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

 

FLORIDA SET TO BE DESTINATION FOR 2017 IBTM AMERICA EVENT

Press Release: 1st December 2015

REED TRAVEL EXHIBITIONS CONFIRMS FORT LAUDERDALE/HOLLYWOOD FLORIDA SET TO BE DESTINATION FOR 2017 IBTM AMERICA EVENT

Reed Travel Exhibitions confirms that the 2017 edition of ibtm america (www.ibtmamerica.com) will take place at the Hilton Diplomat Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood Florida.

The Hilton Diplomat Resort & Spa is South Florida’s premier meeting resort with both indoor and outdoor space tucked between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. The property has received top honors from TripAdvisor, AAA and Orbitz and was named a top 100 Meeting Hotel by Cvent.

The decision to rotate the event has been driven by customer feedback confirming that 100% of buyers and suppliers attending the show were in favor of the event rotating year-to-year.

Jaime McAuley, Event Director, ibtm america commented, “We asked our exhibitors and buyers whether they preferred a permanent home, a resort location or an event that moved around to different destinations. 100% answered in preference of different destinations.

“Moving ibtm america to a new location every year offers benefits to our Hosted Buyers and exhibitors. We’re lucky to be able to work with so many great destinations and hosting venues. It also puts major meeting hubs in the splotlight annually and most importantly, it keeps things fresh and interesting.”

The 2016 edition of ibtm america will take place in Nashville, Tennessee (June 15th- 17th) at the Gaylord Opryland and will utilize the ‘mutual match’ system where both exhibitors and buyers will be able to request to meet one another.

To find out more about the Hosted Buyer Programme and apply to attend, visit http://www.ibtmamerica.com/Register-Today/Hosted-Buyer-Registration/

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

For sales enquiries, please contact: ibtmamerica-sales@reedexpo.com

PACIFIC WORLD CREATES PARTNERSHIP WITH IBTM EVENTS

Press Release: 1 October 2015

PACIFIC WORLD CREATES PARTNERSHIP WITH IBTM EVENTS
Leading Global DMC is Signed Up to Facilitate Operations at ibtm world and ibtm china

Pacific World (www.pacificworld.com), the leading global DMC, has recently confirmed a partnership with ibtm events (www.ibtmevents.com), part of Reed Travel Exhibitions.

Harsha Krishnan, Strategic Development Director, Pacific World comments, “Pacific World and ibtm events have developed a close relationship through the 11 years that we have worked together to deliver ground services for the flagship event in Barcelona; ibtm world. We are delighted to now be able to expand this partnership across the Pacific World global network to cover additional shows beyond ibtm world.”

Sallie Coventry, Portfolio Director, ibtm events portfolio commented, “We have been working with Pacific World for many years and they have proven to be very professional as well as consistent in the great service that they deliver. We are confident that this partnership will contribute towards the seamless delivery of these shows going forward.”

The next ibtm event where Pacific World will be facilitating all onsite logistics is ibtm world (formerly EIBTM), which is set to take place in Barcelona, Fira Gran Via from 17-19 November 2015.

Pacific World will also once again be sponsoring ibtm world’s Meetings Leadership Summit 2015 (MLS), a VIP by invitation only event for the elite of the global events industry. This year the MLS will take place at the remarkable 17th century restoration site El Born on Monday evening, 16th November 2015.

For more information, please visit www.pacificworld.com

ICOMEX TO BECOME IBTM LATIN AMERICA

ICOMEX TO BECOME IBTM LATIN AMERICA

ICOMEX – the leading MICE event in Mexico and LATAM acquired by Reed Travel Exhibitions in 2014 – is to be re-branded as ibtm latin america joining the global portfolio of ibtm events all of which were re-branded at the end of last year. ibtm latin america will sit as part of the Reed Travel Exhibitions global portfolio of meetings, incentives and events exhibitions and serve the Latin America region including south and central America.

Becoming part of the ibtm portfolio will give the event a major boost and international presence in the global meetings industry and provide new opportunities for the portfolio’s international database of meeting planners who are looking to place or do business across the region supported by ibtm latin america.

The current local expertise and knowledge of the team based in Mexico City, will now be supported by the ibtm portfolio around the world operating and organizing 8 events on 5 continents as well as being part of the Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) portfolio of events.

“With the change of name, we are truly part of the international ibtm events portfolio and specifically we can now adopt many of the brand values that support each event. For example, the global themes for the ibtm knowledge programme can be used specifically for our region, combining local and regional emphasis as well as an international flavor. Equally we will benefit from the expertise in delivery of world-class Hosted Buyer programmes and have access to the ibtm and RTE sales network so that we can further grow our exhibitor and planner community”. Said David Hidalgo, ibtm latin america Show Director.

At the same time, the team based in Mexico City will provide dedicated local and regional knowledge and expertise to the global portfolio, building the database of domestic and regional planners and suppliers who are looking to expand their businesses around the world and who will be able to apply as Hosted Buyers to other events in the portfolio.

The new Hosted Buyer recruitment strategy for ibtm latin america 2016 will now expect to qualify from the international markets including Spain, Germany, France and UK as well as US and Canada. The programme will also witness growth from South and Central America as well as LATAM.

As a result, the event expects to see a growth in suppliers from overseas especially DMO’s and CVB’s who are looking to meet with regional planners. The new focus on bringing in international buyers will also see more domestic Mexican suppliers as well as those from North America and those from across south, central and Latin America.

The ibtm events portfolio is part of Reed Travel Exhibitions, the world’s leading provider of events and exhibitions for the travel and tourism industry.

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

 

IBTM Portfolio rebranded

IBTM Portfolio rebranded ibtm events

Reed Travel Exhibitions has announced that it has undergone a re-brand of the IBTM portfolio which will now become “ibtm events – connections mean everything”. At the same time 6 of the current 8 events will also have a new brand image and logo identifying them by region (excluding AIME and ICOMEX). Notably, EIBTM is to become “ibtm world” in line with its status as a global industry event.

As the world’s leading provider of events for the meetings industry and with the recent acquisition of ICOMEX as well as the brand extension; a ‘taste of ibtm‘ at World Travel Market Latin America, the footprint now extends to 6 continents. The new logos will communicate each show proposition and the region that it serves, firmly establishing them in the market giving both individual status for that event whilst also retaining the ibtm brand equity.

“As our family of ibtm events evolves, we need to clearly establish each individual event proposition for the market that they serve. We have also introduced different event formats for a number of our events over the last two years, but the common denominator for them all is still the same defining principals, that they deliver top-level Hosted Buyers and connections which in turn create business opportunities. At the same time, EIBTM is the flagship show for the portfolio and must be defined as representative of the world,” commented Sallie Coventry Portfolio Director for ibtm events portfolio.

Together the events in the newly branded ibtm portfolio annually provide access to more than 5,000 suppliers from 100 countries, 19,000 event organisers and more than 110,000 pre-scheduled meetings take place.

LEADING INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS TO ATTEND EIBTM

LEADING INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS TO ATTEND EIBTM
MY ASSOCIATION | MY CLUB ATTRACTS GLOBAL ATTENTION

OKTOBER 2014 – A new initiative launched for the Association Sector by EIBTM has garnered support from the industry across the world and attracted a global representation of Buyers who are now registered to attend EIBTM 2014. My Association | My Club was announced in the summer to give a more flexible option to an Association Planner’s business and networking agenda at this year’s event in Barcelona from 18-20 November.

Association Buyers with average budgets between US$1m & US$5m and some as high as US$20m, have joined the programme which will see 20 countries represented including US, China, UK, Canada, Russia, Switzerland, Netherlands, Germany, Belgium and France. The key elements of My Association | My Club have been designed in consultation with Association Planners through research and a dedicated Focus Group meeting.

Commenting on the new approach to the Association sector, Patrick Debus, Permanent Secretary World Federation of Consuls said: “I can only congratulate the EIBTM Team for having launched “MY ASSOCIATION / MY CLUB“, this new initiative is fully answering and definitively taking more care of the Association Planner’s expectations and I can only congratulate the team for such a useful and highly appreciated concern.”

Another participant from the Association Focus Group commented: “The new My Association | My Club programme is unique, as it is specifically tailored to the Association Executive, allowing optimal networking while offering maximal flexibility. The Club Lounge on the show floor and the Educational Sessions will allow to maximise interactions with fellow Executives and Exhibitors. No doubt this will enhance the return on investment of Exhibitors as well as Association Buyers.”

Richard Holmes, International Director of Meetings of International League against Epilepsy, added: “I am delighted to see that many of the suggestions from the Association Focus Group have been taken on board and incorporated into the planning of EIBTM 2014. By hosting Buyers at the same hotel and benefits such as the Association Hub, I expect to have greater opportunities to meet with other Association Buyers whom I might not get a chance to catch up with on the show floor. I hope that more flexible scheduling will allow me to maximise my limited time, meeting with more partners and suppliers at the show.”

Priority has been given to “flexibility” a key request that came out of the research. Each Association Planner can now control their own itinerary, through choosing what they do, allowing time to explore the show, choose their own meetings and appointments and add to them as they wish in their own Association Hub – a dedicated Club Lounge on the show floor. With dedicated networking, and their own host hotel, the Association Club also means that the attendees get to be together throughout their attendance at EIBTM 2014.

Whilst the Association Planners will continue to have their own dedicated education sector sessions, they will also have the flexibility to attend any of the EIBTM Knowledge Programme, defining which best suit their own business – another request that was made from those who participated in the research.

“We are delighted by the response from the international Association sector, since we announced the launch of My Association | My Club. It was clear from the Focus Group held to determine and discuss what they wanted from their industry event, that we needed to think big and make some fundamental changes. We have, and we hope that EIBTM 2014 will be exactly what they want from their stay with us in Barcelona, and that our suppliers will obviously benefit as well from this more flexible approach,” said Graeme Barnett, EIBTM Senior Exhibition Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.

“More than ever, EIBTM is definitively the key Event for Associations Meeting Planners to meet the World, and their world, in the most enjoyable and fruitful conditions,” added Debus.

For more information on My Association | My Club, please go to: http://www.eibtm.com/Hosted-Buyers/Dedicated-Programmes/My-Association-My-Club

To find out more about the Hosted Buyer Programme and to apply for your place, please visit: www.eibtm.com/hbregister

EIBTM 2014 will take place from 18th – 20th November.

EIBTM EXHIBITORS CAN NOW SELECT THEIR OWN APPOINTMENTS WITH HOSTED BUYERS

EIBTM EXHIBITORS CAN NOW SELECT THEIR OWN APPOINTMENTS WITH HOSTED BUYERS
NEW #BeAwesome #EIBTM14 CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES

From October 22nd, EIBTM opens its online diary between exhibitors and Hosted Buyers. For the first time exhibitors will now be able to request additional appointments with Hosted Buyers following the initial appointment match. Once logged in to their diaries exhibitors can browse Hosted Buyer profiles and select those that they would like to request a meeting with and the time at which they’d like to meet them. Hosted Buyers will have the option to accept or decline these additional appointments.

“For the first time at EIBTM we are able to offer this major business opportunity to exhibitors, EIBTM has been working on the programme over the past year and the self select appointments give our exhibitors a great opportunity to connect with buyers that they want to meet with, and also extra visibility ahead of the show. Research told us that this was one of the key changes they wanted to see at EIBTM and we have delivered it for the first time this year,” said Graeme Barnett, EIBTM Senior Exhibition Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions.

EIBTM is also planning to launch a major social media initiative at the same time to engage with its online community in advance of the show. #BeAwesome #EIBTM14 encourages attendees to share how they are planning to #BeAwesome #EIBTM14 at this year’s event, whether from a business or personal perspective.

“EIBTM is not just about business, we are probably the single biggest industry community event with some 15,000 of us in Barcelona over much of the week, there will be a big buzz on the show floor, lots of fun at the networking events and of course Club Night, we think EIBTM is awesome in many ways, and we want the community to get involved by posting their selfies and comments as well as following ours, it’s a big social media opportunity for everyone attending,” added Barnett.

EIBTM 2014 will take place from 18th – 20th November.

Join EIBTM on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

REGISTRATION FOR AIBTM 2014 HOSTED BUYER PROGRAMME IS OPEN

REGISTRATION FOR AIBTM 2014 HOSTED BUYER PROGRAMME IS OPEN
Meeting Industry Professionals can apply for Hosted Buyer status via http://www.aibtm.com/Hosted-Buyers

Press Release: 20th February 2014 – AIBTM (http://www.aibtm.com), the Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition, have announced that Hosted Buyer applications are now being accepted online for AIBTM 2014 which takes place 10th – 12th June at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando. The Hosted Buyer programme provides top-level buyers with the opportunity to meet exhibitors of their choice for focused one-to-one business appointments.

Michael Lyons, AIBTM Exhibition Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions commented “AIBTM brings together the world’s leading meetings industry suppliers and allows them to showcase their products to an audience of senior level buyers. The feedback we have received from our award-winning Hosted Buyer Programme last year has been extremely encouraging, with 97% of Hosted Buyers reporting that they were satisfied with AIBTM 2013, and 92% of Hosted Buyers identifying the appointment system to be very important when deciding to apply for the show.”

Qualified AIBTM Hosted Buyers will have the opportunity to pre-schedule appointments with exhibitors as well as receive complimentary travel and accommodation, coordinated by AIBTM’s dedicated Hosted Buyer team. In addition to this, Hosted Buyers will also be invited to attend exclusive networking events and complimentary CEU-accredited education sessions designed specifically to meet the needs of association, corporate, agency and business travel professionals.

Shari Chesser, Director of Marketing and Commercial Sales Strategy, Aspen Contracting who attended AIBTM 2013 as a Hosted Buyer commented, “I’m always impressed by the number of vendors and the variety. Last year I placed business as a result of my time at AIBTM. I always have an epiphany and last year it was Puerto Rico. This year I know I’ll find it again.”

Hosted Buyer applications are reviewed and accepted based on the number and size of meetings, events, incentives and annual conferences, individual purchasing authority, annual budgets for meetings, events and incentives, amount of business conducted and potential for future business in the meetings and business travel industries.

To apply for the AIBTM Hosted Buyer programme visit: http://www.aibtm.com/Hosted-Buyers

Join AIBTM on Linked in, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.

About AIBTM
The Americas Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (AIBTM) is a leading global exhibition for the U.S. meetings and events industry. AIBTM delivers individually qualified Hosted Buyers and eligible Trade buyers from the U.S. and around the world. Tailored to the U.S. market, AIBTM serves and guarantees the attendance of top-level decision makers. The exhibitions provide time and business efficient matching services for buyers and sellers through unique Hosted Buyer Programs. For more information, please visit http://www.aibtm.com. AIBTM takes place from June 10-12, 2014.

EIBTM CONFIRMS IMPRESSIVE LINE UP OF EXHIBITORS FOR 2014

EIBTM CONFIRMS IMPRESSIVE LINE UP OF EXHIBITORS FOR 2014
FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF 2013 SHOW

EIBTM (http://www.eibtm.com) the global event for the meetings and events industry, has confirmed that major industry bellwethers have signed up, confirming their participation at the 2014 show, which is set to take place 18th – 20th November in Fira Gran Via, Barcelona.

Exhibitors who have already signed up to attend the show include: Austrian National Tourist Office, Tourism Ireland, Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions, Ministry of Culture and Tourism – Turkey, Korea Tourism Organization, Marriott Hotels International, Kempinski, Hyatt Hotels, Wedgewood DMC Group, Brand USA and German Convention Bureau.

Ursula Winterbauer, Head of International Business at the German Convention Bureau (GCB), commented, ”The opportunity to connect with many high calibre buyers and events planners all under one roof is invaluable. We value our business relationships and are always keen to expand our network of contacts – in this way; the ability to meet face to face is crucial. There are many advantages to holding events and conferences in Germany, and EIBTM provides us with the perfect platform to showcase these assets to visitors.”

The positive response received is a direct reflection of the success of the new floor layout, which was implemented for 2013 as well as the high volume of quality one-to-one appointments totaling over 65,089, which were pre-scheduled in advance of the event between exhibitors and Hosted Buyers.

Mr. Miha Kovacic, Director, Slovenia Convention Bureau who exhibited at EIBTM 2013 commented, “We have had a good number of meetings of high quality at EIBTM 2013. We feel the new set up is a lot better as they have created more walkways, making our stand a lot more accessible and easy to find. Our oxygen bar in the innovation zone gives us an opportunity to showcase Slovenia, with a difference, and connect with businesses in an innovative way. I have been attending EIBTM for 17 years and I will definitely be here in 2014.”

Graeme Barnett, Exhibition Director EIBTM, Reed Travel Exhibitions, commented, “EIBTM saw an increase of 7.7% in trade visitor attendance and once again attracted the highest quality Hosted Buyers placing international business. We are delighted with the response we have had so far and it is great that companies are signing up early to make the most of what EIBTM has to offer as a year round marketing tool to target international buyers and maximise their exposure. As the leading event for the global meetings, events and business travel industry, our primary aim is to deliver quantifiable return on investment through targeted and relevant business connections.”

Reed Travel Exhibitions are encouraging companies to take advantage of the opportunities available at this three days dynamic business event and confirm their participation early, to maximise the return on investment from the show and secure their preferred location. Companies interested in exhibiting at EIBTM 2014 should contact their Account Manager or the EIBTM Team at eibtm@reedexpo.co.uk or on +44 (0) 20 8910 7710.

Join EIBTM on Linked in, Twitter and Facebook.