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AIBTM 2011, the meetings and events industry’s first ever large-scale exhibition taking place in the US (June 21-23, 2011, Baltimore), is continuing to attract international exhibitors from six continents and the four quadrants of America. As a result of EIBTM’s success last week in Barcelona, a number of the show’s exhibitors signed on the spot for next year’s AIBTM event.
“With AIBTM being a new show for America, it provides an additional opportunity for us to share the news on more than $14 million in development underway in Dallas that will provide new venues and attractions steadily over the coming years”, says Casandra Matej, Senior Vice President, Sales & Services, Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau. “EIBTM in Europe has always been a well organized show, providing an excellent opportunity for direct client interaction. The Dallas Convention & Visitors Bureau and our partnering hotels and venues are optimistic that this Hosted Buyer program in America will be equally outstanding.”
With just over six months to go, signed contracts are rolling in from exhibitors across North America, South America, Europe, Australia, Africa and Asia, including, Costa Rica Tourism Board, Jamaica Tourist Board, Madrid Convention Bureau, Tourism Australia, Egypt, and Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau.
Ireth Rodriguez Villalobos, Chief in Charge of Promotion Department for Costa Rica Tourism Board comments: “For Costa Rica, AIBTM in Baltimore next year represents a great opportunity. Our main markets are the US and Canada, due, largely, to the geographic proximity and excellent flight connections from these countries – flying to Costa Rica is only two hours from Miami and five hours from Toronto.”
“We know that AIBTM will be a well-organized event delivering quality Hosted Buyers – it’s reassuring to know that we will be dealing with a high caliber of companies at the show”, continues Rodriguez Villalobos. “Costa Rica is very well known as a tourism destination in this market and we want to ensure this continues, so our presence at AIBTM is vital.”
American exhibitors from the east and west coasts, the north and south, as well as the central US are also making AIBTM a priority in their 2011 event calendars by committing to the show. They include, Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau (New York), Greater Birmingham Alabama CVB, San Francisco CVB and Peabody Orlando.
Furthermore, a number of American exhibitors will be partnering at the show. Boston Convention Marketing Center is joining the San Diego Convention Center to create an East-West union, thus increasing their space four fold. Scottsdale CVB and Tucson CVB have joined the Phoenix CVB to create the Arizona Pavilion, and Dallas, Arlington, Austin and Irving Texas are joining Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau, San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau and Fort Worth to deliver Tourism Texas.
Steve Knight, AIBTM’s Project Manager comments: “We’re delighted with the response that we’ve received from international and domestic exhibitors for this inaugural show – testament to the strong reputation that the Reed Travel Exhibitions Meetings and Events Portfolio has established as a platform for driving business.”
Knight continues, “AIBTM begins June 21st with a whole day dedicated to professional education. The trade exhibition opens on June 22nd and continues on the 23rd, providing exhibitors with the opportunity to meet with over 3,000 meeting planners from the US and the globe, of which 2,000 are Hosted. That’s over 640,000 meeting minutes between buyers and suppliers. No other industry event in North America can boast anywhere close to these figures.”
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
