No trace of the crisis: ITB Berlin 2009 counts record visitor numbers
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Berlin (March 20, 2009). Last week, 110,000 visitors attended the specialist visitor days of the 43rd ITB Berlin - 42 percent of these from outside Germany. Even the conferences, grouped together as "ITB Berlin Congress" recorded a 10 percent increase in participant numbers taking the total to 12,000 visitors (last year, 11,000). The "ITB Hospitality Day" organised by hospitalityInside.com which is jointly marketed with the ITB recorded an increase in visitor numbers. Over 1,120 friends and partners of the hotel industry attended discussions held on six panels - discussions by 28 participants from 12 countries - some of these coming exclusively to take part in a one hour talk round. Two short video films will soon be available online.
Trade visitor attendance remained high, proof of ITB Berlin’s resilience even in economically difficult times," Dr. Christian Göke, Chief Operating Officer of Messe Berlin was pleased to say. The positive mood reflected by the exhibitiors and visitors was also mirrored by a representative survey carried out by Fachhochschule Eberswalde during the fair. Accordingly, six out of ten exhibitors said the recession had had no impact on their business. However, they said that travel behaviour would change. 52 per cent of exhibitors expected tourists to take even shorter trips, 60 per cent believed local tourism would boom, and 68 per cent expected demand for last-minute travel to increase. More than half of the exhibitors claimed they were currently adapting their products to suit changing conditions, for which ITB Berlin is the ideal venue. According to a survey by an independent market research institute, more than 87 per cent (85) of exhibitors obtained a positive impression of the fair. As in 2008, even before this year’s fair had ended, 91 per cent said they would be back next year at ITB Berlin.
Video-films and summaries of the hotel conference
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| The summary of the CEO Panel - in the next issue. |
The various perspectives of the market and the search for solutions was just as palpable in the halls as it was in the talk rounds of the 4th ITB Hospitality Day.
hospitalityInside.com will present a detailed report of each discussion round as of next Friday beginning with the 90-minute "ITB Hotspot" - the CEO panel. Messe Berlin will also post an eight minute video film online to which we will refer. A second video-film will also be posted on the - very emotional - discussion on "Integrated Resorts". All articles will be accessible under the ITB logo on the start page of www.hospitalityInside.com. To download the speakers' presentation, please, go to www.itb-convention.de, see the program and the speakers' name.
The hotel conference 2009 once again counted record visitor numbers. Not only were more participants recorded than in 2008 but also more speakers. In total, the event counted 28 hosts and discussion participants of which 17 were Managing Directors, Board Members or Company Owners; an array of guests which ensured the panels were better attended than ever before. The information exchanged was particularly dense in all talk rounds - certainly a mark of a time in which verbose marketing is no longer acceptable; a time in which short and precise answers are what's required.
hospitalityInside.com also received "fan mail" from Pegnitz: Design hotel pioneer Andreas Pflaum, one of Germany's most creative hoteliers, wrote: "As an impressed participant of the ITB Congress 2009, I congratulate your on your excellent contributions, the Tour d'Horizon through the hotel industry and on the "Top of the Tops" network. The hottest ITB event!"
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What were your impressions of the ITB 2009 and/or the ITB Hospitality Day? Send your opinion to maria@hospitalityInside.com. / map
ITB 2009 AT A GLANCE
From 11 to 15 March 2009, 11,098 companies from 187 countries (2008: 11,147 companies from 186 countries) exhibited their products and services and discussed their future market strategies. Of the 110,857 trade visitors who attended (110,322), 42 per cent came from abroad, an increase of four per cent. Once again, record numbers took part in the convention. This year’s figure was 12,000, compared with 11,000 in 2008.
Crowds thronged the halls over the weekend as well. Approximately 68,114 members of the public (67,569) came to find out about travel destinations and products and services from around the world. Overall attendance in the display halls was 178,971 (177,891). / red
Continuative Links:
- MICE / Less is more - IHIF & ITB 2009: Positive but sober mood in the industry
- MICE / Less is more - IHIF & ITB 2009: Positive but sober mood in the industry
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