ibtm world has announced it has scheduled the highest number of matched appointments in the last four years, with over 51,000 matched appointments set to take place at the 30th anniversary edition of the event, which takes place on 28-30 November, in Barcelona.
Appointment numbers are up 23 per cent compared with 2016, with 36% of the appointments for this year’s show mutually matched – another increase on 2016’s figures.
Also this year, following the introduction of an enhanced Hosted Buyer programme, the event has seen a 41 per cent increase in planners from North America and an 18 per cent increase in long haul buyers. 43 per cent of Hosted Buyers have never attended an ibtm event before and there has been a 16 per cent increase in corporate buyers from brands including L’Oreal Active Cosmetics, Montblanc, Mars Incorporated as well as from Associations including International Stereoscopic Union (Germany) and European Health Management Association (Belgium).
