Successful Meetings - February 2008 - (Page 12) 02.08 & ANALYSIS > Trade Shows NEWS U.S. Version of EIBTM Coming in 2009 There were a lot of interesting stories on the floor of the EIBTM: The Global Meetings and Incentives Exhibition trade show in Barcelona at the end of November. But by far the most interesting news was that Reed Travel Exhibitions is planning to create a new trade show, Americas IBTM, in the U.S. in the summer of 2009. While Reed isn’t talking on the record, a large number of credible sources called AIBTM “an open secret.” The show, which will be held in Miami in July, will feature hosted buyers and organizers and, Reed is said to believe, will be as large as the European Incentive Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (EIBTM). A formal announcement will likely come early this year. Both Barcelona, Spain-based EIBTM and its Frankfurt, Germany–based competitor, IMEX, have seen substantial growth over the past few years. By comparison, the largest American incentive-industry trade show, Chicago’s IT&ME, has shrunk and the New York-based Incentive Show (which was owned by a division of this magazine’s parent company) was cancelled. Neither used hosted buyers. Stressing that the numbers had not yet been audited, EIBTM show director Paul Kennedy says it attracted some 3,300 hosted buyers and more than 3,600 trade visitors this year—an increase of more than 20 percent over last year. They and more than 3,250 exhibitors arranged more than 41,500 appointments, he adds. Ray Bloom, the chairman of IMEX, which also uses a hosted-buyer format, predicted another record-breaking show this May. He said IMEX had no plans to add an American show. Incentive Marketing Association (IMA) Executive Director Karen Renk say the organization is “excited by the opportunity to have another venue to showcase incentive travel,” adding that the IMA’s Incentive Travel Council strategic industry group has already reached out to Reed about participating in the AIBTM. Renk notes that while hosted buyer shows are doing well—“When you can identify the buyer, that is probably the preferable model,” she says—non-hosted shows like IT&ME are also necessary. In large part, this is because the incentive industry has not identified all the potential American corporate buyers. Research bears Renk out on this point: The latest IncenFEBRUARY 2008 SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS Inside > RESEARCH PwC report says hotel supply still tight PAGE 16 > ON THE RECORD Concept Worldwide’s Terri Breining PAGE 17 > SUPPLIERS Shrinking plans for NYC’s Javits Center PAGE 18 > ASSOCIATIONS Las Vegas may lose Consumer Electronics Show PAGE 19 12 mimegasite.com http://mimegasite.com
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