SUCCESS MEANS 2012 BALTIMORE EVENT IS FILLING UP FAST
A mix of international and US regional exhibitors have re-booked their participation in the next AIBTM following this year¹s inaugural event, andothers new to the exposition are following suit.
On the back of business done at the show, Mark Theis of Starwood Hotels &Resorts was one of the first to re-sign. ³This first US event was certainly appropriate. It was an exceptional, productive opportunity for us to meet
first hand with potential business to business buyers .²
More than 20 US regional CVB¹s, as many Tourism Bureaus and Authorities from around the world, plus Hotel Consortiums and Groups, join DMC¹s and other suppliers to make up the largest re-booking of any inaugural meetingsindustry event launched by Reed Travel Exhibitions.
Mike Fegley, VP America Sales for Intercontinental Hotel Group said onsite ³We have an army of sales people here, hotels from all over the world and at opening we had 450 appointments on the books and we have added to that.
It¹s been a phenomenal event for us. None of this two minute speed dating stuff, our new property in Times Square has had every time slot fully booked it was rocking!²
Among those first time exhibiting at AIBTM 2012 will be Palm Springs CVB, Long Beach CVB and Seneca Niagara Casino who will be joining some of the global meetings industry¹s biggest brand names including Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, Club Med, Crystal Cruises, Government of Dubai, Intercontinental Hotel Group, Marriott Hotels, Shangri-La Hotels, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Preferred Hotels, Royal Caribbean, as well as US suppliers to the sector including Chicago Convention and Tourism Board, Greater Boston CVB, St. Louis CVC, Visit Denver, NYC & Co, and New Orleans Metropolitan CVB the full list is available on www.aibtm.com <http://www.aibtm.com> .
On the back of the Convention Industry Council¹s Economic Impact Study that estimated the US meetings and events industry is the biggest in the world with a contribution to US gross domestic product of $106 billion, the recovery of the sector is well under way. AIBTM Project Director Steve Knight commented, ³Our first event this year marked a new era for the meetings industry in the US. The feedback from both suppliers and buyers has been amazing and proved that the business environment was right and early bookings show that our exhibitors want to come back for more. We intend to build on the first success to ensure that 2012 delivers new opportunities to maintain our poll position as the premier event in the US to deliver for all those involved.²
AIBTM 2012 will take place from Tuesday 19th to Thursday 21st June, 2012.
