The award-winning City of Barcelona and the Barcelona Turisme Convention Bureau have joined forces with Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) and local event partners to create a number of new venues for the networking events at the 23rd edition of EIBTM, scheduled to be held from 29 November-1 December.
The EIBTM Welcome Reception will, for the first time, take place outside of the Fira in the centre of the city, around the famous Barcelona Magical Fountains. Created in 1929 for the Great Universal Exhibition, the fountains today produce a colour and light display that will form a part of the evening's entertainment. Courtesy transfers will, as usual, be provided for the 15-minute journey from Fira de Barcelona to the city centre.
This year's first EIBTM networking event is the Hosted Buyer Icebreaker, on Monday 28 November, which will take place at the 5-star ME Barcelona (Melia Hotels), situated in the centre of town, a property designed by renowned French architect Dominique Perrault. The venue is considered a dramatic new contemporary addition to the Barcelona hotel scene and the evening will bring the hosted buyer community together to network with each other prior to the start of the exhibition.
Barcelona's top nightspot – Opium Mar – will be the new venue for EIBTM Club Night, which is scheduled for Wednesday evening, 30 November. Recently voted one of the "Finest Clubs in the World," and the venue hosting some of the globe's top recording artists' live performances, the evening will be similar in concept to previous years but in a brand new indoor and outdoor space for everyone who attends EIBTM.
"We decided that 2011 would be a year for change and innovation for our networking events. As Barcelona continues to win industry awards, we have been working closely with our partners at the Barcelona Turisme Convention Centre to deliver a combination of venues and events that we believe really will help celebrate our 8th year in the city. The combination of venues really gives the city an opportunity to show the diversity of its event space, plus it gives all of our exhibitors, hosted buyers and trade visitors the opportunity to enjoy the social aspects of EIBTM in environments that also allow for the option of business to continue," commented Graeme Barnett, EIBTM event director.
