IMPROVEMENTS TO EIBTM 2001 MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

Visitors and Hosted Buyer Numbers Increase

Online Pre-scheduled Appointments Soar


EIBTM - the annual event for the incentive, business travel and meetings industry - is set for a new era of unprecedented international growth and success, following record-beating results at the event in Geneva.

Total visitors to the three days of EIBTM 2001 in May went up by 6% to 5,950, while the number of Hosted Buyers increased to 3,286 - a rise of 5.69%. Of the nearly 6,000 visitors attending the event, nearly 82% were international.

Exhibitor numbers also rose this year to 3,250, an increase of 177, originating from 110 countries, another new record.

There was evidence, too, that EIBTM's drive to facilitate registration and the appointments system by an increasing use of the very latest information technology has paid off.

Visitors were able to pre-register for the first time online and 1,700 pre-scheduled business appointments were made, using EIBTM's new website.

"The final figures reflect the outstanding success of a whole range of major improvements that were put into place for this year, following the most extensive market research programme ever undertaken at EIBTM", said Debbie Jackson, exhibition director.

"We wanted exhibitors and visitors to have their say in shaping the EIBTM of the future.

EIBTM 2001 has undoubtedly started that process, but our work is only just beginning.

"There is much more that can - and will - be done in subsequent years to continue this evolving process to build a highly effective first class annual business event of which the international industry can be justly proud."

In addition to the online appointment scheduling, improvements to the Hosted Buyer programme included more attention to matching the needs of Hosted Buyers, stricter qualifications, greater flexibility and a drive to attract new buyers.

There was also a new and smoother traffic flow system, an improved Hosted Buyer / Meridian Club lounge for Meridian Club members and Hosted Buyers and a new working area for the media.

There was an expected shortfall in the number of specialist media to 287, following a decision to carefully monitor the credentials of all media. Jackson said: "The improvements were needed if EIBTM was to maintain and expand its professional reputation as the forum for the worldwide industry and the results of our research demonstrated that most exhibitors and visitors agreed with our view.

"To stay the same was not an option.

"The figures just published are a testimony to the kind of support and encouragement we are receiving from all those involved in EIBTM and I am very grateful for the enormous help we have received from the industry."

"It was crucial this year that we offered back-up, support and information and that's what we aimed to provide. Judging by the phenomenal number of first time online pre-scheduled appointments and the attendance of high quality Hosted Buyers, who came ready to conduct serious business with exhibitors, we are getting there."

But Jackson is not complacent about the results this year. "We listened and have been given a green light to go forwards", she said. "In the next few months, we will be working on plans to facilitate even more business, more customer service and more opportunities.

The first task for the team is to study the results of the latest market research programme that once again provides exhibitors and visitors with a chance to comment and suggest "EIBTM is about attention to detail and we will be analysing every aspect of EIBTM to see how we can best progress for 2002", said Jackson.

New Ideas.

New Features With Purpose

Two major new features - the EIBTM Awards in association with Conference & Incentive Travel Magazine and the EIBTM MICE Report, in conjunction with Travel & Tourism Intelligence - were introduced this year, encouraging and assisting the industry to recognise work of the highest standard throughout the world, as well as understanding more about how the business is developing.

"We want to provide added value initiatives that are both meaningful and practical", said Jackson. "The presentation of the first EIBTM Awards, in association with our media partners, brought together one of the largest panels of industry judges ever assembled in Europe to identify the best of the best. The introduction of the new EIBTM MICE Report, with data on key European destinations, was also extremely well received."

Jackson added that the team would continue to improve the new EIBTM website with regular updated information, pre-registration, news, developments and a further improved online diary. The 2002 website is already online, including the chance to download the EIBTM MICE Report (https://travel.reedexpo.com and click on the EIBTM logo).

A new, more powerful logo, more appropriate for the event's inherent values, has also been designed for EIBTM and will be used on all advertising, marketing and sales literature. This can also be downloaded from the "Artwork" Page of the EIBTM website.

A New Home for EIBTM ?

Members of the new EIBTM Advisory Council are expected to meet for the first time in the autumn to help organisers with plans for the future development of the event.

The newly appointed council members are also members of JMIC, the joint industry management council. A chairman is likely to be elected at the meeting.

One of its first roles will be to discuss the tender for a possible new 'home' for EIBTM from 2004, when the current contract for Palexpo, Geneva, ends.

Major cities in Europe and Scandinavia have been contacted to see if they wish to participate in the tender, which requires a modern, well equipped and spacious exhibition centre with excellent transportation and city infrastructure.

Tenders will be completed by the end of the year and a decision by the management of Reed Travel Exhibitions, in conjunction with the Advisory Council, is likely to be announced in the summer of 2002.

However, Jackson is not ruling out a return to Geneva. "We have been very successful in Switzerland," she said," we have always been made very welcome. "As we have demonstrated this year, EIBTM is entering a new, more dynamic and expanding era and it is therefore good business practice to consider all the options before making a long term decision."