The upcoming European Incentive & Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition, to be held May 13 to 15 at Geneva's Palexpo Exhibition Centre, will be a very different-and significantly larger-event from the first EIBTM in 1988. The 1988 exhibition featured 450 exhibitors from 52 countries, display space totaling 32,000 square feet, and 700 hosted buyers-buyers who travel and stay free as guests of the organizers.
This year, 2,200 exhibitors representing more than 100 countries will occupy display space of 140,000 square feet and host more than 3,000 buyers. About 7,000 visitors are expected. The hosted buyer program is largely responsible for the success of EIBTM, according to Ray Bloom, EIBTM chairman. He says EIBTM works with some 200 intermediaries, including publications, associations, and meeting suppliers, who target top buyers.
EIBTM's newest initiatives include a Youth in Business Tourism program and an expansion of EIBTM's Greening of Business Tourism campaign.