ITB Berlin Expected to Set New Attendance Record
ITB Berlin will provide impressive confirmation of its significance as the global travel industry's leading trade show. The fair which will take place from March11 to 15 this year, the fair management is expecting some 11,000 exhibiting companies and organisations from more than 180 countries in the 26 halls on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds.
Despite the difficult economic situation around the world. Messe Berlin is expecting even larger numbers of international trade visitors at the ITB Berlin Convention, the world's largest meeting of this kind, which is taking place at the same time.
Dr. Martin Buck, Director ITB Berlin,"Major international trade shows are a reliable indicator of the state of the industries that they represent. Against the background of a significant slowdown of the world economy and mainly sceptical expectations this year's ITB Berlin is more important than ever for its exhibitors and its trade visitors. During this phase ITB Berlin will be able to fulfil its role as a networking platform and a marketing instrument."
With a few days left for the start of ITB Berlin, registrations are at an impressively high level, despite the global economic and financial crisis. Among the exhibitors who will be meeting trade visitors and the public will be some from the world's newest nation: Kosovo. The African nation of Gabon has returned as an exhibitor after an absence of several years, along with Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. In 2009 the Middle East reports a continuing boom in tourism. The Emirates of Abu Dhabi and Qatar now have an even wider range of attractions and facilities. For the second time the airline Emirates is bring its spectacular stand, in the form of a globe, to Berlin. The increasing number of travellers visiting the USA is also reflected in the plans by American exhibitors: New York and Florida will be occupying larger display areas. Germany's federal states are coming to Berlin with great expectations this year. All available space has been booked in the halls occupied by the federal states.
One of the dominant features of this year's ITB Berlin is the European Capital of Culture 2010. RUHR.2010 is the partner region of the world's largest travel trade show. As the partner region the Ruhr will be planning the opening ceremonies on 10 March 2009 at the International Congress Center (ICC) Berlin and will also be represented during the fair by various cultural events and culinary delights.
In addition, the European Capital of Culture RUHR.2010 and its many attractions will be in the spotlight during the official tour of the fair to show just what makes this metropolis such an outstanding location.
Hotel Industry Quo Vadis?
In a time of global economic and financial crisis the world's hotel industry is once again facing huge challenges. On 12 March 2009, international experts at the ITB Hospitality Day will discuss current tendencies and future trends.
As a result of the current crisis, global changes in travel and investment behaviour are once again challenging the hotel sector in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to take a clear stand, in order for them to survive on the markets at home and abroad. On 12 March 2009, the ITB Hospitality Day with six discussion rounds will provide important impulses for the future.
Representatives of the eco-platforms of recently founded design hotels, as well as socially friendly and eco-compatible resorts such as Frégate Island Private and the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, will be discussing the 'eco-guest of the future' at the first session of the Hospitality Day.
This is the first time at an ITB Hospitality Day that an interactive discussion round will be taking place, with human resource specialists answering questions from the audience. This year's Hospitality Day HOTSPOT will involve high-level participants taking a 90- minute look at the hotel industry. Under the slogan "Hotel industry - quo vadis?", a global CEO panel will be taking place for the first time at this year's ITB Hospitality Day. The event will be moderated by Maria Pütz-Willems, chief editor of hospitalityInside.com, the media partner of the Hospitality Day, and a number of CEOs will be presenting their views.
Participants of equally high caliber will be taking part in a discussion round entitled "Residences". Particularly in times of crisis, financing hotels through residences is becoming more and more important, as this kind of financing can also increase the value of the properties of international hotel chains.
One topic that particularly polarises opinion is integrated resorts. Through their involvement with a region and local population they play an especially important role in economically weaker areas, in Asia and Europe alike.
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