Improved Logistics and Infrastructure for EIBTM 2005

The EIBTM 2005, which will take place this year in Barcelona from the 29th November to 1st December, has established an Advisory Board and announced logistical and infrastructure improvements to build on the success of the first event at its new location last year.

The 12 strong Advisory Board, chaired by Paul Kennedy MBE, EIBTM Exhibition Director, was created to include senior personnel from throughout the world and across various sectors of the industry such as destinations, associations, hotels, DMC’s, global events agencies and venue consultants. Members include representatives from: Arabian Adventures, Spanish Tourist Board, Vancouver Convention & Exhibition Centre, MPI, Leading Hotels of the World, Barcelona Convention Bureau, ICCA, Le Meridien Hotels, Ovation Group and Finland Convention Bureau.

The Board will meet twice a year to discuss key elements of the event and to set the agenda for the future. The first meeting was held in Frankfurt recently and provided a forum for debate about the proposed improvements for the EIBTM 2005.

At the same time it has been confirmed that together with the Barcelona Convention Bureau and the venue of EIBTM, Fira Gran Via, several logistical improvements will be made for EIBTM 2005, including:

- An improved transport system, providing regular shuttle buses from ‘host’ hotels to the exhibition for Hosted Buyers, exhibitors and visitors. 
- Taxis will be situated at the front of the hall where new pick up points provide a streamlined service allowing multiple taxis to be boarded at one time. 
- Airport shuttles will also be running continuously throughout the day and on a regular basis. 
- "Hotel shuttle buses will drop off and pick up in a new clearly signposted "coach station" next to the exhibition hall. 
- EIBTM will open at 10am each day (half an hour later than previously) 
- The scheduled appointments for Hosted buyers will start from 11am - one hour after the event opens to allow more time for delegates to transfer from their hotels and the airport.

The Barcelona Hotel Association, GHA and Ultramar have identified and approved a list of over 30 "recommended Host hotels" in Barcelona, which will house all Hosted Buyers and will have allocations for exhibitors and visitors. Shuttle buses will be made available for all Hosted Buyers, exhibitors, trade visitors and press but will only serve these official hotels making the transfer process much more streamlined.

Further improvements, relevant to both exhibitors and visitors alike, include a much higher level of security, restricted smoking areas and improved catering on site.

“It is of fundamental importance to the team at EIBTM to listen to those in the industry. We regularly send out questionnaires to both exhibitors and visitors in order to grasp their feedback and views, however we are taking this one step further by creating the Advisory Board. We want the board to use these regular meetings as a platform for constructive advice as both their experience and industry knowledge will ensure that our event continues to be truly representative of the global meetings and incentives industry. Candid and confidential discussion with regards to EIBTM, its direction and respective features will be extremely productive and useful.” said Paul Kennedy.

“By creating the Advisory Board, we are confronting the issues we felt needed to be improved from last year’s show. We are not shying away from the teething problems that occurred in Barcelona, in fact, in fact we have listened and taken on board the issues and are very confident that these will be resolved for EIBTM 2005 as well as providing an even better business forum with a wealth of new features" Mr. Kennedy added.

The EIBTM will take place from 29th November – 1st December 2005, in Barcelona at Fira Gran Via.

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