THIS year’s EIBTM, the global meetings and incentives exhibition in Barcelona, attracted the largest ever gathering of hosted buyers and the most pre-scheduled appointments in the event’s 21-year history.
Exhibition director Mandy Torrens announced that unaudited figures showed the number of hosted buyers was 3,791, up two per cent on 2008, and 54,255 pre-scheduled meetings were organised over the three-day event – up four per cent. Overall total attendance is expected to hit the 8,000 mark.
Torrens said: “We welcomed our largest ever gathering of hosted buyers from Europe, Africa, Asia, the US, South America, the Middle East, the Far East and Australia and we are already receiving requests for space for next year.”
The professional education programme saw numbers top 3,000, up 15 per cent, and the association programme attracted record attendances from 24 countries.
A major success was the expansion of the event’s Spanish educational programme which impacted positively on the number of Spanish visitors at the show and is set to continue in future years.
A representative from Visit London said: “It’s the best EIBTM ever, we expect to exceed last year’s figure of £52 million ($84 million) worth of business enquiries. We have organised three fam trips with North American, South American and Norwegian buyers. EIBTM plays an absolutely crucial role in our marketing strategy.”
And a New York City spokesman added: “EIBTM has brought more appointments (15 per day per person) for us this year than ever before. We have come to EIBTM every year since its beginning and intend to come back next year.”
EIBTM is ABC Audited every year to guarantee that the number of visitors promoted is completely accurate and unique attendees only.
This year’s event will take place in Barcelona from November 30 to December 2.