SPAIN - EIBTM opens at Barcelona’s Fira Gran Via, 30 November, with organiser Reed Travel Exhibitions claiming the event is now worth €40m (£33.9m) to the city’s economy.
Last year the exhibition attracted 14,000 people, a figure RTE expects to nudge higher for the 2010 edition.
The €40m figure doesn’t include actual bookings for new meetings business placed in Barcelona as a result of the EIBTM show.
This year EIBTM aims to deliver to the city 3,300 exhibitors from 90 countries and 3,800 hosted buyers, including 100 from Spain. More than 100 independent meetings and events will take place in the city during the week of the show.
RTE is this year teaming up with the Catalan Federation of Social Volunteering (Voluntaris) for its CSR programme. Voluntaris works with 278 social and charity organisations in Barcelona and will be the recipient of EIBTM’s new Green Team initiative that looks to reduce wastage after the event. They will encourage exhibitors to donate unwanted materials and products, such as stationery, promotional gifts, unopened food and drink, carpet and furniture.
Exhibition Director Graeme Barnett encourages visitors to take advantage of the free entry and discounted flights and accommodation in Barcelona” via the show website, www.eibtm.com.
“For the last 21 years, EIBTM has been seen as a ‘must attend’ event for the meetings industry,” says Barnett. “Acting as a business barometer for 2011, it brings suppliers and buyers together at an ideal time of the year to develop and grow their businesses for the year ahead.”
