They attend in search of new hotels, venues, suppliers and above all, fresh ideas for their events. Happy with the summer date and the choice of Rimini, they applaud the claim be there to demonstrate, and are looking forward to “experiencing” the products and services on offer.
BTC 2010 has been very well received by big corporate buyers, firstly because of the summer date: “I’ve never been able to attend BTC because it clashed with our annual convention”, says Antonella Baggini, Communications and Events Manager at Daikin Italia. “This year, I will finally get an opportunity to go, and my research will focus on hotels, historic residences, conference centres and spas in Italy and abroad, as I also organise long-haul conventions. Then I organise meetings, business travel, technical inspections, trade events and launches I’m going to BTC because I expect to meet many new suppliers. I’m also very interested in the seminars and educational programme”.
Wanda Bruttomesso, Business Travel and Events Manager at Beiersdorf (Nivea), is also pleased with the summer date and the choice of Rimini as location. Her company organises internal conventions, trade and consumer events, and now also incentive travel for end clients. “I couldn’t have attended BTC in November, as I have to organise the end-of-year convention. So I’m delighted that it has switched to the summer and Rimini, which has a lot to offer events organisers and which I’m looking forward to exploring first-hand during the show”. Wanda will also be looking for new suppliers at BTC: “I’m interested in new developments in line with market trends: unusual hotels, organic and sustainable catering, post-conference activities, hotel chains with personality. Everything, in other words, that enables me to plan events that always offer something different”. Wanda is also keen on the post tours organised by exhibitors, “because I can try the product and service personally, and establish contacts. I have often organised events following post tours, it’s much easier and quicker when you already have contacts and you have experienced the hotel, the restaurant or the destination”.
The “experiential” angle is taken up by Silvia Zizzo, Events Manager at Accenture, a true regular at BTC, going back to the days it was held in Florence, and responsible for organising around 300 different events every year. “I go to BTC every year because it is the only show for the sector in Italy, and provides me with an excellent overview of what’s available on the market”. She is looking in particular for hotels, venues and entertainment agencies. “I welcome BTC’s call, be there to demonstrate. I really like the idea of interactive stands, where I can try the product rather than just get given a brochure. And an added bonus would be for BTC’s partners to show what they can do at dinners and functions. The hotel, the restaurant, the venue, the catering company, the entertainment agency, the technology provider, the logistics coordinator: if the event is a success, these are all names and ideas I can take away with me”.
