Messe Berlin ITB Convention

Review

A successful future for the ITB Convention Market Trends & Innovations
15 per cent more participants - ITB Business Travel Days firmly established

This year saw a 17 per cent rise in attendance at the 3rd ITB Convention Market Trends & Innovations, from 6.000 to 7,000. With 273 speakers and 88 individual events it provided insights into current trends and innovative business models in the tourism sector. Dr. Christian Göke, Chief Operating Officer of Messe Berlin, believes that this confirms the leading role of the ITB Berlin as a platform for discussions about current and future developments, as a centre where the skills of the travel industry are concentrated, and as a stimulus for the industry too.

Among the events that made a successful debut were the "ITB Hospitality Day"
and the "ITB Marketing & Sales Day". The world's largest convention for the tourism business is now regarded as the industry's think tank too. A major contributory factor has been the Travel Technology Convention under the title of "TRAVDEX@ITB". This event has been organised for the first time in cooperation with one of the world's leading consultancies in this field, PhoCusWright Inc. from the USA. The new concept and leading speakers from such major companies as Google, Yahoo! Europe and Lastminute.com have certainly set high standards.

Successful second round for ITB Business Travel Days

Following the successful launch of the Business Travel Days at the ITB Berlin 2005 this platform for contacts in the business travel sector was expanded at the 40th ITB Berlin. An even stronger basis for the subject of business travel was provided as a result of the wider range of conventions and seminars, and this year it covered all five days of the fair. There was an excellent response by participants to the seminars and also to the opportunities for acquiring additional knowledge and expertise. The figures say it all: attendance doubled compared with last year, and now comprises some 2,000 travel managers, business travel experts and office managers.

Visitor satisfaction is also reflected in the numbers who again attended the ITB Business Lounge by VDR & HSMA, twice as many as last year, and for the entire five days of the fair a venue that was extensively used by leading decision-makers, politicians and representatives of associations for their discussions. Among the new features this year have been the guided tours: as part of the ITB Business Travel Partner Programme all the exhibitors offering special business travel services and products were clearly identifiable. This was an excellent opportunity for business travel experts, travel managers and office managers to familiarise themselves with the exhibitors and their offers, under expert guidance. David Ruetz, Project Manager, ITB Berlin: "The ITB Business Travel Days concept has become firmly established at this year's ITB Berlin. We are confident that we can add further refinements to the programme next year, thereby expanding the subject of Business Travel. The Business Travel Days are now a regular feature of the new ITB Berlin."