EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY Appointments aside, there are also new initiatives planned for the education programme, the Technology Village EIBTM, the EIBTM app and several features on the show floor. EIBTM will be hosting some of its education
programme in the new, extended conference facilities available at the venue. The full education programme will be available to view online soon. The expanding Technology Village will have
its own live demonstration area for the first time this year. Showcasing the ‘Future of the Meetings Industry’, the area will be available for exhibitors with cutting-edge technology to present their innovations and products to buyers and visitors, revealed Barnett. “Hosted Buyers will also be able to benefit
from the introduction of social networking via Pokens; a new technology developed to connect people using data transfer devices that are fully integrated with popular networking sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook,” he said. Barnett stressed that technology was “central” to EIBTM and had “grown exponentially at the show as the world of innovation becomes increasingly important to the meetings industry”. As a result, a brand new feature will be unveiled at
this year’s show called Future Experience where live presentations, seminars and debates will take place. Regular feature, the EIBTM Technology hour,
will take place in the Lecture Theatre on the show floor. Topics covered will include: ‘How to make sure your website is social media and mobile friendly’; ‘Are event professionals using social media tools effectively?’; and, ‘iPads and Tablets – New applications for meeting planners, exhibitors and attendees’.
EIBTM 2011 HIGHLIGHTS
• The number of matched appointments will incr- ease from six to seven per day for all buyers with some 60,000 meetings expected to take place over the three days
• New extended conf- erence facilities will host some of the show’s education programme
• The Technology Village will have its own live demonstration area showcasing the ‘Future of the Meetings Industry’ where exhibitors can present their cutting- edge technology
• A new feature called ‘Future Experience’ where live presentations, seminars and debates will take place
• ‘Technology hour’ topics to focus on social media and tablet devices such as iPads
• The annual EIBTM Industry Trends report will be presented on day one of the show
Graeme Barnett There’s also EIBTM Technology Watch, an
award’s programme that “recognises the latest in technological developments and innovative products that will move the meetings and events industry forward to the next level”. Last year’s winner Jacques Racine, president and
CEO of Sherpa Solutions said winning the EIBTM Technology Watch award had paid dividends, with the company confirming more than 200 large events in the 18 months following the show.
THE MIDDLE EAST AT EIBTM Of some 3,100 exhibitors attending to date, there are more than 12 newcomers including the Kingdom of Bahrain, with several more Middle East suppliers showing interest, according to Barnett. “EIBTM is an international event with exhibitors
from every corner of the globe and the Middle East needs to be part of it if suppliers from the region are looking to achieve business from international meeting planners and buyers,” he stressed. Barnett revealed that an exit poll undertaken at this
year’s GIBTM in Abu Dhabi found that 53 percent of participants were also forecasting an increase in their meetings and events business for 2011. “There was also a general consensus that the global economic situation has recovered slowly leading to increased competitiveness in the field,” he said. Commenting on Bahrain’s participation at EIBTM,
EIBTM 2011 EIBTM 2011
Where? Fira Gran Via, Barcelona
When? November 29 to December 1, 2011
How many? 3,100 global suppliers from more than 100 countries and approximately 3,800 Hosted Buyers, trade visitors and press
Visit
www.eibtm.com
Barnett added: “Bahrain is a destination investing heavily in its meetings, incentive and exhibition sector. The sector contributed US$184.6 million to the country’s economy last year and is expected to contribute US$223.6 million by next year, despite the economic disruption caused by the unrest. The country’s meetings segment has already made a significant contribution to the country’s GDP and will be a future driver of economic growth for Bahrain.” Barnett continued: “Both exhibitors and buyers
from the region should be part of EIBTM; suppliers who want to do business with international planners and buyers who wish to seek destinations and venues for their events outbound from the Middle East to other countries.”
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