10,086 exhibitors from 188 countries – exhibition grounds booked up – record collection of two-tier stands – 120 exhibitors representing the partner country Indonesia – comprehensive market overview and fast-growing niche markets – first-time matchmaking event for bloggers and record numbers of bloggers – Travel Technology, Gay & Lesbian Travel and Adventure & Sustainable Travel continue to expand – demand from Asia remains high – all countries from Africa represented in two display halls – all countries from South America are present – unprecedented levels of international attendance on the tenth anniversary edition of the ITB Berlin Convention
The internet and virtualisation have accelerated the pace of development within the global travel industry. From 6 to ten March 2013 ITB Berlin might be mirroring the industry’s increasingly dynamic market trends and providing a representative overview of world travel products and engaging niche markets. On the 47th edition of ITB Berlin 10,086 companies from 188 countries should be presenting their services on a display area covering 160,000 square metres. The 26 halls at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds are booked up. A record choice of exhibitors are represented on two-tier stands. The focal point is on Indonesia, the official partner country of ITB Berlin, that is participating with 120 exhibitors. Indonesia is represented in Halls 26 and four.1, where visitors can witness colourful spectacles performed on stage. South Sudan, an independent state since 2011, is a newcomer to ITB Berlin. For the primary time, exhibitors and travel agencies can be offering tours on to the patron at the weekend of the show.
Dr. Christian Göke, COO, Messe Berlin: “More than one thousand million travellers worldwide and the increasing approval for easy-to-find internet products have totally fragmented demand. People’s travel motivation and travel products became increasingly diverse. The industry’s information and business needs are growing for all time. At ITB Berlin exhibitors and trade visitors can gain a representative and up-to-the-minute overview of the travel industry’s entire value chain. They’ll find growth and niche markets, find information on exploring new markets and concepts for innovative sales strategies.“
Bloggers at the march
ITB Berlin is bringing international bloggers and exhibitors together at numerous panel discussions, workshops and lectures. a complete of 250 bloggers from Germany and abroad are expected to wait. For the primary time ITB Berlin is featuring a matchmaking event, with the intention to be happening on 7 and eight March from 4.30 to six p.m. respectively in Hall 7.3. It gives 100 exhibitors a chance to satisfy the identical variety of international bloggers representing the journey, luxury and family travel markets. This free service by ITB Berlin is geared toward helping exhibitors to enhance their marketing of destinations and products.
Travel Technology is transforming the market
ITB Berlin features the most important range of travel technology products anywhere on the earth. For years this section was constantly expanding. As a result of high variety of bookings this year hotel portals also are exhibiting in Hall 25. Around 150 companies from 25 countries are represented in Halls 6.1, 8.1 and 10.1, in an effort to be exhibiting their IT-related services and product innovations for front and back offices within the travel industry in addition to hotel software solutions and hotel booking portals. Exhibitors representing social media networks and mobile and analysis services are attending in particularly large numbers. Companies within the Mobile Travel and Social Media sections are presenting their innovations on the eTravel World in Hall 7.1c. That is where experts can be discussing industry topics along with “The opportunities and risks of the social web for the travel industry“ and ”More efficient travel using eTravel, navigation and mobile travel guides.“ The supporting programme of the eTravel World (Hall 7.1.c from 6 to 9 March) will feature greater than 50 papers and workshops on two stages. Resulting from high demand, for the primary time eTravel World events can also be happening at the Saturday of the show (9 March).
Pink Pavilion: Gay & Lesbian Travel
This is the fourth year that businesses exhibiting lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender tourism (LGBT) products shall be represented of their own section in Hall 2.1. 56 companies from around the globe are represented inside the Pink Pavilion, including the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) and lots of co-exhibitors. Visitors to the pavilion will find the world’s largest display of travel products for this market. They include city tours of Vienna, Prague, Tel Aviv in addition to holidays in Argentina, Bulgaria, Florida, Gran Canaria, Maspalomas, Greece, India, Thailand and Cyprus. a colorful supporting programme featuring Queer Tango from Argentina and the Vienna Gay Café will round off the display.
Travel and Adventure & Sustainable Travel
The Adventure & Responsible Tourism Hall is celebrating its tenth anniversary with a colorful programme of events regarding socially responsible tourism. This year the main focus in Hall 4.1b is on “Earth’s Wetlands & Geoparks – Celebrating Earth Heritage, Sustaining Local Communities“. Presented in English, the subject headings on the workshops, panel discussions and lectures are Wetlands, Wildlife Watching and Biodiversity. Various parks from different regions of the arena would be introducing their eco-friendly concepts. Protecting wildlife is additionally among the topics. Events within the Adventure & Responsible Tourism section in Hall 4.1b include discussions and lectures on human rights, tours for the deaf and developments in Haiti three years after the earthquake disaster. Azerbaijan, this year’s Convention & Culture Partner of ITB Berlin, would be presenting its sustainable tourism concept.
CSR also features prominently at ITB Berlin. On 7 March 2013, the foremost think tank of the world’s leading travel trade extravaganza will again be holding its own CSR Day and highlighting strategies, best practices and the market potential of sustainable tourism. On the ITB Berlin Convention practical experts and leading scientists could be discussing and providing information at the latest developments in corporate social responsibility. Topics include tourist encounters with local residents, conflicts over water, a significant human resource, and protecting children from sexual exploitation. By printing zero-carbon copies of the ITB Berlin catalogue and Quickfinder Messe Berlin is demonstrating social responsibility and supporting a geothermal project in Indonesia, this year’s partner country.
High demand from Asia, South America and the Arab countries
Once again, demand from Asia is especially high at this year’s ITB Berlin. Countries including Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan and China are represented on larger stands. Indonesia, the partner country, are available in Halls 26 and four.1. Hall 5.2b, where India is represented, can be booked up, in order that exhibitors from this country also are occupying Hall 5.2a. Destinations similar to Nepal and Bhutan have gotten increasingly popular and will be present in Hall 5.2a together with various independent exhibitors. Regulars at ITB Berlin include North Korea, which already attended last year. African countries are represented in Halls 20 and 21, among them South Sudan, which only gained independence from Sudan in 2011 and is a newcomer to ITB Berlin 2013. Arab countries corresponding to Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Morocco, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates have also booked their places on the world’s largest travel trade extravaganza. Iraq occupies an excellent larger stand compared with last year. Yemen and Libya are back after a scarcity from ITB Berlin. Every country from South America is represented at this year’s show.
The travel industry’s international think tank
This year the ITB Berlin Convention is celebrating its tenth anniversary. During the last decade it has become the world’s largest event of its kind. This year the convention features an unprecedented choice of leading international speakers. At 200 sessions greater than 420 speakers, half them from Germany, might be presenting the newest expert knowledge from the fields of tourism, politics and society. Examples of best practices will highlight ideas and solutions for current and future challenges. This year’s topics include Muslim travel, changes affecting the marketplace for coach tours, water shortages that could potentially spark conflict between tourists and residents, and new technologies, a serious trend.
Azerbaijan, the Convention & Culture Partner of ITB Berlin 2013, may be hosting a colorful and numerous programme of events and spanning a bridge between Europe and Asia. On the world’s largest travel trade event Azerbaijan should be highlighting the great thing about its natural landscapes and cultural wealth. This can even be promoting itself as a good looking destination for culturally interested tourists in addition an excellent venue for MICE events. On the ITB Berlin Convention, the international travel industry’s leading think tank, Azerbaijan will feature prominently at panel discussions attended by high-profile speakers as a way to do something about the country’s economic progress.
The success of the ITB Berlin Convention brought about the format being adopted last year in Brazil. The ITB Berlin Convention was the information partner of the travel trade event A Feira de Turismo das Américas (ABAV) in Rio de Janeiro and presented a comprehensive programme of events on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender tourism, corporate social responsibility, in addition to MICE and business travel.
