EIBTM Express

EIBTM 2010 showcased more than 3,070 exhibiting companies from over 90 countries; three days packed with non-stop meetings; a record 59 professional education sessions, and over 100 associated and collocated events that took place in and around the show.

As with every business activity, success can be measured in many ways, but an essential ingredient for achieving strong levels of ROI for exhibitors at an IBTM event no doubt includes the number and quality of appointments with Hosted Buyers.  Even before the show opened,  over 54,000 pre scheduled appointments had been made and matched between exhibitors and buyers, that’s an incredible 1 million+ minutes of potential meetings or 18,000 hours and that doesn’t take into account the many thousands of meetings that took place independently during the show. 

The event also saw an increase in total visitor attendance of 2.5% despite the arctic weather conditions that affected a large part of Northern Europe. It just goes to show if the event is a must attend then people will always find a way to get there (and get home!) 

In addition, EIBTM welcomed 35 new exhibiting companies together with 48 companies who increased their stand size - a sure sign that EIBTM continues to deliver! Not surprisingly many exhibitors left Barcelona with their stands confirmed for 2011.

EIBTM is independently audited by ABC.  Audited figures will be available shortly. 

So, was it the inaugural Best Stand Awards or the launch of EIBTM TV?  Was it the revamped CEO Summit or the new purpose built Lecture Theatre that made EIBTM 2010 look and feel fresh and vibrant?   Perhaps it was the introduction of the use of Ipads for the Operations Team to ensure an improved customer service experience for contractors and exhibitors during build up? Or maybe it was the launch of EIBTM online community for visitors - Connect@ - that facilitated networking even before the show opened? 

In fact, it was of course a combination of these new initiatives combined with the tried and trusted aspects of EIBTM that ensured the 2010 event delivered business first and foremost but in an engaging, lively and positive atmosphere , much like Barcelona itself! 

EIBTM prides itself on delivering a thought provoking Professional Education Programme and 2010 saw a truly diverse range of dynamic seminars, workshops and conferences, 59 in all, many of which were packed to the rafters!.
The new Green Room program was created to focus on seminars providing information on CSR and sustainability issues - another first, and leading the way in the industry.

Another new addition was the creation of EIBTM TV providing live news, interviews and footage broadcast on large screens around the show. The daily programmes allowed participants to get a feel of the wider activities that go on during EIBTM, helping capture the mood of the show and the industry. EIBTM TV was also on hand to broadcast live the announcement of Russia and Qatar as hosts of the FIFA 2018 and 2022 World Cups. !

Another one to watch was the increase in activity as part of the Technology Village.  Having grown significantly over recent  years, the emergence of new companies, products and solutions enabling meeting professionals to be more efficient and effective  gave a strong sense that the industry looks very much to EIBTM to deliver all that is new and where “what’s new” really does become reality.

It always helps to start an event on a positive and so when FC Barcelona beat rivals Real Madrid 5-0 on the Monday evening, it set the ball rolling for a very exciting and busy week. Not content with helping the home side deliver a stunning display, the world’s leading footballer, a certain Lionel Messi decided to pay EIBTM a visit on Thursday afternoon, a 20 minute cameo to help promote his home destination of Argentina. To say that the aisles were mobbed is an understatement!

An all together different reason to remember EIBTM 2010 was of course the blizzard weather conditions that affected Northern Europe and particularly air travel from the United Kingdom. Much thanks and appreciation to all those that valiantly braved the travel disruptions to get to Barcelona - some of the efforts made were truly inspiring!. All stands opened on time and business began in optimistic mood. Getting back from Barcelona however proved more of a challenge for some as airports and airlines across Europe struggled with the conditions.   Those 230 people on the EIBTM private charter back to London Stanstead, organised due to the Heathrow and Gatwick closures certainly won’t forget their journey home from EIBTM – and it goes to show that EIBTM and Reed Travel Exhibitions really do pull out all the stops to ensure amazing customer service!

One of the best ways to keep EIBTM improving is to share your thoughts and feedback with the team.

Here’s just one reflection, Jeffrey Adam, Director of Global Accounts, HelmsBriscoe commented on their successful week;
“The benefits of attending EIBTM are immense.  The sum total of the experience has made me a more valuable asset to my clients.  Knowledge equals effectiveness”.

 Read more about what the industry had to say  
 View Photos of EIBTM

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