SEARCH FOR THE LATEST CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY EIBTM 2001Worldwide Watch Gets Under Way

Organisers of EIBTM 2001 are searching for the technological development or innovation that will have the greatest impact on the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions industry in the future.

Worldwide Watch, launched for the first time last year, was a spectacular success at the 2000 event at Palexpo, Geneva in May.

The initiative has paved the way for an even more intensive search for the most significant breakthrough expected to hit the MICE market.

Papers are now being called for from technology companies throughout the world with information on new and newly launched products.

"WW is a unique concept that has already proved a very useful tool for the global industry, bringing to its attention new and exciting technology products that could revolutionise the market and the way in which we conduct business", said Debbie Jackson, EIBTM's exhibition director.

"Because of the specialist nature of the business, keeping in touch with the fast pace of change within the MICE market is difficult and time consuming.

WW is a short cut to finding out what is the next big technological breakthrough.

"There was a tremendous interest in the WW presentation at EIBTM 2000 and the selected product commanded unprecedented attention from exhibitors, visitors and media."

Worldwide Watch is not a competition but an exclusive and valuable opportunity to present findings at a leading global event for the MICE industry. In March 2001, a panel of industry experts will meet to select who will make the WW presentation at the next EIBTM on Wednesday 30 May at the centre stage, situated in the heart of the exhibition halls at Palexpo, Geneva.

Since making the first WW presentation, Belgian-based technology company TourWeb has been deluged with enquiries from both Europe and now, increasingly, from the US.

The company was selected because of their hi-tech device - TwinFind, which, in the opinion of the independent panel of judges, is likely to have a significant impact on the industry.

The event navigator system, which is due to be fully operational by the end of this year, is a programmable, hand-held means of targeting delegates at a conference, meeting or exhibition, by instantly producing key information on everyone present.

For example, TwinFind could be a cost effective way of adding participant voting to a conference or be a fast and effective method of communicating to delegates or a group to tell them of an unscheduled additional activity such as a workshop.

Christophe de Landtsheer, CEO of TourWeb said:"WW certainly brought TwinFind to the attention of the industry in a way that we could previously only have dreamt of. The promotion has been extremely valuable in helping to spread the word.

"First bookings are already coming in from Europe and we are now dealing with enquiries from the States."

How to Submit Papers for WW

Papers from technology and information companies will be accepted on new and newly launched products for the MICE market between October 2000 and the 9 March 2001.

They should contain:

* A short summary of the product and its capabilities in all or part of the MICE industry

* A short case history of the product

* Associated literature to help the judges final selection

Please send to: EIBTM ( Worldwide Watch), c/o Jane Larcombe Communications, Orchard Cottage. Tidebrook, Wadhurst, East Sussex, TN5 6PQ.

Entries without back ground literature can be faxed to EIBTM Independent Technology Panel on +44 (0) 01580 201869.

Further information or assistance on WW can be obtained by e-mailing Karsalie Hervey on Karsalie.Hervey@btinternet.com