IBTM World 2022 saw more than 100,000
business meetings take place and more than 10,000 attendees gather over three days in
Barcelona.
The show, which this year explored the connection between events and culture, saw more than 2,200 exhibiting companies from 150 countries around the world in attendance, including numerous national convention bureaux and hotel groups.
More than 3,500 buyers were present, with corporate, association
and agency hosted buyers attending, including European
Union of Medicine in Assurance and Social Security (EUMASS), Pfizer,
COSMOPOLIS, International Stereoscopic Union, SAUDI Telecom Company, UNICEO
(United Network of International Corporate Events Organisers), The British Pain
Society, Maritz Global Events, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, citigroup
inc., and CWT Meetings & Events.
David Thompson, IBTM World event director, said: “IBTM World 2022 has been a fantastic success, surpassing all our expectations with more quality one-to-one business meetings taking place per attendee than in 2019. It was brilliant to receive feedback on the show floor that there is so much appetite for doing business that many exhibitors and buyers have already scheduled additional meetings to take place in the coming weeks. There has been a real sense of excitement and we look forward to returning to Barcelona in 2023.”
This
year the Corporate Experiences Day, a
tailored day of learning for corporate buyers, provided an interactive look at
the latest technology and sustainability developments within the events
industry. The Association Leaders’ Forum, curated by Stylianos Filopoulos, considered the role that associations play
in our changeable world.
In partnership with ACS, IBTM World’s Knowledge Programme was
well-attended with interactive sessions focusing on the event’s core theme of
‘culture creation' including session tracks on connections, business, careers,
brands and experiences.
During
IBTM World, several sessions revealed the latest market trends and insights,
including the Global Meetings & Events Trends report presented by AMEX. In
addition, the annual IBTM World Trends Watch report, presented by its author,
Alistair Turner, MD of Eight PR, explored how current world events are shaping
culture, influencing both the events we create, and the people that attend
them. A preview of the 2023 Trends Report is now available for download on the IBTM World website.
The Stand Awards returned this year with awards going
to Visit Norway / Norway Convention Bureau who won the award for Best Stand
Feature; Graduate Hotels / Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts took home the
award for Best Stand; Menorca Island DMC was awarded Best Culture Campaign; Abu
Dhabi received the award for Best Large Stand and Atout France was awarded Best
Stand Personnel.
During the event, IBTM announced that it has signed a new three-year contract with
Barcelona Convention Bureau and Fira de Barcelona that will see IBTM World take place in the city up to and
including the 2025 edition. The new contract builds on the existing 18-year
relationship between the three organisations, with the next edition confirmed
at Fira Gran Via for 28 – 30 November 2023.
Zinhle Nzama, acting chief convention bureau officer at the South African National Convention Bureau, said: “One of the key takeouts so far is collaboration and partnerships. We have had conversations with other convention bureaus from the continent on how we can partner to keep business in the region, before it goes out into the world. A lot of the meetings that have taken place on the stand have resulted in business leads. We continue to see how face to face interactions are imperative in business events.”
Matthias Widor, cluster general manager, Kigali Marriott Hotel / Four Points by Sheraton, said: “It’s so good to have face-to-face meetings again, especially after the last two and a half years. Attending IBTM World is important to create confidence in the industry and to sell a new and exciting destination like Rwanda is easier to do in person.”
Brendan Gormley, events manager at the BBC, said: “A great range of destinations to meet with. I found the organisation to be very smooth and the city of Barcelona very welcoming. I had so many back-to-back meetings which has been great.”
https://www.ibtmworld.com
