ITB Berlin Completely Booked up - ITB Asia on Course for Success

12/02/2008 - 12:45

For the first time Messe Berlin is organising two trade shows for
the international travel industry in two separate locations in the
space of one year. In addition to holding the ITB Berlin in March,
which for four decades has remained unchallenged as the industry´s
leading travel trade show, Messe Berlin will be celebrating a premiere
with a trade fair for the emerging markets in Asia. With the ITB Asia,
which takes place from 22 to 24 October 2008 in Singapore, the ITB
Berlin continues to build on its standing as the leading travel trade
show of the global travel industry. The concept of the ITB Asia is
threefold, integrating the MICE, business travel and leisure sectors,
and is the first tourism trade fair on the Asian market to give equal
importance to all three. Dr. Christian Goke, COO Messe Berlin:
"Registrations for the ITB Asia have considerably exceeded our
expectations and every square metre at the ITB Berlin 2008 is booked
up."

ITB Berlin 2008 - demand outstrips supply

To date 11,000 companies and organisations from over 180 countries
have registered to take part in the ITB Berlin 2008, whose 26 halls
cover a display area of around 150,000 square metres. Among the
countries which visitors will encounter for the first time are Palau
and YAP from Micronesia, and the island of Zanzibar. Tourism in
Germany is expanding at the ITB too. For the first time the State of
Hesse will be exhibiting in its own display hall (7.1c). Abu Dhabi,
Egypt, Thailand, Vietnam and Macau will all be occupying significantly
larger stands. Rising demand due to favourable exchange rates means
that exhibitors from the USA will also be represented in larger
numbers. The stands of New York and Las Vegas have also increased in
size. Exhibitors representing travel destinations in Eastern Europe
have also booked larger stands, showing how important the ITB Berlin
is for the development of their tourism industry. The display areas of
countries such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Montenegro, the Czech
Republic and Russia have increased by up to 40 per cent.
"Unfortunately we were unable to satisfy all the requests for
additional display space", added Dr. Christian Goke.

At the ITB Berlin Convention Market Trends & Innovations the ITB
Berlin will be setting new international travel trends. With over
9,000 participants, Europe´s largest and most important event of its
kind has acquired the role of an industry think tank.

According to Christian Goke, Messe Berlin is well equipped to
compete with other trade fair venues. "In Berlin our exhibitors
benefit from good transport links and the location of the exhibition
grounds in the heart of the city. In particular the additional costs
of attending a fair, which one should not underestimate, such as
travel expenses and staff accommodation, are much lower in Berlin than
in similar major cities of the world. Whereas many exhibitors are
significantly scaling down their involvement in other trade fairs, the
ITB Berlin continues to grow in popularity", said Messe Berlin´s COO.

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