About 97 per cent of exhibitors at a leading event for the meetings and events industry, said the event plays a vital role in meetings’ suppliers business mix, according to a post-show research and analysis.

Jim Hensley, chief executive officer, Global DMC Partners, said: “EIBTM is the strongest and busiest show in our trade show calendar. We’ve had more appointments each day here than we have had in entire trade shows.

“The buyers we have seen have been good quality and most importantly ready to do business with proposals in place, rather than general enquiries. We are very optimistic about the future business we will place thanks to EIBTM.”


In addition to this, 93 per cent of exhibitors who participated in the 2014 show are planning to rebook following the success of the show which took place in Fira Gran Via, Barcelona.

Isabel Agrelo, communication manager, Global Sales Division, Accor, said: “We have been extremely busy at EIBTM with over 800 appointments across the three days. We have met with some very interesting sales leads and there will be some positive contracts to come. We can’t wait to return in 2015.”

The show reported a four per cent increase on overall attendance and a nine per cent increase in visitor attendance when compared to 2013 figures, said the analysis.

More than 9,000 visitors and hosted buyers, of which over 4,000 were chief executive officers, managing directors and heads of department, attended from 72 countries including UK, Germany, Russia, Benelux, France, Italy, U.S and China with 66 per cent of them confirming an annual budget for meetings, events and business travel of over $500,000, it added. - TradeArabia News Service