WITH SPECIAL SPOTLIGHT SESSIONS FOR EXHIBITOR AND BUYER APPOINTMENTS
$44.7m business delivered at AIBTM 2011
The Americas Meetings & Events Exhibition (www.aibtm.com), the first major international meetings industry event this year for the US, will feature a new European Pavilion following demand from exhibitors who want a clear focus to expand their business reach into the US region, and meet with the event’s Hosted Buyer community. This will also be supported by a special European Spotlight Sessions table top presentation area.
AIBTM is reaching out to companies, products and services that want to be part of this dedicated themed business area, which will also feature a communications campaign, to those Hosted Buyers from the US who have proven business to place internationally and in Europe specifically.
At the first award winning AIBTM in 2011, 63% of exhibitors reported that they had done business with buyers from a variety of European countries. Over the course of 3 days, over 11,000 pre-scheduled appointments took place and an estimated $44.7m of business was generated at the show.
“AIBTM’s first edition was very successful for Barcelona, beyond expectations. We are glad to have a professional show that finally offers hosted buyers and pre-scheduled agendas in the US. The model is not new in Europe but I believe it is a great improvement in the US meetings industry. Reed Travel Exhibitions have been working closely with the European exhibitors to enhance and add value to the 2nd edition in 2012 and Barcelona is excited to be attending once more. Stay tuned to AIBTM, there is definitely more to come” said Elena Altemir, USA and Canada International Promotion, Barcelona Turisme Convention Bureau commented.
Exhibitors already participating in the European Pavilion include: Toerisme Viaanderen, Destination DC & Visit Brussels, Moscow Exhibition and Convention Agency, Vienna Convention Bureau, Ungerboeck Softward International, Ireland Tourist Board, Cititravel, Tui Travel Plc, Melia Hotels International, Barcelona Convention Bureau, Madrid Visitors & Convention Bureau, Kuoni Travel, Dorchester Collection and Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts.
All European Pavilion exhibitors will have ‘Spotlight Sessions’ delivering a specific market focus on their product. Hosted Buyers who express an interest in Europe will have a Market Focus event pre-scheduled into their appointment diary.
Spotlight Sessions will allow European exhibitors to gain additional exposure by showcasing products and destinations in a “table top presentation” area. This will provide exposure and direct market penetration with the added opportunity to meet directly with an audience of top-level buyers.
Danielle Keogh, Reed Travel Exhibitions Head of Sales, Meetings and Events Portfolio commented: “The US Meetings market is expected to grow in 2012, and the recent AMEX and Maritz Travel survey reported that it continues to lead others in looking for new ways to optimize meetings spend and up the return on experience. This is a real opportunity for all European exhibitors to maximise their participation and exposure to our US Hosted Buyers not just in the Pavilion itself but also through the Spotlight Sessions.
“Our exhibitor research shows that 37% of those buyers polled at AIBTM 2011 were looking to do business in UK and Ireland, 47% in Western and Northern Europe, and 41% in the Mediterranean and Southern Europe.
This year’s AIBTM Hosted Buyer registration process has gone live and applications have opened to over 5,000 industry professionals. This year, AIBTM is expected to deliver over 20,000 Pre-Scheduled Appointments between exhibitors and Hosted Buyers.
Companies interested in exhibiting at AIBTM 2012 should contact Danielle Keogh, Head of Sales for AIBTM. Please email Danielle.keogh@reedexpo.co.uk or call 0208 910 7191.
AIBTM takes place from 19th June – 21st June, 2012.
