IBTM World has revealed
first details of its 2023 edition, which it hopes will mark an evolution in the show’s
culture creation campaign.
Returning to its home at Fira, Barcelona on November 28-30, every aspect of the event has been curated with the aim of illustrating the influence of event professionals in shaping culture
and driving the future of business.
The show will include new elements and a targeted education programme to
reflect the changing needs of attendees. IBTM World will feature purpose-driven content that aims to optimise attendees’ time and
ensure every moment is a catalyst for growth and inspiration.
New look education
Visitors to this year’s event will find a reinvigorated
education programme, with five distinct feature areas all serving different
needs: the Main Stage, the Impact Stage, Workplace Revolution, ReFuel and the
Associations Leaders’ Forum, with the show’s cultural theme embedded into each
pillar.
The Impact Stage will make its debut this year, acting as
a showcase for the work that destinations, hotels, and
tech suppliers are doing across sustainability, D&I, experience design and
more. Destination sessions will be curated by The Business Of Events, the
Global Think Tank and Policy Platform for the business events industry, and
will also feature the launch of the annual Global Destination Report. Sessions
will be fast-paced and value-led, lasting no longer than 20 minutes and in the
form of case studies and best practice.
Also new this year is Workplace
Revolution - a welcoming space where attendees can make the valuable
connections they weren’t expecting. Here they can continue conversations in a
relaxed setting with inspirational figures (including speakers from the Main
Stage) and dissect topics in greater detail. With
amenities, comfortable seating and informal campfire-style atmosphere, this aims to be
the place for people to
come together, connect and enjoy key aspects of business culture that they
might be missing with the increase in working from home.
In recognition of the importance of wellbeing, IBTM’s wellbeing hub has re-branded to ‘ReFuel’. A
zen-like pod which allows attendees time and space to relax and recharge their
physical and mental batteries, it includes a wellbeing bar, sound and
aromatherapy healing and solo working area to provide respite from a busy show
floor.
The Association Leaders’ Forum (ALF) will be back on day
one to help associations increase the impact of their gatherings around the
globe and conquer challenges to achieve success in 2024 and beyond.
The Main Stage remains a fixture of the IBTM World programme
with inspiring figures from inside and outside of the events industry taking to
the stage to tackle the latest topics and trends through inspirational
keynotes, panel debates, and game-changing research. New to the Main Stage this
year will be an afternoon of marketing content,
curated in partnership with experts at The Thought Partnership, who
have led content and marketing at businesses including Cannes Lions and Dow
Jones.
Exhibitor sales
60 per cent of the
floor space for this year’s IBTM World has already been sold, surpassing this
point in 2019 and demonstrating an appetite for the event and a positive
outlook for the industry. Exhibiting destinations include The Croatian
National Tourist Board - a rising star of the European meetings industry; Meet
Boston, which is launching its new brand at the event; Enit Agenzia
Nazionale del Turismo returns with a strong regional presence along with
multiple private companies; and Meet In Ireland returns with more than 35
suppliers from across the island of Ireland.
Melia Hotels International will attend to launch its new
hotel in Barcelona, and Romania’s Backstage Production Group, a full-service event
production company, will be joining for the first time.
On the hosted buyer side, major
international associations have already confirmed their attendance including
the European Society of Cardiology, International
Association for Enterprise Information Systems, United Networks of International
Event Organisers (UNICEO), World Energy Council, and the China Electronics Chamber of
Commerce.
Multinational corporations
include DELL Tech; Forbes; Intel; Michelin; Delta Air Lines,
Sportradar, Puma Sports, Citigroup Inc, Amex GBT, Aareal Bank AG,
and Zalando.
Event agencies in attendance
will be Aim Group International, BCD Meetings & Events, CWT
Meetings & Events, Helmsbriscoe, HPN Global, Kuoni Global Travel
Services AG, TUI, Opus Agency, Morris Meetings & Events, and
VOYEL.
David Thompson, event director,
IBTM World, said: “Business events can be a profound force for change; both
economic and social. Events have the power to bring better business results and
drive forward agendas around important initiatives. Events are also a place to
build communities and create vibrant and positive cultures which are sorely
missing from modern working. This year, we’re on a mission to show business the
true power of events and shine a spotlight on the #culturecreators who run
them.”
More
information on the event will be released in due course. Hosted Buyer
registration is open. To apply to attend as a Hosted Buyer, please click here
