Incentive - November 2008 - (Page 33)

TRAVEL New Arrivals PAGE 34 Oh, Canada PAGE 37 From Silversea Cruises’ new expedition vessel to InterContinental Hotels’ plans for an upscale Asia-Pacific brand Dogsledding, fireworks and great jazz festivals await incentive groups exploring our neighbor to the north AIBTM Comes to U.S. Reed Travel Exhibitions to bring AIBTM to Baltimore in 2010 By Alex Palmer Trimming Travel Costs Mexico makes shopping more affordable with VAT reimbursements By Alex Palmer R eed Travel Exhibitions announced on Oct. 7 that it will be launching a new international trade show for the global meetings and incentive industry—the Americas Incentive Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (AIBTM). The show will be held in Baltimore from June 29 to July 1, 2010, and four consecutive years after that. This new major event joins the company’s portfolio of exhibitions, which includes EIBTM in Barcelona, GIBTM in Abu Dhabi, and CIBTM in Beijing. Like the other IBTMs, the show will be a Hosted Buyer program in which exhibitors are matched with pre-qualified buyers in mandatory appointments scheduled prior to the show. “AIBTM will be based on the hugely successful EIBTM model and with our considerable expertise and reputation in the meetings sector,” says Paul Kennedy, MBE, group exhibition director for Reed Travel Exhibitions Meetings and Incentive Events. Baltimore offers logistical ease, according to Kennedy. The Baltimore Convention Center, where AIBTM will be held, is close to the BaltimoreWashington International Airport, with plenty of quality hotels (including 2,400 new rooms currently under construction), venues and amenities nearby. The city’s proximity to Washington D.C. also expands the transport options for international visitors. Tom Noonan, president and CEO of the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association, is enthusiastic about the choice of Baltimore for AIBTM. He points to the economic boost that EIBTM brought to Barcelona and Spain in general, not only from the conference itself but also from the business that meeting and event planners brought in after visiting the area. “It’s really going to put us on the international map,” says Noonan. “It’s the most significant convention booking Baltimore has ever had.” Suppliers who had attended EIBTM expressed enthusiasm about an American version of the show. “The appointment-driven nature of the show really seems to work and pays dividends, especially, to those stand partners who invest time in advance to contact visitors and make appointments,” says Amanda Henderson, VisitScotland’s marketing manager for Europe. “In comparison with other European exhibitions EIBTM is very international in the visitor makeup (it’s not just Spanish buyers), and it’s a great opportunity to meet new contacts.” As incentive planners seek ways to trim travel costs wherever they can, the Mexico Tourism Board has begun to aggressively promote its Value Added Tax (VAT) reimbursements. Travelers who make purchases while visiting Mexico are able to receive a 10 to 15 percent reimbursement on their goods by visiting a booth at the airport before leaving the country. Since passing the law last December, Mexico joins over 60 countries throughout continued on page 34 incentivemag.com | November 2008 | Incentive | 33 http://www.incentivemag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Incentive - November 2008

Incentive - November 2008
Editor’s Note
Headlines
Cover Story: Pop, Fizz!
Incentive Interview
Cracking the Recognition Code
Primer
Travel News
Canada, City Style
Potentials Here and Now
Cameras: Picture of Innovation
The Spirit of Giving
Advertiser Index
Last Word

Incentive - November 2008