Thumbs up for US Eastern corridor meeting exhibition
With over one year to go before the show opens in June 2011, AIBTM – The Americas Meetings & Events Exhibition – has announced its first exhibitor signings.
Those who have recognized the value to their businesses in exhibiting at AIBTM include many regional and international exhibitors who have attended other shows from Reed Travel Exhibitions’ portfolio of events in Barcelona (EIBTM), Abu Dhabi (GIBTM) and Beijing (CIBTM).
New signings include the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, Austrian National Tourist Office, Condor Travel, Essence of Bali DMC, Government of Dubai, Mexico Tourism Board, Monaco Tourist Office, NYC & Company, Silversea Cruises, Skyteam Global Meetings, Eugene/Travel Lane County and Wedgewood Travel Limited.
Commenting on their attendance, Sean Mahoney, Global Vice President of Corporate and Incentive Sales, Silverseas Cruises comments: “We are eager to join Reed Exhibitions at AIBTM next year. In this current business and economic environment, business strategies must consist of activities with a measurable and favorable return on investment.
“Although this is the very first AIBTM, Silversea has realized successful results from other Reed exhibits, including GIBTM, CIBTM and EIBTM.
Silversea’s decision to exhibit at AIBTM was based on our past experiences and Reed’s reputation for delivering a first rate event encompassing scheduled appointments with highly qualified buyers from around the globe”.
Eugene, the second largest city in Oregon on the West Coast of America, has signed up according to Janis Ross of Eugene/Travel Lane County CVB “confident that AIBTM will offer quality business opportunities from cities across the US from East to West, North to South.” She adds, “the opportunity to present our destination in a visual way, face-to-face with planners and buyers is invaluable. The prestige, professionalism and reputation behind the AIBTM team has been a major influence in our decision to exhibit at the inaugural show.”
Fred Dixon, Senior Vice President of Tourism and Convention Development from NYC & Company says: “NYC & Company is looking forward to expanding its relationship with Reed to increase our promotion to this important market and joining with our colleagues from across the industry at the first ever AIBTM in Baltimore in 2011.”
Eduardo Chaillo, Executive Director Meeting Industry Mexico Tourism Board, comments: “We are very excited about this new event that will change the way business in the meetings industry is driven in the US. Mexico definitely wants to play an important role in AIBTM – an exhibition that will prove to be extremely fruitful for us.”
Steve Knight, AIBTM Project Manager says: “We have been delighted by the meetings industry’s response to the launch of AIBTM throughout the United States and internationally. Our worldwide reputation, through our meetings and events portfolio, is key in attracting exhibitors who want something new and fresh whilst giving them return on investment. They recognize that there is no better meetings show in the US to attend. With buyers individually qualified, and with pre-scheduled appointments set up online before they even walk into the exhibit hall, exhibitors can be certain that the event will deliver business.
“With America’s highest concentration of industry planners located in the Northeast within easy reach of Baltimore, and with excellent transport links from the rest of the United States, we guarantee a platform to interact, network and educate on a scale that no other American industry show is able to match. It is an event that should not be missed by any exhibitor, buyer or planner wishing to develop and grow their businesses.”
AIBTM will feature over 300 North American and international exhibitors and is set to attract around 3,000 buyer attendees of which 500 will be Hosted, made up largely of North American based meeting planners with domestic, interstate and international business.
AIBTM will take place in Baltimore from 21 – 23 June 2011 and will form part of a dedicated Americas Meetings Week commencing on 19 June.
