ITB Berlin is a Strong Marketplace in Turbulent Times
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The 49th edition of ITB Berlin is booked up and once again exhibitor numbers are high. From 4 to 8 March 2015, on a display area covering 26 halls, 10,096 exhibitors from 186 countries will be offering visitors a representative overview of travel products and services from around the world and of growth-intensive niche markets. More than two-thirds of the exhibitors showcasing their products and services in the halls on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds are from abroad. Overall, more than 100,000 trade visitors are expected to attend the world’s largest travel trade show. On the weekend members of the general public will be able to book their holidays directly with exhibitors. The focus is on Mongolia, the official partner country of the show. In Hall 26c, on an area occupying twice that of last year’s event, 30 exhibitors from Mongolia will have information about their products and services and in Hall 4.1 will be exhibiting sustainable tourism products. In a large yurt at the southern entrance to the show Mongolian hospitality awaits visitors to ITB Berlin. This year, in partnership with National Geographic and for the first time, ITB Berlin will present the World Legacy Awards in recognition of sustainable tourism projects.
According to Dr. Christian Göke, CEO of Messe Berlin GmbH: “ITB Berlin is a strong marketplace and provides the international travel industry with an ideal platform for negotiating and doing business. In turbulent times and against the backdrop of a weak euro and uncertainty in the wake of terrorism and worldwide conflicts this is a particularly valuable and important aspect.“ In 2014, according to estimates by Messe Berlin, business concluded by exhibitors amounted to 6.5 billion euros. “This year we have continued to expand the already well-established ITB Buyers Circle and will be holding the first Buyer Seller Speed Dating event in an aim to give exhibitors’ business an extra sales boost. Furthermore, the ITB Convention will be debating all the important industry topics. The industry’s largest convention is an indispensable knowledge platform that highlights best practices as well as exclusive survey results and the latest tourism topics“, Christian Göke added.
The sharing economy will be a key topic at the ITB Berlin Convention, where seven events will be highlighting the challenges and the prospects for the tourism industry.
This year the world’s largest travel trade show has registered a major increase in exhibitor numbers from Asia, India and the Arab countries. LGBT Travel, Adventure & Sustainable Travel and Travel Technology have also expanded again. Visitors to the toolsLounge in the eTravel World will find a new platform that provides a focal point for web-based tourism applications.
