftsreise Effektiv, Markt und Mittelstand,Tempra, travel manager, TW TagungsWirtschaft and working@office.

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ITB Berlin Convention: Hotel industry relies on innovation and ideas

Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Target groups and guest loyalty reassessed, along with climate change and new technologies, the main themes of the ITB Hospitality Day on 11 March 2010 - International experts to discuss current trends and future concepts - Concentrated knowledge free of charge

The current crisis has resulted in worldwide changes in travel behaviour, which in turn has led to a rethink in the hotel industry. The focus is on a reassessment of target groups and guest loyalty. Far-reaching adjustments have also been required in the wake of social developments and discussions about such areas as the environment and technology. At the 5th ITB Hospitality Day, on Thursday, 11 March 2010, six rounds of discussions involving prominent figures from the industry will provide trade visitors with concentrated knowledge, at no expense - participation in these sessions is included in the admission ticket. The subject matter at this leading forum at the ITB Berlin Convention has been compiled by Maria P�tz-Willems, editor in chief of the online trade magazine hospitalityInside.com, and it explores the backgrounds to current trends, as well as providing an important impetus for the future of the hotel industry.

Solutions for boring hotels and survival strategies for the future

How should tour operators adapt to the changing requirements of hotel guests? TUI, Thomas Cook and �ger Tours will face some probing questions from the well-known tourism professor Karl Born during the "Tour Operators' Discussions". The topic of "Innovation" will feature in the discussions for the first time this year. The slogan: Solutions for boring hotels. As Prof. Geoff Mar�e from the Dutch tourism university NHTV has observed: "when there is no longer any pressure on costs, that is when creativity is needed". The chairman will be calling upon two innovative hoteliers, Michael Levie, Chief Executive Officer of the luxury-budget group citizenM and Christoph Hoffmann, Chief Executive of the hotel group The 25hours Hotels Company, and the public to investigate this topic.

The CEO panel consists of two senior managers from leading hotel groups, David Fattal, founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Israeli Fattal Group, and Wolfgang M. Neumann, CEO of the Arabella Hospitality Group, who will speak about their own "survival" strategies and developments on the market as a whole. The focus by Arabella Hospitality Group on the German-speaking market and the rapid expansion of Leonardo Hotels indicate the evident continuing appeal of Central Europe, although margins tend to be smaller.

The session on Mobile Devices is more topical than ever. The introduction of Web 2.0 and social media means that mobile phones are now being used to examine the offers by many hotels, and in some of them it is already possible to check in using one's mobile. Martin Thyssen from Blackberry, Tobias Ragge from HRS and Marco Nussbaum, Chief Executive of prizeotel will discuss the ways in which internet-enabled mobiles are changing the hotel world, and how useful online applications can be. In the chair will be Carolin Brauer, Chief Executive of Quality Reservations. Climate change is an equally pressing topic. Will hotels have to adapt their offers or even completely reorganise them if the weather becomes warmer and drier, or if there are more storms and more unpredictable conditions? The Vienna futurologist Andreas Reiter will present some future scenarios for hotels in various higher altitude regions and will provide the fuel for the subsequent discussions with Philipp Ehmer, a tourism analyst with Deutsche Bank Research, and Thomas Reisenzahn, Secretary General of �HV (Austrian Hoteliers' Association). This session will be chaired by the British environmental tourism lecturer Dr. Andreas Walmsley.

Good value and fashionable is how the new generation of budget hotels could be described. However, the topical subject covered by the final round of discussions also raises many questions. For example, what are the features of budget hotels in Asia, the USA and Europe? What do they have in common, and how do they differ? Senior management from international hotel groups will be discussing these aspects, with Macy Marvel, professor of economics at the Ecole h�teli�re de Lausanne in the chair. Those who have agreed to participate are Prabhat Pani, CEO of the Indian Ginger Hotels, Pierre-Fr�d�ric Roulot, President of Louvre Hotels, France, Michael M�cke, Chief Executive and Director General of Economy Brands for Accor Hotels Germany, and Sascha Gechter, General Manager of Meininger Hotels, which has successfully achieved the transition from a hostel to a hotel group.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention

ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday, 10 to Sunday, 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. ITB Berlin is the world�s leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors. Parallel with the trade fair, the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 March 2010. Full details of the programme can be found at www.itb-convention.com/program.

Fachhochschule Worms and the US-based market research company PhoCusWright Inc are partners of the ITB Berlin Convention 2010. SkyTeam is among the premium sponsors of the ITB Aviation Day include, TopAlliance is responsible for VIP service, and hospitalityInside.com is the media partner of the ITB Hospitality Day. Partners cooperating with the ITB Business Travel Days 2010 are: Deutsche Bahn AG, DRV Deutscher ReiseVerband e.V., Europ�ische Reiseversicherung AG (ERV), FCm Travel Solutions, hotel.de, HSMA (Hospitality Sales und Marketing Association) Deutschland e.V., schaefer mobility group GmbH, Seminaris Campushotel Berlin Science & Conference Center, Veranstaltungsplaner.de, the travel management association Verband Deutsches Reisemanagement e.V. (VDR) and Schlosshotel F�rstlich Drehna.
The media partners cooperating with the ITB Business Travel Days 2010 are BIZ Travel, Business&IT, connect, DMM Der Mobilit�tsmanager, Gesch�ftsreise Effektiv, Markt und Mittelstand,Tempra, travel manager, TW TagungsWirtschaft and working@office.

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ITB Berlin 2010 � bookings are stable and on the same level as last year

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Global players, among them Fraport, United Airlines and Sabre Travel Network, are back at ITB Berlin - growth in individual fair sections reflects travel industry trends

Current booking levels for ITB are outstanding, underlining its role as the world's leading travel trade show. From 10 to 14 March a total of around 11,000 companies and organisations from over 180 countries and territories will be exhibiting their products and innovations in the 26 halls on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. This year more than 110,000 trade visitors are expected at the show, where once again they will be finding out about all the tourism products and services on offer. The focus is on Turkey, the partner country at this year's ITB, which is organising the opening ceremonies on 9 March and will have exciting products and services to show to both trade visitors and the general public.

David Ruetz, Senior Manager ITB Berlin: "The recession has had a severe impact on every holiday destination in the world and has affected all forms of vacationing. With this in mind, ITB Berlin as a network platform and marketing instrument for exhibitors and trade visitors has become more important than ever. As the global travel industry's leading trade fair it accurately reflects the current economic situation.

New exhibitors, with many returning

Some six weeks before the show is due to begin bookings reported for ITB Berlin are impressively high and on a level with last year's figures. Even better, this year major players such as Fraport and United Airlines are returning to ITB Berlin. In the Travel Technology section Sabre Travel Network and Dolphin Dynamics are back after an absence of several years. A large number of new exhibitors will also be displaying their products to trade visitors and the general public. The increase in exhibitors from Asia is impressive. Inside Hall 7.2b, an all-new building, the Central and Inner Asian Countries (CIA) are promoting their geographically attractive and culturally fascinating local destinations. Private exhibitors from Vietnam who are new to the show such as Ami Tourist, Footprint Vietnam Travel (previously also at ITB Asia), Fusion Management and Wuxi/China, a new region, are represented with their own stands in the Asia Hall (26) for the first time, as is Garuda Indonesia. Thailand and Indonesia are occupying considerably larger stands.

As a tourism destination Africa is a booming continent. Accordingly, the Africa Halls (20/21) are completely booked up. Zanzibar and Gambia have returned and Djibouti is exhibiting its products for the first time since 1991. Demand for space in the India Hall (5.2b) remains unabated even though it too is fully booked up. Kerala is occupying an even larger display area yet again. This is the first time the Rajasthan Tourism Board will be at the fair with a joint stand representing the region.

Tourist numbers from America continue to be on the increase, and this is reflected in the number of exhibitors from the US. Apache Spirit Ranch, EOV Group, Myrtle Beach SC and Vantage Hospitality are newcomers to the Discover America Pavilion (Hall 2.1). Alaska and Continental Airlines are increasing their presence and have more than doubled the size of their stands. The Gay and Lesbian Travel section in Hall 2.1 is celebrating its debut at ITB Berlin.

Growth in the Luxury, Low Budget, Education and Travel Technology sections

Exhibitors in these sections at ITB Berlin are among those whose numbers have increased, and there are newcomers in the sections representing cruises, Caribbean hotel resorts and economy accommodation. Adventure travel is beginning to shed its niche-market status. Gabon, Benin, Senegal, Ecuador and Egypt are represented with additional stands in the Adventure Tourism section.

The fact that there is a long waiting list for Training and Employment in Tourism in Hall 5.1 shows that this section at ITB Berlin is gaining in importance. Demand from exhibitors from abroad has been particularly high. Russia, Poland and the UK are newcomers to the section this year. The large number of exhibitors represented in the Travel Technology halls (8.1 and 6.1) underlines ITB Berlin's role as a trailblazer for new technology and software in tourism. This is the first time that ITB Berlin is offering international companies their own platform in the Mobile Travel Services section in Hall 7.1c.

The details, products and services of all the exhibitors at ITB Berlin can be found at the Virtual Market Place at www.itb-berlin.com. The Virtual Market Place also functions as an online catalogue. Information is updated on a regular basis.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention

ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday, 10 to Sunday, 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. ITB Berlin is the world's leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors. Parallel with the trade fair, the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 March 2010. Full details of the programme can be found at www.itb-convention.com/program.

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ITB Virtual Market Place � now an even easier way to perfectly organise your visit to the fair

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 23:00:00 GMT

All information on exhibitors at ITB Berlin are now online - quicker and easier access to every page - Virtual Market Place with a new layout, revised navigation and extra functions

With an annual total of more than 560,000 visitors and 14 million page hits the Virtual Market Place is one of the most popular links under www.itb-berlin.de. These interactive services provide comprehensive information and communication for exhibitors, trade visitors and journalists. As of now all new exhibitor data will appear online. This industry portal boasts a new layout, a vast array of extra functions and improved navigation. David Ruetz, Senior Manager ITB Berlin: "The latest relaunch supports the ongoing development of an internet portal which, since its inception in January 2002, has been continuously adapted to suit the market situation and the ever-growing needs of internet users. Particular attention was paid to fine-tuning the networking tool."

Easier navigation and registration mean that it is now even quicker and easier for trade fair visitors to obtain the desired information and to perfectly organise their stay in Berlin. Among other changes, the search function has been improved and now offers input suggestions in the data entry field. A transparent filter function limits the number of search results, if required. A pinpoint search for data on the internet is also made easier by displaying results using larger images and by making only few clicks. Planning is assisted with the help of a clearly structured column listing exhibitors, products, services, networking partners and dates. A new printing dialogue reduces costs and protects the environment. It lets users print only the data they require, for instance to-do lists with a plan of the halls and grounds. Newly structured data input fields make the process of communicating with exhibitors quicker and less complicated. With the help of the improved diary function visitors can now make on-the-spot appointments, without registering, directly with exhibitors and networking partners in the run up to ITB Berlin, enabling them to organise their tour online and ahead of the event.

The Virtual Market Place is open 365 days a year. With this service, the world's leading travel trade show offers interested audiences a marketing portal where they can always find out about exhibitors' latest products and services outside the opening times of ITB Berlin and establish direct contact with the companies in question. What is more, use of additional SPAM protection (by Captcha code) ensures that this information and communication platform is secure.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention

ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday, 10 to Sunday, 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. ITB Berlin is the world's leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors. Parallel with the trade fair, the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 March 2010. Full details of the programme can be found at www.itb-convention.com/program.

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Announcement: First Results Reiseanalyse RA 2010 on the occasion of ITB Berlin

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:00:00 GMT

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ITB Business Travel Days: top events on the future of the business travel market � new: MICE Day

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 23:00:00 GMT

Networking and advanced training opportunities for business travel managers, event planners and career starters - latest topics: post-crisis strategies and viable ways to manage expenses - new section: Mobile Travel Services - for the first time: MICE Day featuring discussions and papers

In times dominated by the global economic and financial crisis, business travel represents a challenge to the entire tourism industry. According to the ITB World Travel Trends Report, commissioned by ITB and compiled by the consultancy IPK International, during the first eight months of last year business travel around the world fell by seven per cent. David Ruetz, Senior Manager ITB Berlin: "This year, both the quality and the number of events at the ITB Business Travel Days will receive a boost yet again, in an aim to highlight solutions and explore existing potential in these difficult times." Travel managers, business travellers, suppliers and event planners will be able to receive the latest first-hand expert knowledge on travel management at the ITB Business Travel Days, which will take place from 10 to 14 March 2010. Career starters can find out more and receive training.

New � a day devoted to MICE

On Wednesday, 10 March, for the first time at ITB Berlin, the focus will be on controversial MICE topics for an entire day. The programme has been closely coordinated with the Association of German Event Organisers. Key topics include the main criteria focused on by event agencies during the decision-making process, and the capabilities of participant management systems. Both the topic entitled "Conferences - real versus virtual" and a panel discussion on the significance of conference business in the context of developing tourism destinations are certain to spark debate.

New strategies and ways to manage expenses

On Thursday, 11 March senior executives and experts will discuss which strategies hold most promise for travel management when the crisis is over. On Strategy Day specialist papers will dwell on a number of topics: calculating opportunity expenses and returns on investment in business travel, the benefits and problems of buyer alliances in the travel management sector, and the services offered by eco-agencies operating in Germany. A case study and panel discussion will deal with the topic of virtual conferences. On Friday, 12 March the Hands-On Day (with a focus on economics) will show business travel managers from small and medium-sized enterprises viable ways to improve expense management, for instance by specifically focusing on company promotion programmes, buying strategies and statistics. Panel discussions under the heading of "Travel agencies help you save" and "Mobile Solutions in travel management processes" will highlight possible alternatives.

Mobile Travel Services - debut at ITB Berlin

Business travel managers can now find out in detail about how companies are able to benefit from technologies offering mobile services. With its centrally located presentation stage and adjacent exhibition area in Hall 7.1c and a convention discussing topics which target both newcomers and professionals, ITB Berlin has a new, forward-looking platform for the growth market which the Mobile Travel Services sector represents.

Business Travel Young Professional Day

The Business Travel Day for career starters is a well-established fixture at ITB Berlin. On Wednesday, 10 March discussion will focus on new courses, qualifications and scientific training, and sustaining these changes in the long run. On the Saturday of the fair, for the first time, the DRV conference for vocational teachers will be held in cooperation with ITB Berlin and the Travel Management Association (VDR). Participants will be looking at the need to focus more on travel management issues when training travel agents.

Exclusive meeting place for the travel business sector

The ITB Business Travel Lounge sponsored by VDR & HSMA in Hall 8.1 has become well established as a secluded location ideal for holding confidential meetings. This is where decision makers and senior executives from business travel management can withdraw to a quiet place away from the bustle of the fair to maintain their existing contacts and build new networks.

Early Bird offer - ITB Business Travel special

Travel managers who book by 5 February can save money, as Messe Berlin is offering a limited number of ITB Business Travel specials costing only 159 instead of 209 euros. The Business Travel Buyer Package comprises a first-class return ticket to Berlin with Deutsche Bahn, a one-night stay and breakfast at the Seminaris CampusHotel Berlin Science & Conference Center, admission to the seminars offered, and a bus shuttle service to and from the hotel and exhibition grounds. Travel managers wishing to book this exclusive Business Travel Package, valid from 11 to 12 March (with the option of an extra overnight), should apply by 25 February at: www.itb-convention.com/businesstravel.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention

ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday, 10 to Sunday, 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. ITB Berlin is the world's leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors. Parallel with the trade fair, the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 March 2010. Full details of the programme can be found at www.itb-convention.com.

Fachhochschule Worms and the US-based market research company PhoCusWright Inc are partners of the ITB Berlin Convention 2010. Skyteam is among the premium sponsors of the ITB Aviation Day include, TopAlliance is responsible for VIP service, and hospitalityInside.com is the media partner of the ITB Hospitality Day. Partners cooperating with the ITB Business Travel Days 2010 are: Deutsche Bahn AG, DRV Deutscher ReiseVerband e.V., Europ�ische Reiseversicherung AG (ERV), FCm Travel Solutions, hotel.de, HSMA (Hospitality Sales und Marketing Association) Deutschland e.V., schaefer mobility group GmbH, Seminaris Campushotel Berlin Science & Conference Center, Veranstaltungsplaner.de, the travel management association Verband Deutsches Reisemanagement e.V. (VDR) and Schlosshotel F�rstlich Drehna.
The media partners cooperating with the ITB Business Travel Days 2010 are BIZ Travel, Business&IT, connect, DMM Der Mobilit�tsmanager, Gesch�ftsreise Effektiv, Markt und Mittelstand,Tempra, travel manager, TW TagungsWirtschaft and working@office.

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ITB World Travel Trends Report: European Travel Industry Likely to Stay Flat in 2010

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 23:00:00 GMT

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ITB World Travel Trends Report: Bruised Asian Travel Industry Recovering Slowly

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Download(PDF, 3 pages, 116 KB)

ITB Berlin � a barometer for travel technology and mobile travel service trends

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 23:00:00 GMT

International exhibitors will present their latest travel technology and innovations at ITB Berlin - after a four-year absence Sabre Travel Network, the world's largest global distribution system (GDS), is back at the world's leading travel trade show with its own stand

"The market offering mobile communications and technological solutions for the global travel industry is expanding rapidly", said David Ruetz, Senior Manager ITB Berlin, underlining the positive reactions from international technology companies to the Mobile Travel Services and Travel Technology sections at ITB. Sabre Travel Network's return to the Berlin Exhibition Grounds after a four-year absence in particular emphasises ITB Berlin's role as a barometer for new technology and software trends in the tourism industry. A world leader in the global distribution system (GDS) field, the company will be exhibiting at its own stand in Hall 8.1. David Ruetz: "The fact that the Travel Technology section in Halls 8.1 and 6.1 has attracted so many new exhibitors sends an important message to the industry. Only companies making the right decisions now will be able to reap long-term benefits from new technology." Other companies represented at ITB Berlin for the first time include XClirion, Lute Tec, Hotel Net Solutions, Vertical Booking and Hotelreservierung.de. A number of technology companies will be showing new products exclusively at the world's leading travel trade show.

With the introduction in Hall 7.1c of its Mobile Travel Services section ITB Berlin is hosting its own representative platform for the first time, along with a stage for presentations and accompanying exhibition area. International companies will be represented, among them Netbiscuits GmbH, leading global innovators and mobile internet page operators, the network operators Ecocarrier, the Canadian mobile communications operator QiiQ, the audio guide portal for art and cultural tourism Pausanio GmbH & Co. KG, and Tourias, travel guide suppliers for mobile phones. Europe's leading hotel portal HRS and the car hire company Sixt, who operate throughout Europe, will also be presenting their new mobile travel services products to visitors on a stand at ITB Berlin.

In order to make the many aspects of mobile travel services more comprehensible to visitors experts will be on hand to answer questions. Topics such as "Mobile services and applications for the travel industry", "Working with mobile networks" and "Working on the move? Yes, of course!" will be aimed at providing transparency for visitors. The ITB Berlin 2010 Convention, which boasts a number of high-ranking participants, will also focus on the topic of mobile travel services. At the ITB Hospitality Day on 11 March experts will highlight how smartphones, BlackBerry devices and iPhones are influencing hotel booking patterns, and at the ITB Business Travel Days on 12 March the keynote speaker Gerry Samuels, founder and executive director of Mobile Travel Technologies Ltd., will talk about how mobile travel services are changing the world of business travel.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention

ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday, 10 to Sunday, 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. Parallel with the trade fair, the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 March 2010. Full details of the convention can be found at www.itb-convention.com/program. The programme for 2010 will be available online soon. ITB Berlin is the world�s leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors.

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Trend-setting themes and leading experts at the world's largest tourism convention

Sun, 13 Dec 2009 23:00:00 GMT

Global travel industry's leading think tank highlights effects of the financial crisis and changing society - more than 200 high-ranking speakers to discuss trends, innovative strategies and key topics at around 100 events. New: ITB Marketing and Distribution Day plus ITB Global Future Summit - ITB Destination Days and China Outbound Tourism Marketing Forum discuss zero-carbon luxury hotels

Featuring an outstanding programme of events and high-ranking speakers, the ITB Berlin Convention 2010 will highlight the effects of the financial and economic crisis on tourism, the structural changes in society, and shifts in travel patterns. From 10 to 12 March 2010 more than 200 leading speakers and panel guests from science, politics and with practical experience will present topics and discuss the future of travel at around 100 events. Over a period of three days the focus at the world's largest tourism convention will be on quality discussion and the latest industry knowledge. Admission is free for all trade visitors.

ITB Marketing and Distribution Day
The ITB Marketing and Distribution Day will take place at the world's leading travel trade show, with debate focusing on the marked changes in consumer booking patterns and information needs. Experts taking part in a discussion round entitled "personalised package tours" will point out that the much talked about paradigm shift towards longtail services has already taken place. The internet will also come in for close examination, as a way to occupy attractive market niches and personally address customers. A further panel will discuss strategies for the growing gay and lesbian tourism market. The day's highlight will be the ITB Media Summit 2010. Together, the recession and completely new attitudes towards media usage have undermined established media forms. Magazine titles are disappearing from the shelves and readers are migrating to the internet. The confidence of the travel industry has been shaken. The questions its members are asking are "How can we reach the consumer?" and "What opportunities do Facebook and Twitter etc. offer?". Leading speakers, among them former Minister of Economics Wolfgang Clement, will be taking part in and answering questions at a round table discussion.

"Theme Days" - latest developments and background information
The convention opens with the ITB Future Day. The first ITB Global Future Summit will analyse the main trends in demographics, climate change, natural resources, technology and consumer behaviour. Afterwards Rolf Freitag, CEO of IPK International, will present the latest forecasts of the ITB World Travel Trends Report. Based on 500,000 interviews, the world's largest travel survey provides indispensable information for decision-makers from the tourism industry. "Web 2.0 and Social Media" will discuss future ways to gain customers and secure their loyalty, as well as mobile travel solutions for business and leisure travellers. The final programme event is the ITB Tourism and Climate Panel which will analyse climate change and ecology, the biggest challenges of this century.

Against the backdrop of a changing climate the ITB Hospitality Day will discuss what new services hotels should offer. At the CEO panel discussion three high-ranking executives from leading hotel chains will speak about the market and their survival strategies. Under the unconventional heading of "Ways to change boring hotels" they will be motivating audiences to become more creative in this field. Distributors of online applications and hotel owners will discuss how mobile phones with internet access are changing hotel booking patterns. Taking as their slogan "What are the challenges facing the industry?" leading executives heading hotel chains in America, Europe and Asia will debate the various concepts of budget hotels.

The ITB Aviation Day is recognised as the leading event for the global air transport industry. Key topics certain to spark controversy are the future of aviation alliances and a discussion on the strategies and concepts of budget airlines, the winners in this recession. Will they reap long-term benefits from the crisis? These are just some of the urgent issues that will be raised in interviews with financial experts from low-cost carriers. At the global CEO panel discussion members will give their opinions on the future of commercial aviation around the world. A discussion under the heading of "A revolution in airline prices, the recession as an innovative force in the absence of premium customers" will highlight a number of progressive business models. According to many experts, public acceptance of airlines as a mode of transport has been in crisis for some time. A panel discussion with numerous analysts, among them Dr. Stefan Schulte, Chairman of the Board of Fraport AG, and Prof. Dr. Rainer Schwarz, Management Spokesman of Berliner Flugh�fen, will discuss which measures hold particular promise for future success.

Following its successful debut last year the ITB Corporate Social Responsibility Day has become an integral part of the ITB Berlin Convention. A high-level government representative of the Federal Republic of Germany will highlight the significance of CSR in economic and social terms. Keynote speeches and panel discussions will debate examples of the role which CSR can occupy in tourism. This is the first time that GfK is presenting a survey undertaken exclusively for ITB Berlin, entitled "Leading CSR companies from the vantage point of the customer". High-ranking members will be attending the cruise holiday session. In her keynote the world-famous adventurer and explorer C�line Cousteau will be asking "Marine protection and tourism, are they friends or foes?" Afterwards, leading experts, among them Prof. Dr. Martin Visbeck from the Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of Kiel, will examine whether the expanding cruise market is having a negative effect on the environment.

Discussions on the first day of the ITB Destination Days will focus on the challenges posed by efforts to create sustainable tourism destinations. Vural �ger, owner of the �ger Group, will deliver a keynote speech. Representatives from Essen/Ruhr, Istanbul and P�cs, cities designated "European Capital of Culture" in 2010, will summarise the developments to date. The subsequent discussion as to whether the title of UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site is a curse or a blessing is certain to reveal fascinating insights. On Thursday and Friday experts will devote themselves to the topic of sustainability in tourism. Brazil and Ecuador will present their successful concepts at the South America Forum, and at the Africa Forum experts will discuss how important tourism is in combating poverty. Turkey, this year's partner country at ITB Berlin, will show how to achieve success with cultural tourism. The findings of the latest conference of the German Society for Tourism Research will be made public, highlighting potential business opportunities for investors exploring the market niches of spirituality and tourism. The China Outbound Tourism Marketing Forum@ITB Berlin 2010 will talk about ways to make destinations more appealing to tourists from China. Zero-carbon luxury hotels are both a significant topic and elements of a vision of future tourism. Two speakers from Masdar City, planned as the world�s first zero-carbon city, will talk about their progress to date.

The ITB Business Travel Forum will take place on all three days of the convention. Workshops, panel discussions and keynote speeches at the MICE Day, Strategy Day and Hands-On Day (with a focus on economics) will provide opportunities for exchanging opinion and furthering one's knowledge on business travel and events management. From 10 to 11 March decision-makers from all walks of the global tourism industry can find out about the latest technology trends at the Travel Technology Conference PhoCusWright@ITB. A conference under the heading of "E-Travel Success Across Europe" will highlight the significance of travel technology, addressing experts involved in sales, marketing and business promotion.
No prior registration is necessary to visit the convention. Holders of a trade visitor ticket to ITB Berlin may attend any of the events free of charge, with the exception of the Travel Technology Convention PhoCusWright@ITB. PhoCusWright@ITB will be held in English. Simultaneous interpreting into English and German is available at all other lectures and discussions. Information and programme details: www.itb-convention.com/program.A trade visitor pass with unlimited admission to ITB Berlin costs EUR 46. If purchased by 31 January admission tickets to PhoCusWright@ITB cost EUR 300, thereafter 350 EUR per person. All tickets are available online.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention
ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday, 10 to Sunday, 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. ITB Berlin is the world's leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors. Parallel with the trade fair, the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 March 2010. Full details of the programme can be found at www.itb-convention.com/program.
Fachhochschule Worms and the US-based market research company PhoCusWright Inc are partners of the ITB Berlin Convention 2010. Skyteam is among the premium sponsors of the ITB Aviation Day include, TopAlliance is responsible for VIP service, and hospitalityInside.com is the media partner of the ITB Hospitality Day. Partners cooperating with the ITB Business Travel Days 2010 are: Deutsche Bahn AG, DRV Deutscher ReiseVerband e.V., FCm Travel Solutions, hotel.de, HSMA (Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association) Deutschland e.V., schaefer mobility group GmbH, Seminaris Campushotel Berlin Science & Conference Center, Veranstaltungsplaner.de, the travel management association Verband Deutsches Reisemanagement e.V. (VDR) and Schlosshotel F�rstlich Drehna. The media partners cooperating with the ITB Business Travel Days 2010 are: BIZ Travel, Business&IT, DMM Der Mobilit�tsmanager, Gesch�ftsreise Effektiv, Tempra, travel manager, TW TagungsWirtschaft and working@office.

ITB World Travel Trends Report: European travel industry cautiously optimistic in the wake of massive losses

Sun, 06 Dec 2009 23:00:00 GMT

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(PDF, 2 pages, 41 KB)

ITB World Travel Trends Report: Airline ticket prices expected to increase

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:00:00 GMT

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(PDF, 2 pages, 41 KB)

Basic details about the 44th ITB Berlin

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT

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Programme of Germany's largest conference on school excursions now available online

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT

ITB Berlin welcomes teaching staff from around Germany to the teachers' symposium, which takes place from 11 to 12 March 2010. The programme is now available online at www.lehrersymposium.de. The two-day symposium counts as advanced training and is part of the event called "YIG Germany Pavilion for Youth Travel". YIG stands for "Youth Incoming Germany", for young people travelling to and within Germany.

Highlights of the teachers' symposium

After an introduction by representatives of the Permanent Conference of Ministers of Culture (KMK) the symposium will begin on 11 March 2010 by asking whether form masters are able to meet the various and constantly growing challenges posed on school excursions. How competent are form masters and project leaders in their role as "tour guides" when it comes to coping with subject matter, providing an experience and supplying knowledge? Do our teachers have the necessary qualifications and are there sufficient training options? Numerous workshops and papers will follow. The programme for the second day of the symposium (12 March 2010) lists an excursion to the Tropical Islands, Brandenburg's "tropical rainforest", and a high-level podium discussion. Taking as its title "Pisa may be in Italy but the responsibility is ours: youth travel as an educational task", the podium discussion will take place after the excursion, in the conference area of Hall 4.1 on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds.

Booking early will secure a place

Participants can book their place at the symposium for one or two days. A flat rate of eight euros will be charged for participation and material supplied at the symposium. Those taking part will receive a trade visitor's pass, free admission to the exhibition grounds for the duration of the fair, as well as an attendance certificate. The deadline for registration is 30 January 2010. Attendance is limited.

In cooperation with the symposium's organisers Deutsche Bahn is offering special return fares costing 109 euros from any destination in Germany. Application forms, conditions of participation, which also include information given by individual federal States' in order for the symposium to count as teachers' educational leave, plus a full programme of details are available at www.lehrersymposium.de.

You can request information personally over the phone from the YIG project offices of Messe Berlin, iNTEGRON-Institut, at (tel.) +49 (0)30-56 044 889, send a fax to +49 (0)30-56 04 48 40, or e-mail www.youtube.com/user/ITBBerlin.

"We have taken on this growing market with online communities at just the right time and regard the social web as an appropriate way to actively observe the travel market and openly discuss trends", commented David Ruetz, Senior Manager, ITB Berlin.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention
ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday, 10 to Sunday, 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. Parallel with the trade fair, the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 March 2010. Full details of the convention can be found at www.itb-convention.com. The programme for 2010 will be available online soon. ITB Berlin is the world's leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors.

Leading think tank of the global travel industry

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 23:00:00 GMT

World's largest travel industry convention more successful than ever - outstanding events focusing on highly topical issues highlight important trends - answers to the big challenges facing the international travel industry

As the world's leading travel industry platform ITB Berlin 2010 takes a first look at a future which in the long term will be marked by the financial and economic crisis as well as by structural changes and changing travel behaviour. One of the highlights of ITB Berlin, which takes place from 10 to 14 March 2010, is the world's largest travel industry convention.

ITB Berlin has been holding its travel industry convention since 2004, an event with an unparalleled success story. Over the last six years 50,000 professionals from all tourism source markets and destinations from around the world have visited the ITB Berlin Convention. Each year the ITB Berlin Convention was able to build on its position as the leading think tank of the global tourism industry and in 2009 recorded its highest attendance to date. At 12,000 participants the number of visitors increased by 10 per cent over 2008.

The ITB Berlin Convention is the ideal platform for dialogue with the tourism industry. Decision-makers from all walks of the global tourism industry enjoy networking opportunities among professionals to discuss the latest industry trends as well as pressing issues and market topics among leading experts. High-ranking speakers from tourism and industry have already announced their participation in the ITB Berlin Convention 2010.

As the event hosting the industry's leading forums the Theme Days highlight the latest trends and background developments. Innovators and futurists will be presenting global mega trends at the ITB Berlin Future Day. The challenges facing the hotel industry will be discussed at the ITB Berlin Hospitality Day. The ITB Aviation Day is recognised as the leading event for the global air transport industry and discusses key issues concerning the latest developments in the airline and airport industries. With its ITB Corporate Social Responsibility Day, which celebrated a successful debut last year, the ITB Berlin is again organising a definitive forum comprising experts in travel matters. Corporate social responsibility is becoming an increasingly important topic in the tourism industry.

Forward-looking destination management concepts from selected regions will be presented at the ITB Berlin Destination Days. The ITB Business Travel Days will also be taking place on all three days of the convention. Workshops focusing on practical issues, podium discussions and keynotes will provide opportunities for exchanging opinion and furthering one's knowledge on business travel and events. The Travel Technology Convention PhoCusWright@ITB focuses on the latest technology trends and the complex world of travel technology.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention
ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday, 10 to Sunday, 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. Parallel with the trade fair, the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 March 2010. Full details of the congress can be found at www.itb-convention.com. The programme for 2010 will be available online soon. ITB Berlin is the world's leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors.

Business travel still suffering from economic crisis

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Dark clouds still hang over the business travel sector - latest VDR survey reports an increase in video conferences - ITB Berlin with a new Mobile Travel Services section

Many companies in Germany have yet to feel the effects of the current boom on the international stock markets, and what experts are predicting as a foreseeable end to the global financial crisis. Few companies anticipate the business travel sector to recover in the coming months. By contrast, video conference organisers have benefited significantly from the global economic and financial crisis.

According to the latest survey by Verband Deutsches Reisemanagement e.V. (VDR), 40 per cent of the companies polled are making increasing use of virtual conferences in order to reduce business trips. A further twelve per cent use this method of communicating for other reasons. "Video conferences are not the only popular trend. Efforts to save money have unleashed a real mobile communications boom", said Dr. Martin Buck, Director of the Travel & Logistics Competence Center at Messe Berlin. "ITB Berlin 2010 has responded with the launch of its Mobile Travel Services section. The global travel industry�s leading trade show with its specialist convention and informative stage shows provides a broad platform for the fast-growing market for modern methods of communication."

With its new Mobile Travel Services section ITB Berlin also provides a significant impetus for alternative solutions in the business travel sector. Close to 40 per cent of the VDR members polled either do not believe the crisis is over or will not risk making any predictions. Only 17 per cent anticipate an upturn in the business travel sector this year. 23 per cent expect a recovery in the first half and 18 per cent in the second half of 2010.

Dirk Gerdom, President of Verband Deutsches Reisemanagement: "VDR members are unsure as to what the future holds. Small wonder, with so many surveys, expert forecasts and export figures appearing daily in the media, at times contradicting themselves. The only reliable indicator genuinely reflecting the economic situation is the number of trips, and for a year these have been in sharp decline. Our quarterly trend survey clearly shows that since October 2008 company travel has gradually decreased, with trips costing less and less. Thus the economic pressure is mounting."
This flash survey was conducted in early October among the 548 companies belonging to the VDR. Their combined business travel turnover is more than ten billion euros a year. 126 companies took part.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention

ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday, 10 to Sunday, 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. Parallel with the trade fair, the ITB Berlin Convention, the major industry event worldwide, will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 March 2010. On www.itb-kongress.com you may find diverse information. Also you may shortly find programme details for 2010 there. ITB Berlin is the world's leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors.

About ITB Asia 2009

ITB Asia will take place at the Suntec Singapore Exhibition & Convention Centre from 21 to 23 October 2009. It is organised by Messe Berlin (Singapore) Pte Ltd and supported by the Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau. The event will feature hundreds of exhibiting companies from the Asia-Pacific region, Europe, the Americas, Africa and the Middle East, covering not only the leisure market, but also corporate and MICE travel. Medium-sized enterprises from the travel industry will be represented with exhibition pavilions and company presentations. Exhibitors from every sector of the industry, including destinations, airlines and airports, hotels and resorts, theme parks and attractions, inbound tour operators, inbound DMCs, cruise lines, spas, event locations, congress centres and travel technology companies are all expected to attend.

More holidays for less money

Sun, 11 Oct 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Despite the recession over 70 per cent of Germans are eager to travel again in 2010

Germans� lust for travel unabated � latest survey by ADAC Reisemonitor with positive forecast for 2010

Despite the ongoing economic and financial crisis and the threat of rising unemployment Germans refuse to let anyone spoil their holidays. According to the latest representative survey by the ADAC, 70.6 per cent of the population are firmly intent on booking a lengthy holiday trip next year. 58.5 per cent of the members polled are even planning to go on holiday in the second half of 2009 or to undertake an additional trip.

According to the survey travel behaviour is heavily influenced by individual economics. Thus only 28 per cent of Germans who in their own words are �doing badly or very badly� have made a decision to travel. By contrast, 48.5 per cent of those who say they are �doing well or very well� are going on holiday. Dr. Martin Buck, Director, ITB Berlin: �As the desire to travel is strongly influenced by individual economics, the tourism industry benefits first and foremost from the optimism of the German people, who consider themselves to be faring considerably better than the economy overall.�

Among the other main findings is a preference for one longer trip over several shorter ones. Thus according to the survey by ADAC Reisemonitor the number of Germans planning a longer trip next year is on the rise again. Compared with 2008, nearly one per cent more of those polled intend to go on holiday for three weeks or longer. By contrast, multiple holiday trips are continuing to decline.

The recession has a marked effect on spending behaviour once people are on holiday. Faced with economic insecurity Germans are reallocating their travel budget and cutting additional costs. �Those aiming to travel now or who are making a decision to travel in the coming months will without doubt benefit from the effects of the recession�, said Dr. Buck. �Favourable exchange rates and tour operators and hotels with large discounts can significantly cut holiday costs.�

According to the survey 46.1 per cent of the respondents are aiming to spend less while on their next holiday, a 4.3 per cent drop compared with last year. Travel destinations are also selected with a conscious view to saving money. Thus 37.9 per cent (an increase of 2.8 per cent) intend to choose a cheap holiday destination. Prices are becoming increasingly important in the long-haul sector. Compared with last year, an additional 6.3 per cent of those polled are waiting for organisers to offer discounts. Dr. Martin Buck: �The recession is firmly embedded in Germans� minds, so they spend their money much more cautiously on their travels. Organisers offering good service and value for money are those with whom holidaymakers will be mainly spending their money.� In July 2009 the ADAC polled approximately 4,000 of its members to find out their holiday intentions for the coming months and 2010.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention
ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday, 10 to Sunday, 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. Parallel with the trade fair, the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Saturday, 10 to 13 March 2010. Full details of the programme can be found at www.itb-kongress.com. ITB Berlin is the world�s leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors.

Mobile travel services � debut at ITB Berlin

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:00:00 GMT

Mobile communication devices represent a growth market � for the first time ITB Berlin provides mobile travel services with a broad platform

Mobile communication devices are becoming an increasingly dominant aspect of the global travel industry. Business travellers as well as holidaymakers carry smartphones, mobile phones and netbooks in their hand luggage to ensure they can be reached anywhere and at any time. For the first time ITB Berlin is providing this fast-growing market with a platform of its own, and establishing itself in the mobile travel services segment at the earliest opportunity. There will be a centrally located presentation stage and an adjacent exhibition area, along with targeted marketing activities and a convention both for newcomers and professionals, providing trade visitors, exhibitors and the general public with expert, first-hand information. �Presentations and practical demonstrations of innovative products and services as well as fascinating discussion rounds with experts will help to make the wealth of mobile travel services comprehensible to the user, to travel managers and private consumers alike�, said David Ruetz, Senior Manager ITB Berlin.

Mobile communication devices boost efficiency and productivity on business trips, saving companies an average of 42 minutes per working day and employee. For holidaymakers they are increasingly becoming everyday travel companions. Irrespective of the fact that nearly 25 per cent of German holidaymakers check their e-mails several times a day, mobile electronic devices are increasingly replacing traditional travel guides. Innovative mobile phone applications and mobile internet access provide travellers with more flexible ways of obtaining directions, information and meeting people than language/travel guides, weather reports and tour organisers� information, for example. Tour operators, travel agencies and tourism organisations also benefit from mobile networks, as they are more able to reliably reach and talk to customers.

ITB Berlin will also be catering to the booming market for specialist software for the tourism and mobile services sector with graphic demonstrations on the presentation stage. Examples showing that consumers are quick to accept the innovations offered them include the use of in-car sat nav devices and electronic boarding cards. Industry observers expect all airlines to be offering them by the end of 2010.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention
ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday to Sunday, 10 to 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. Parallel with the trade show the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 Mach 2010. This is the world�s largest specialist convention for the industry. The programme can be found at www.itb-convention.com. ITB Berlin is the world�s leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to the 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors.

ITB Berlin and ITB Asia now on Twitter
Web 2.0 services, including blogs, social networks and Twitter, are also gaining importance in everyday business activities, a development that has been immediately recognised by ITB Berlin and ITB Asia. Both of these events are making use of the micro-blogging service Twitter as a means of entering into a dialogue with journalists and exhibitors as well as the trade, and of supplying them with the latest information. The world�s leading travel trade show is twittering at http://twitter.com/ITB_Berlin, while the world�s largest travel trade show for the Asia-Pacific region is covered by http://twitter.com/itbasia.

Press contacts:
Messe Berlin:
Michael T. Hofer
Group Press and
Public Relations Director

ITB Berlin/ITB Asia:
Astrid Ehring:
Press Officer
Messedamm 22
D-14055 Berlin
Tel.:+4930 3038 -2275
Fax: + 4930 3038-2141
www.messe-berlin.com

More Information:
www.itb-berlin.com
www.itb-convention.com

In focus: CSR and sustainability in the tourism supply chain

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:00:00 GMT

The role of corporate social responsibility and sustainability in the tourism supply chain: a trend-setting symposium from GATE e.V. in cooperation with ITB Berlin on 20 and 21 November 2009 in Hamburg

A major new development took place during this year�s ITB Berlin Convention at the world�s leading travel show, in the form of the first comprehensive study into corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the tourism sector. ITB Berlin is once again investigating the subject of CSR in the travel industry. As the partner of GATE e.V. in this undertaking ITB Berlin is lending its support to the symposium taking place in November, which is entitled �Sustainability all along the line? CSR in tourism supply chains�. �Increasingly, the subject of sustainability is becoming a quality factor for the socially aware traveller. This makes it even more important for tourism companies to face up to their responsibilities and not just to use CSR as a marketing instrument,� according to Dr. Martin Buck, Director of the Competence Centre Travel and Logistics at Messe Berlin, in explaining his organisation�s commitment to this subject.

The two-day conference will examine the importance of tourism supply chains, the verifiability of CSR criteria, and transparency in the implementation of CSR tourism destinations. The aim is to present the subject of sustainability and CSR in tourism supply chains from a number of different perspectives � for the benefit of representatives of the tourism industry, academics, those employed in development cooperation, and anyone else with an interest in these subjects. The discussions will focus on the ways in which CSR can be implemented in the tourism supply chain, the role played in this context at the particular location by cultural factors in the organisational structure of tourism, and how to ensure transparency for tourism suppliers in Germany as well as for tourists themselves. Participants will also investigate the fundamental questions of the importance and effect of the implementation of CSR criteria on the local population at tourism destinations. The presentations, which will be given by leading figures from the industry, will also be accompanied by discussion groups, using the open space method, allowing anyone to introduce their own topics.

The symposium will take place on 20 and 21 November 2009 at the Euro Business College Hamburg. Applications can be submitted online to: www.gate-tourismus.de

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention

ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday to Sunday, 10 to 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. Parallel with the trade show the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 Mach 2010. This is the world�s largest specialist convention for the industry. The programme can be found at www.itb-convention.com. ITB Berlin is the world�s leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to the 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors.

ITB Berlin and ITB Asia now on Twitter

Web 2.0 services, including blogs, social networks and Twitter, are also gaining importance in everyday business activities, a development that has been immediately recognised by ITB Berlin and ITB Asia. Both of these events are making use of the micro-blogging service Twitter as a means of entering into a dialogue with journalists and exhibitors as well as the trade, and of supplying them with the latest information. The world�s leading travel trade show is twittering at http://twitter.com/ITB_Berlin, while the world�s largest travel trade show for the Asia-Pacific region is covered by http://twitter.com/itbasia.

Press contacts:
Messe Berlin:
Michael T. Hofer
Group Press and
Public Relations Director

ITB Berlin/ITB Asia:
Astrid Ehring:
Press Officer
Messedamm 22
D-14055 Berlin
Tel.:+4930 3038 -2275
Fax: + 4930 3038-2141
www.messe-berlin.com

More Information:
www.itb-berlin.com
www.itb-convention.com

Travel communities � a highly effective way of evaluating holidays

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:00:00 GMT

One third of all online users obtain information about travel from the internet � travel communities exert a growing influence on holiday decision-making: the main criterion is the genuineness of the evaluations, according to a representative poll by the Internet Travel Marketing Federation (VIR)

30.8 million Germans now rely on the internet as a source of information when making their travel plans. Of this figure, around 7 million use travel communities as a basis for making a final decision about their journey. A further 5 million intend to rely on these virtual communities for making their travel decisions in the future. These are the findings of a special survey by the Internet Travel Marketing Federation (VIR) as part of its representative survey �RA online�.
Questions targeted exclusively at online users on the subject of travel communities reveal that it is above all the genuineness of the evaluations and entries that is of vital importance within these communities and evaluation platforms. Making a choice from many different opinions in order to form one�s own view ranks second in importance. Especially among 45 to 55-year old internet users more than half regard it as extremely important for the person making the evaluation to have actually been to the location, whereas the majority of younger users (16 to 24), i.e. more than 60 per cent, are quite �relaxed� about this particular criterion. When dealing with travel community websites women are definitely more critical than men. Of the women who were questioned, 48 per cent stated that they attach major importance to the quality and authenticity of the individual evaluations. It is also evident that it is predominantly those people in lower income groups who make use of travel communities and whose decisions are more likely to be influenced by them than is the case with middle and upper income groups. Claudia Br�zel, Member of the Managing Committee of VIR: �Authenticity and a wide range of opinions are major criteria in assessing trustworthiness, especially in travel communities. Operators should therefore concentrate on ensuring that entries are of the required quality. VIR members� portals have already achieved considerable success with their communities on this exciting market.�

There is no doubt about the growing importance of travel communities. Travel tips, hotel evaluations, reports by restaurant critics, travel diaries and travel pictures taken by members all provide greater clarity, offer inspiration to other travellers and encourage people to compare their travel experiences. �In particular the discussions about the influence and power of travel communities in tourism taking place at this year�s ITB Berlin Convention reveal the vast potential offered by such platforms�, according to Dr. Martin Buck, Director of ITB Berlin.

More details about the survey can be found at http://www.v-i-r.de

Verband Internet Reisevertrieb e.V. (VIR):
Mouthpiece of the tourism industry on the internet
Verband Internet Reisevertrieb e.V. (VIR) � the Internet Travel Marketing Federation � addresses the core issues on the internet, namely those of trust, clarity and quality standards. This federation is the mouthpiece of the tourism industry on the internet and the point of contact for consumers, the media and the industry itself. Its members include seven of Germany�s leading online travel portals (ebookers.de, expedia.de, holidaycheck.de, gratistours.com, lastminute.de, opodo.de and travel24.com), which together generate sales of around one billion euros and employ over 500 people. During the second half of 2008 alone these internet travel portals received an average of 3 million visits monthly. In addition to its own website at www.v-i-r.de the VIR can also be found on Twitter, with a wealth of details about the innovation competition �Sprungbrett� (www.twitter.com/sprungbrett2010), and is also represented on YouTube, depicting some exciting moments from its own events (www.youtube.com/user/virtualVIR).

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention
ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday to Sunday, 10 to 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. Parallel with the trade show the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 Mach 2010. This is the world�s largest specialist convention for the industry. The programme can be found at www.itb-convention.com. ITB Berlin is the world�s leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to the 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors.

ITB Berlin and ITB Asia now on Twitter
Web 2.0 services, including blogs, social networks and Twitter, are also gaining importance in everyday business activities, a development that has been immediately recognised by ITB Berlin and ITB Asia. Both of these events are making use of the micro-blogging service Twitter as a means of entering into a dialogue with journalists and exhibitors as well as the trade, and of supplying them with the latest information. The world�s leading travel trade show is twittering at http://twitter.com/ITB_Berlin, while the world�s largest travel trade show for the Asia-Pacific region is covered by http://twitter.com/itbasia.

Press contacts:
Messe Berlin:
Michael T. Hofer
Group Press and
Public Relations Director

ITB Berlin/ITB Asia:
Astrid Ehring:
Press Officer
Messedamm 22
D-14055 Berlin
Tel.:+4930 3038 -2275
Fax: + 4930 3038-2141
www.messe-berlin.com

More Information:
www.itb-berlin.com
www.itb-convention.com

World Leader ITB comes to India with a co-branded show with SATTE

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 22:00:00 GMT

ITB Berlin, of the world�s leading travel show organised by Messe Berlin , has announced a co-branded show with SATTE for 2010.

ITB�s decision to endorse SATTE is a reflection of its commitment to the India market, indeed to the entire South Asia region. It is a recognition of the power of the Indian traveller, as well as India as a major generator on the travel and tourism circuit of Asia. It also acknowledges the leadership position of SATTE as a premier tourism fair in the region.

SATTE and ITB signed an MOU in New Delhi. On behalf of Messe Berlin, Dr. Martin Buck, Director of the Competence Center Travel and Logistics at Messe Berlin was in New Delhi for this big event. He confirmed these developments as a most positive statement, coming from ITB Berlin, which is regarded as the world�s biggest tourism business platform, that India is a huge travel market that cannot be ignored.

Asked to comment on the nature of the MOU between the two organisers, Dr. Buck said: �Currently, we are in the middle of the design process and will announce new developments and features. We would like to create opportunities to help establish SATTE as the forum at which government discusses with the travel industry the latter�s infrastructural requirements; develop the corporate social responsibility (CSR) component within the SATTE convention; and enhance the trade show portfolio by bringing MICE and business travel sellers and buyers to SATTE.�

Dr. Buck went on to say: �The MOU envisages mutual selling and marketing of the two shows, sharing of the learning curve from each other, and developing synergies between the two. We see ourselves in a leadership position in India through this partnership with SATTE.�

ITB has been looking to increase its international presence beyond Germany. Last year, ITB embarked on its maiden non-German show in Singapore and launched the first edition of ITB Asia. A co-branded show in India is a big recognition of the Indian market and of SATTE in particular.

Asked to clarify how the Singapore model would be different from its endorsement of SATTE in New Delhi, Dr. Buck said: �SATTE and ITB Asia are products that cater to different market needs. Some buyers/sellers will attend one of the two and some will attend both.�

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Navin Berry, chief co-ordinator SATTE, exuded confidence in this new partnership as �it opens the doors for SATTE to acquire more international exposure, both for buyers as well as the sellers. ITB will be extending its marketing muscle to SATTE and we expect this to translate into a more comprehensive international show. We expect more quality content enhancement from ITB and for us this is indeed both a recognition as well as a challenge to achieve new goals.�

SATTE and ITB have been working together over the last four years. This new agreement will secure a more world class experience at the 17th annual edition of SATTE on 28-30 January, 2010.

This development has been welcomed by all segments of the travel and tourism industry as heralding a new chapter for Indian tourism.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention
ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday to Sunday, 10 to 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. Parallel with the trade show the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 Mach 2010. This is the world�s largest specialist convention for the industry. The programme can be found at www.itb-convention.com. ITB Berlin is the world�s leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to the 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors.

ITB Berlin and ITB Asia now on Twitter
Web 2.0 services, including blogs, social networks and Twitter, are also gaining importance in everyday business activities, a development that has been immediately recognised by ITB Berlin and ITB Asia. Both of these events are making use of the micro-blogging service Twitter as a means of entering into a dialogue with journalists and exhibitors as well as the trade, and of supplying them with the latest information. The world�s leading travel trade show is twittering at http://twitter.com/ITB_Berlin, while the world�s largest travel trade show for the Asia-Pacific region is covered by http://twitter.com/itbasia.

Press contacts:
Messe Berlin:
Michael T. Hofer
Group Press and
Public Relations Director

ITB Berlin/ITB Asia:
Astrid Ehring:
Press Officer
Messedamm 22
D-14055 Berlin
Tel.:+4930 3038 -2275
Fax: + 4930 3038-2141
www.messe-berlin.com

More Information:
www.itb-berlin.com
www.itb-convention.com

Travel costs are the determining factor

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 22:00:00 GMT

To an increasing extent German vacationers are basing their choice of destination on the cost of the trip � Cheaper countries are becoming more popular holiday destinations

The price is the decisive factor: increasingly the choice of destination is determined by the travel budget. According to the ADAC Travel Monitor, which is presented each year at ITB Berlin, in future half of all those polled want to spend less on their holidays. For 37.9 per cent of those questioned value for money is the deciding factor when choosing a destination at which to spend the best weeks of the year. This is a 2.8 per cent increase compared with last year. Savings on ancillary holiday costs are also being sought by a growing number of vacationers, the actual figure being five per cent more than in 2008.

According to Dr. Martin Buck, Director of the Competence Centre Travel and Logistics at Messe Berlin, �there is no doubt that holiday travel is one of the basic needs of people in Germany. The good news for the travel industry is that, before Germans completely renounce holiday trips during difficult economic times, they will choose a destination that is within their budget.�

It is therefore obvious that the cheaper vacation countries are proving popular with German visitors. Within Europe it is Spain, with 10.6 per cent, maintaining a narrow lead over Italy, with 10 per cent. Austria is in third place with 6.8 per cent. Despite the difficult economic situation long-haul travel seems to be almost as popular as ever. Compared with last year only 0.5 per cent fewer Germans are planning a trip to far-off destinations, with the USA still occupying the top spot, thanks to a weak dollar and the positive Obama effect. To an increasing extent the price is the deciding factor for long-haul travellers too, with 28.3 per cent of those questioned looking for tour operators who are offering cheaper deals. For trips within Europe 22 per cent of travellers are seeking low-priced offers, while 15.8 per cent are on the look out for bargains on holidays in Germany.

There are savings to be made across a broad front during the coming season. �In general holiday travel will be cheaper next winter�, is the forecast by Dr. Martin Buck for travel over the next six months. �All the leading tour operators have announced price cuts averaging between three and five percent, due to falling hotel rates and air fares, and these savings will be passed on to the customers.�

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention
ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday to Sunday, 10 to 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. Parallel with the trade show the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 Mach 2010. This is the world�s largest specialist convention for the industry. The programme can be found at www.itb-convention.com. ITB Berlin is the world�s leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to the 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors.

ITB Berlin and ITB Asia now on Twitter
Web 2.0 services, including blogs, social networks and Twitter, are also gaining importance in everyday business activities, a development that has been immediately recognised by ITB Berlin and ITB Asia. Both of these events are making use of the micro-blogging service Twitter as a means of entering into a dialogue with journalists and exhibitors as well as the trade, and of supplying them with the latest information. The world�s leading travel trade show is twittering at http://twitter.com/ITB_Berlin, while the world�s largest travel trade show for the Asia-Pacific region is covered by http://twitter.com/itbasia.

Press contacts:
Messe Berlin:
Michael T. Hofer
Group Press and
Public Relations Director

ITB Berlin/ITB Asia:
Astrid Ehring:
Press Officer
Messedamm 22
D-14055 Berlin
Tel.:+4930 3038 -2275
Fax: + 4930 3038-2141
www.messe-berlin.com

More Information:
www.itb-berlin.com
www.itb-convention.com

Absolutely inspiring! The new campaign promoting ITB Berlin

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 22:00:00 GMT

A new campaign slogan, "Absolutely inspiring", has been introduced with immediate effect for the world�s leading travel trade show � The new image has been created by the Berlin agency Heymann Brandt de Gelmini

The campaign for ITB Berlin has been given a makeover in a development that chooses an unconventional approach to trade fair promotion. Using the slogan "Absolutely inspiring", it presents images with an exciting visual impact that is both aesthetically pleasing and combined with a highly focused and emotive approach to its target group. The "inspiring" image is fresh and new, demonstrating that the global scope of ITB Berlin is one that people find fascinating and which expands the horizons of everyone who attends.

David Ruetz, Senior Manager ITB Berlin: "With our new campaign we have chosen an unexpected way of communicating a clear, plausible and easily understandable message, ensuring that all the target groups can share equally in the ITB Berlin experience." He also emphasises the distinct and long-term qualities of this campaign. "Unlike many other trade shows, with 'one size fits all' campaigns based purely on announcements, we have deliberately set out to concentrate on establishing the ITB Berlin brand with a medium and long-term impact intended to heighten the profile of this event." The campaign addresses the two main reasons for attending ITB Berlin, which are applicable to all target groups: one is a basic enthusiasm for the subject of travel and the other is the need for information and for staying better informed. As a result the world�s leading travel trade show strengthens its position among exhibitors and trade visitors as a tourism industry think tank and a platform for presenting the latest trends and the most up-to-date expertise for the travel industry. This new campaign also establishes ITB Berlin in the eyes of the general public as a multicultural event that encourages its visitors to discover and experience the whole world.

Initially the new campaign is being deployed in the B2B sector. In addition to advertisements, posters and trade fair displays, various flyers and a publicity brochure will be featured this year. The B2C campaign will take the form of advertisements as well as outdoor and special advertising displays in the run-up to ITB Berlin 2010.

The campaign has been created by the Berlin-based Heymann Brandt de Gelmini agency, which has already been commissioned to promote two other Messe Berlin events, IFA and the International Green Week.

Contact data for enquiries about pictorial material from the new promotional campaign:
HEYMANN BRANDT DE GELMINI Werbeagentur AG
Marion Pasda
Fuggerstra�e 35
10777 Berlin
tel: +4930 214 878 13
pasda@hbdg.de

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention
ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday to Sunday, 10 to 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. Parallel with the trade show the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 Mach 2010. This is the world�s largest specialist convention for the industry. The programme can be found at www.itb-convention.com. ITB Berlin is the world�s leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to the 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors.

ITB Berlin and ITB Asia now on Twitter
Web 2.0 services, including blogs, social networks and Twitter, are also gaining importance in everyday business activities, a development that has been immediately recognised by ITB Berlin and ITB Asia. Both of these events are making use of the micro-blogging service Twitter as a means of entering into a dialogue with journalists and exhibitors as well as the trade, and of supplying them with the latest information. The world�s leading travel trade show is twittering at http://twitter.com/ITB_Berlin, while the world�s largest travel trade show for the Asia-Pacific region is covered by http://twitter.com/itbasia.

Press contacts:
Messe Berlin:
Michael T. Hofer
Group Press and
Public Relations Director

ITB Berlin/ITB Asia:
Astrid Ehring:
Press Officer
Messedamm 22
D-14055 Berlin
Tel.:+4930 3038 -2275
Fax: + 4930 3038-2141
www.messe-berlin.com

More Information:
www.itb-berlin.com
www.itb-convention.com

Best Agers: Force behind the future expansion of the tourism industry

Sun, 12 Jul 2009 22:00:00 GMT

By 2020 every second vacationer will be over 50 years of age, according to the researchers at ADAC Reisemonitor � New markets for best agers offer fresh opportunities for the travel sector

The German advertising industry has identified its major target group as consumers between the ages of 14 and 49, who wield significant purchasing power. However, in a few years time the powerful travel industry will no longer conform to this pattern. According to findings by the ADAC Reisemonitor (Travel Monitor), by 2020 every second holidaymaker will have passed the age of 50. Dr. Martin Buck, Director of the Competence Center Travel and Logistics at Messe Berlin: �At the present time the travel industry is paying insufficient attention to demographic developments�.

The findings by the ADAC Reisemonitor 2009 are unequivocal: 42 of the 65 plus age group go on holiday. �Socio-demographic change in Germany presents a major challenge, but one offering enormous opportunities�, according to Dr. Martin Buck. For the director of the world�s leading travel trade show these so-called best agers are the �secret force for growth�, and the tourism industry is placing great expectations in them. �With increasing numbers of older vacationers this target group is acquiring growing importance for the travel sector. That is why knowledge about the needs, demands and requirements of these best agers regarding their travel plans are so important for the travel industry.�

Whether it is local destinations or long-haul travel, as people grow older the background conditions are bound to change. This has been proved by the analyses carried out by the ADAC Reisemonitor, which has been presented at the ITB Berlin since 2008. �Holidaymakers in the best age� are keen to see and experience something new. Tours, as well as cultural and study trips and city tours are very popular. Excursions are another major form of holiday activity. These travellers want to expand their horizons, acquaint themselves with foreign cultures, and increase their knowledge while on holiday. According to the research that has been carried out by the ADAC, best agers attach particular importance to attractive landscapes, art and culture. Exclusive accommodation is equally vital, and a disproportionately large number of them prefer hotels. The older generation like to travel in their own cars or by air, and are willing to spend substantial amounts on their holidays.

On average best agers spend over 1,800 euros per person on a trip. As people grow older the traditional beach holiday ceases to be so attractive. Instead health and wellness vacations tend to become more popular, as well as destinations in Germany and the Alpine regions. And best agers stay longer: more than 50 per cent book for at least two weeks, and for three weeks in the case of almost 20 per cent of them. In other respects the over-65 generation relies on brochures (23.1 per cent) and on the internet (25.8 per cent) as the basis for its holiday decisions. However, with 35.1 per cent, tour operators� catalogues lead the field when travel plans are being made.

Dr. Martin Buck: �One does not have to have a lot of imagination to realise that the over-50 target group are the ones that will help the travel industry to achieve further growth. This is a challenge that the industry will have to face.�

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention
ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday to Sunday, 10 to 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. Parallel with the trade show the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 Mach 2010. This is the world�s largest specialist convention for the industry. The programme can be found at www.itb-convention.com. ITB Berlin is the world�s leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to the 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors.

ITB Berlin and ITB Asia now on Twitter
Web 2.0 services, including blogs, social networks and Twitter, are also gaining importance in everyday business activities, a development that has been immediately recognised by ITB Berlin and ITB Asia. Both of these events are making use of the micro-blogging service Twitter as a means of entering into a dialogue with journalists and exhibitors as well as the trade, and of supplying them with the latest information. The world�s leading travel trade show is twittering at http://twitter.com/ITB_Berlin, while the world�s largest travel trade show for the Asia-Pacific region is covered by http://twitter.com/itbasia.

Press contacts:
Messe Berlin:
Michael T. Hofer
Group Press and
Public Relations Director

ITB Berlin/ITB Asia:
Astrid Ehring:
Press Officer
Messedamm 22
D-14055 Berlin
Tel.:+4930 3038 -2275
Fax: + 4930 3038-2141
www.messe-berlin.com

More Information:
www.itb-berlin.com
www.itb-convention.com

TO DO! For a Tourism Development Orientated Toward the Future:

Mon, 08 Jun 2009 22:00:00 GMT

�TO DO! � International Contest Socially Responsible Tourism� again calling for entries

At a time when �Corporate Social Responsibility� was not yet a hot topic, the Institute for Tourism and Development (Studienkreis f�r Tourismus und Entwicklung e.V.) initiated the �TO DO! Contest Socially Responsible Tourism.� That was in 1995. Now the TO DO! for the fifteenth time is going in search of projects and measures which prove that a sustainable and future-orientated course of action in tourism is possible. Of special importance: The interests and needs of the local people have to be considered and safeguarded through their participation.

The latest TO DO! award winners from Brazil, Peru and Switzerland have once again shown how that is done. They received the awards at the International Tourism Exchange in Berlin (see: www.to-do-contest.org). �The winning projects show�, said the Institute�s Managing Director Wibke Reger, �that a tourism which is good both for tourists and people who work in tourism needs commitment and far-sightedness.�

Public and private institutions and organisations active in tourism may apply for the TO DO! 2009. The deadline for entries is August 31, 2009. The conditions of participation and application forms in German and English can be downloaded on the internet (www.to-do-contest.org) or requested from the organizer. The winners will be honored at the International Tourism Exchange 2010 in Berlin.

For further information please contact:
Studienkreis f�r Tourismus und Entwicklung e.V.,
Kapellenweg 3, D-82541 Ammerland, phone: +49-(0)8177-1783,
fax: +49-(0)8177-1349, email: info@studienkreis.org

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention
ITB Berlin 2010 will take place from Wednesday to Sunday, 10 to 14 March. ITB Berlin will be open to trade visitors only from Wednesday to Friday. Parallel with the trade show the ITB Berlin Convention will be held from Wednesday to Friday, 10 to 12 Mach 2010. This is the world�s largest specialist convention for the industry. The programme can be found at www.itb-convention.com. ITB Berlin is the world�s leading travel trade show. In 2009 a total of 11,098 companies from 187 countries exhibited their products and services to the 178,971 visitors, who included 110,857 trade visitors.

ITB Berlin and ITB Asia now on Twitter
Web 2.0 services, including blogs, social networks and Twitter, are also gaining importance in everyday business activities, a development that has been immediately recognised by ITB Berlin and ITB Asia. Both of these events are making use of the micro-blogging service Twitter as a means of entering into a dialogue with journalists and exhibitors as well as the trade, and of supplying them with the latest information. The world�s leading travel trade show is twittering at http://twitter.com/ITB_Berlin, while the world�s largest travel trade show for the Asia-Pacific region is covered by http://twitter.com/itbasia.

Press contacts:
Messe Berlin:
Michael T. Hofer
Group Press and
Public Relations Director

ITB Berlin/ITB Asia:
Astrid Ehring:
Press Officer
Messedamm 22
D-14055 Berlin
Tel.:+4930 3038 -2275
Fax: + 4930 3038-2141
www.messe-berlin.com

More Information:
www.itb-berlin.com
www.itb-convention.com