Days before the start of the 2014 edition of EIBTM, scheduled to be held from 18-20 October, Event Planner Spain has interviewed Graeme Barnett, Senior Exhibition Director, Reed Travel Exhibitions, EIBTM.
1) Last year, a number of changes were introduced into EIBTM’s show floor layout, such as the addition of two new central aisles, piazzas and a new entrance area. How were these changes generally received by the hosted buyers, exhibitors and trade visitors?
We received excellent feedback from exhibitors and buyers about our new show floor layout and the additional networking areas that added to the vibrant business atmosphere. A lot of the comments were about how much easier it was to locate meetings and exhibitors, plus of course the ability to use the additional catering points for meetings and just relaxation and refuelling opportunities!
2) Have any major changes been planned for the 2014 edition? And, if so, could you please summarize these?
No specific changes, but many new initiatives. "My Association | My Club", has been created following research and a focus group brought together earlier in the year to discuss what the association sector wants from its annual industry event, EIBTM. My Association |My Club gives association planners a greater degree of flexibility which means they can now create their own agenda, including time to network with their peers and the association community, and the option to choose education sessions that best suit their business and career needs. Additional benefits will include a personalised diary of appointments with a choice from over 3,000 international exhibitors, dedicated networking events, including the ICCA Personal Connections event and a dedicated Association Club Lounge, The Association Hub, where members can connect with contacts as well as enjoy refreshments and lunch. Finally, there is also a dedicated hotel for our association buyers where a large group will stay during their time at EIBTM.
In addition, this year EIBTM is providing a one-to-one customer service offering to work with all of the event’s main stand holders who in turn will be able to help their exhibiting partners and sharers in the build up to and during EIBTM. This new offering is designed to really add value for our exhibitors and their participation at EIBTM and will allow them to make the most of the show.
Provided by the customer service team and led by Reed Exhibitions’ newly appointed Customer Experience Manager, this service offers a single point of contact for each main stand holder and all the help they need to maximise the value of their participation at EIBTM 2014, including supporting marketing, PR and logistical information and even assisting with travel and accommodation and follow up calls to ensure there are no missed opportunities.
Other initiatives include: New-look Innovation Zone re-designed for 2014 with features that include Innovation in Action – a digital showcase of leading meetings industry innovations in action as they are applied in real situations and 20, TED Talk style presentations focusing on key innovations.
Exhibitors are also this year able to request appointments with hosted buyers. For the first time, exhibitors have been given the option to self-select appointments with hosted buyers of their choice.
3) A special Spanish campaign is being launched for this year’s show. Could you please go into more details?
Brand new for the Spanish market this year is the fact that for the first time buyers from Spain can be accepted onto our hosted buyer programme even if they place only domestic business – previously they had to prove that they had business to place outside of Spain, before they could qualify to join the EIBTM hosted buyer programme, which is no longer the case. This new initiative will offer a significant boost for the Spanish sector at EIBTM and will give more freedom to the Spanish hosted buyer who is looking to make appointments with regional or international suppliers or both.
4) Would you say that demand is higher than last year both as regards the Hosted Buyer programme and exhibitors? And more specifically, do figures point to a gradual recovery of the meetings and event industry in Spain and Europe?
We are really pleased with the number and quality of hosted buyer applications we have received this year, as well as the number of new exhibitors looking to attend our 2014 show. This consistent trend of strong attendance levels is clear evidence that EIBTM provides the ideal platform for the meetings industry, and we regularly hear from our clients that people are cautiously optimistic about the industry as we move beyond what were once more challenging times.
It is certainly good news that Spain’s economic Minister has suggested that your economy will "grow faster than expected, creating as many as 350,000 jobs next year" according to the Financial Times last month. Of course such news should be of benefit to the meetings industry as well. This year’s Knowledge Programme includes a theme on research and trends where specifically two presentations should give further insight into the sector for both Europe and Spain – Rob Davidson’s EIBTM Trends Watch and American Express Meetings & Events’ 2015 Global Meetings Trends.
Last year there were some 65,000 pre-scheduled appointments that took place between suppliers and hosted buyers at the show, but, of course, these are only those meetings that we can record, as many more take place during networking hours as well as around the show floor with the huge trade visitor attendance as well. The success for our exhibitors is the quality of buyers attending and this year there are 20% more international group co-ordinators who will be bringing some of the world’s most senior buyers to this year’s show, which is a good sign of the demand for places on the hosted buyer programme.
5) As regards exhibitors, are there any notable newcomers, either from Spain or from other countries?
From Spain we have Crimons S.A, Direct Group Deals SL, Intracon IT Services SL and Eurostars Hotels that are new to the show.
Plus other first time exhibitors this year include Visit Faroe Islands, Regensburg Tourismus GmbH (Germany), Targeting DMC (Germany), Livehouse (Denmark), Pestana Hotels and Resorts (UK), Exclusive South America (Brazil), Laico Hotels & Resorts (Tunisia), Eventboost (Switzerland), Marcomm Connect (France), XTour Maker (Portugal) and Guidebook (USA).
And of course we are always delighted to welcome back our regular exhibitors from around the globe including Hyatt Hotels, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., Kempinski, Marriott Hotels, Shangri-La, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, Dolce Hotels & Resorts, Accor Hospitality, Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Korea Tourism Organization, Japan National Tourism Organization, Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau, Finland Convention Bureau, Meet in Reykjavik, Norway Convention Bureau, Lithuanian State Tourism Department, Netherlands Board of Tourism & Conventions, German Convention Bureau, Paris Convention Bureau, Catalunya Convention Bureau, Barcelona Convention Bureau, Turismo de Portugal, Moscow Exhibition and Convention Agency, Turkish Culture & Tourism Office Argentina Tourism, Pacific World, Wedgewood Travel Ltd, Worldwide Travel & Cruise Associates and many more.
For a full list of exhibitors signed to attend EIBTM 2014, please visit: www.eibtm.com/exhibitors2014.
