EIBTM 2007: Global Event Industry Meeting November 27-29

Next week I'm heading to Barcelona, Spain, to attend EIBTM, a global meetings and incentives exhibition, November 27-29, 2007.

I'm excited about the conference because it will give me a chance to spend time directly with international event planners, and I'm interested in learning more about some best practices and perspectives in the profession outside of the U.S. The conference includes a business-to-business exhibit floor, networking opportunities and professional education programs.

Officially hosted attendees (individuals responsible for planning international events) may choose from one of three different educational tracks: association, corporate, and agency (professional firms or independent meeting planners). Meeting Professionals International (MPI) will also have a strong presence at EIBTM, sponsoring the MPI Technology Village that is billed to include 24 suppliers of cutting-edge industry technology. EIBTM is one of several strategies being implemented by MPI to support its global strategy.

I'm also excited to learn who will receive EIBTM's 2007 Awards: Best Special Event, Best Conference Under 250 Delegates, Best Conferences Over 250 Delgates, Best Product Launch, Best Incentive Program and Best Marketing Campaign. 85 entries were submitted for these awards.

More than 6,000 people in total attended EIBTM in 2006, and this year is set to have record attendance. An audit of nearly 2,800 official international planners who attended EIBTM in 2006 provided these insights:

• 79.4% attended from Europe
• 5.4% attended from North America
• 4.2% attended from South/Central America
• 59.3% were senior managers, owners or presidents
• 78.5% were interested in hotels
• 72.7% were interested in meeting venues
• 66.3% were interested in destination management services
• 77.4 were interested in Southern & Mediterranean Europe
• 75% were interested in Central & Eastern Europe
• 50.0% were interested in North America
• 48.4% were interested in Middle East & North Africa
• 84.1% organize meetings
• 75.6% organize incentive travel
• 60.0% organize conventions/congresses
• 45.2% organize business travel
• 37.9% organize product launches
• 26.0% organize corporate hospitality
• 22.6% organize sporting events

In addition to the direct business focus of the conference, I also plan to briefly explore Barcelona to better understand how this city is a leading European destination for business events and incentive trips. I'll try to update you about EIBTM and Barcelona during the conference and when I return.

EIBTM is one of 15 international conferences in the travel and incentive events industry organized by Reed Travel Exhibitions.