IBTM AMERICA 2016 KICKS OFF ITS HOSTED BUYER PROGRAMME, KNOWLEDGE FORUM, NETWORKING EVENTS AND MORE

IBTM AMERICA 2016 KICKS OFF ITS HOSTED BUYER PROGRAMME, KNOWLEDGE FORUM, NETWORKING EVENTS AND MORE 

ibtm america 2016 (www.ibtmamerica.com), taking place from June 15-17 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, has announced a number of developments for the upcoming programme including applications for Hosted Buyers going live, new topics and speakers for the ibtm america Knowledge Forum, networking events, and programmes for exhibitors.

International and regional meeting and event planners can now apply to attend as Hosted Buyers by filling out an application online. Successful applicants will receive a diary of up to 30 pre-scheduled, mutually matched 1-to-1 appointments with leading suppliers as well as a fully hosted itinerary including flights and accommodation at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, access to a variety of networking events, participation in Discovery Day, and access to the ibtm america Knowledge Forum.

Jaime McAuley, Event Director, ibtm america commented, “This year we’re rolling out 100% mutual match business appointments, which puts both buyers and exhibitors in the driver’s seat, giving them full control to choose who they want to meet with while eliminating non-relevant meetings.”

Hosted Buyers will be chosen based on their authority to organise, influence or make budgetary decisions for meetings, events, incentives and corporate travel, within North America or internationally. To find out more and apply to attend, please visithttp://www.ibtmamerica.com/Hosted-Buyers/About-Hosted-Buyers/

All Hosted Buyers and exhibitors will be invited to attend the ibtm america Welcome Luncheon, which will kick off ibtm america 2016. Instead of a traditional keynote speaker during the lunch, ibtm america 2016 will embody the spirit of Nashville by hosting Lyric Crew, a group of seasoned songwriters and studio musicians. Lyric Crewwill engage attendees in a creative team-building songwriting process, the result of which will be an ibtm america jingle and theme song.

The event has also announced two hot topics to be covered at the ibtm america Knowledge Forum which will include CEU Accredited Sessions and experiential sessions. Attendees will be able to attend education sessions on “Digital Security Trends“ and “Meetings Design” where they will explore using storyboard techniques to create fun and effective experiences for customers.

Jim Spellos, Media Expert and President of Meeting U, will cover “Digital Security Trends.” In his session Spellos will explore the most important trends in digital security, a hot topic in the new digital age.

Jaime McAuley concludes, “Our event programme is coming together and everything is looking great— we will have a number of other important announcements in the coming weeks. This year we have taken advantage of the exciting location of Nashville in our planning and are set to offer attendees a truly personalised experience designed to offer maximum ROI through a combination of pre-scheduled business appointments, networking and learning.”

As part of Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) global agreement designating oneworld® as its exclusive airline alliance partner for 2016, exhibitors attending ibtm america are eligible for an exclusive discount when booking through oneworld events. To find out more, please visit http://www.ibtmamerica.com/en/exhibit/already-an-exhibitor/travel-and-hotel/

To learn more about being a Hosted Buyer, or apply to attend please visit http://www.ibtmamerica.com/Hosted-Buyers/About-Hosted-Buyers/

For further information about exhibiting, please visit www.ibtmamerica.com

For sales inquiries, please contact ibtmamerica-sales@reedexpo.com

 

ibtm arabia delivers new format MICE event for the Gulf Region

ibtm arabia delivers new format MICE event for the Gulf Region

International Hosted Buyers from 36 countries representing key and influential planners of MICE business have descended on Abu Dhabi for an exclusive closed door one-to-one meeting format in a revamped ibtm arabia (formerly GIBTM).

Opening at The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, Abu Dhabi today, the event will be the only one in the region to introduce international buyers from Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, South America, Africa and the Middle East, all representing leading corporations, associations, and agencies, to a mix of suppliers from the region and overseas.

With twice as many exhibitors as GIBTM 2014, 24 will be participating for the first time. There will also be 5 new countries represented including Scotland, Ethiopia, Japan, Mexico and Canada.

“ibtm arabia’s successful introduction is an endorsement of the strength of Abu Dhabi’s MICE proposition and proves we have evolved an established industry event to make it more relevant for delegates, buyers and exhibitors,” said Mubarak Al Shamisi, Director of the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau, a division of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi).

The new exhibition format provides a platform for Abu Dhabi’s MICE sector to introduce new products and services, and present their products to industry experts specialising in a number of diverse fields such as international corporate groups and the expanding local wedding business, and promote packages to the local and GCC markets.

The “new” event brings everyone together for three days during which they will participate in “Discovery Day” where both buyers and suppliers get a taste of Abu Dhabi, and the experiences it offers for the MICE industry, followed by the opportunity to attend the ibtm arabia Knowledge Forum giving inspiration from two thought provoking speakers. Two days of business will follow, where over 3000 appointments will be held between buyers and suppliers with a diary of up to 30 appointments for each of them, plus networking and social events will bring everyone together.

“The significance of ibtm arabia is fundamental to the continuing growth of the MICE sector and has been built on the success of GIBTM. This new format however, creates a community for this industry, and for the first time everyone will work, learn and network together giving endless opportunities to meet, connect and do business as well as make new friends. ibtm arabia offers real exclusivity and with the quality of both buyers and suppliers, matched to have real influence on each other, we believe this new formula can enhance the experience of all our attendees,” said Lois Wilcox, Exhibition Manager ibtm arabia.

Highlights of ibtm arabia include: Discovery Day, Knowledge Forum, Pre-scheduled appointments, 9 networking events.

For further information please visit www.ibtmarabia.com

 

ADRIAN HAYES AND PHIL BEDFORD TO LEAD IBTM ARABIA KNOWLEDGE FORUM

ADRIAN HAYES AND PHIL BEDFORD TO LEAD IBTM ARABIA KNOWLEDGE FORUM
Reed Travel Exhibitions Announces Final Programme Line Up for Discovery Day

Reed Travel Exhibitions has confirmed that Adrian Hayes and Phil Bedford are set to lead the ibtm arabia Knowledge Forum, which will take place as part of the closed event’s Discovery Day on the 10^th of February at the St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort.

The ibtm arabia Knowledge Forum will present the best speakers and thought provoking topics to ensure that the attendees get even more out of their ibtm arabia experience and enhance their knowledge.

Lois Wilcox, Exhibition Manager, ibtm arabia comments, “This year we have two contrasting but equally exciting speakers who are sure to inspire the participants and their business: Phil Bedford, who is the Middle East Master Franchise owner of The Referral Institute, an international referral training and consulting company with branches across the world, will open the door to the secrets of advanced networking in his session; “Connections Mean Everything.”

“Adrian Hayes, whose session will bring inspiration from outside the meetings industry, is the British record-breaking polar explorer & adventurer, speaker, business coach, author and campaigner. An Arabic and Nepalese speaking former Airbus Middle East Sales Director and British Army Gurkha Officer, he has achieved more major goals the past eight years than anyone in the world, including his recent summiting of K2. He is now an internationally acclaimed keynote speaker and professional leadership, team and executive coach delivering seminars and programmes worldwide,” Wilcox concludes.

Hayes comments, “I wear a number of different hats and have a whole series of speeches, seminars and programmes, but this one is purely about the stories and the challenges and, hopefully, some inspiration to everyone in conquering their own Everests.”

ibtm arabia Discovery Day is a brand new concept introduced to the portfolio of ibtm events for both exhibitors and Hosted Buyers to attend a full day of experiential networking with the ibtm arabia community.

The full itinerary for ibtm arabia Discovery Day comprises two hours of experiential activities at Yas Island which include Yas Marina Circuit- Hot Laps and a ride on the world’s fastest rollercoaster at Ferrari World. These activities will then be followed by a visit to the Sheikh Zayed Mosque and lunch on a luxury cruise liner.

The afternoon programme will commence with refreshments before attendees receive an official welcome from the ibtm arabia team that will set the stage for an afternoon of education. The Discovery Day will conclude with a Welcome Networking Reception, which is set to take place at St Regis Saadiyat Island.

For further information please visit www.ibtmarabia.com