ITB Berlin is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary and is as successful as ever. Many of the halls are already booked up. From 9 to 13 March 2016 at the world’s largest travel trade show the fair’s organisers expect around 10,000 exhibitors and organisations from more than 180 countries to be in the 26 halls on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds.
“Bookings are stable compared to 2015, underlining ITB Berlin’s role as the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show – despite the difficult economic situation on the world market, the refugee crisis and terror attacks. This year’s ITB Berlin will unite supply and demand from around the world again and send out an important message for the future. The high level of demand from emerging destinations such as Asia and the Arab countries and the growth of popular markets such as Travel Technology are proof of how dynamic the global travel industry is. At the same time, up-to-the-minute and forward-looking themes at the ITB Berlin Convention, where leading experts will be taking part in the debate, emphasise ITB Berlin’s reputation as the travel industry’s driving force“, said David Ruetz, head of ITB Berlin.
The focus is on the Maldives. This year’s partner country is organising the opening event on the eve of ITB Berlin. What is more, the island nation in the Indian Ocean, which first exhibited at ITB Berlin in 1984, occupies a larger display area. Trade visitors and the general public visiting the stand in Hall 5.2, which now covers 200 square metres, can find out about the many products and services of this travel destination which attracts visitors 365 days a year.
Growth and returning exhibitors reflect developments in the travel industry
Demand from Asia and the Arab countries remains particularly high. In Hall 26 China Southern Airlines, as well as tour operators and destination management companies (DMCs), including Beijing Charmission Travel, Europe Champion Travel, Ideaindochina & HGH Traveland Trails of Indochina are represented for the first time. Indonesia and Taiwan occupy larger stands. Bhutan has moved from Hall 5.2a to Hall 26.
In the hall displaying India (5.2b) the state of Rajasthan is returning in 2016, having launched a new global marketing campaign. Following the disastrous earthquake in April 2015 Nepal is back with its campaign ’Nepal Now’, promoting the country as an attractive and safe tourism destination.
Central America and the Carribbean have also expressed keen demand for places at the world’s leading travel trade show. Following an absence, St. Lucia and the Turks and Caicos Islands are exhibiting again. Now with larger stands, Cuba and El Salvador are even more strongly represented at the show.
There is also high growth in numbers from Canada, the USA and Central Asia. In particular, there are many exhibitors from Russia. Arab countries such as Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates have already secured their places, and in Hall 22a Emirates is certain to cause a stir with its new stand.
With displays covering two halls, the African countries at ITB Berlin underline how important tourism is for this continent. Numerous countries are back at the show following an absence. They include Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Burundi and Sierra Leone, whose appearance at the show after the ravaging ebola epidemic marks the return of this country to the tourism market.
The arrival of several newcomers from Europe emphasises the increasing importance of ITB Berlin. For the first time the Vatican Museums and the papal art collection from Vatican City are represented with their own stand in Hall 1.2a. Turkey, a popular holiday destination, is represented in its own hall (3.2) with 15 new exhibitors, a record figure. Among the exhibitors in the Hall displaying Spain (4.2) are Ferri Land - PortAventuraWorld, Marbella and MTS Globe Spain, all newcomers to the show. Hall 25, where tourism companies are exhibiting, has also experienced high growth. This year the online portal Urlaubspiraten, the Mouzenidis Travel Group, one of Greece’s biggest tour operators, and the low-cost carrier Germania are all making their first appearance at the show.
For business travel managers and everyone involved with business travel Hall 7.1c at ITB Berlin is the place to meet. For the fourth year in succession the Home of Business Travel by ITB & VDR offers a relaxed lounge atmosphere where one can network and exchange knowledge. Acquiring new knowledge is key in this field. Accordingly, this specialist display area offers direct access to the lectures and discussion rounds of the ITB Business Travel Days.
Travel Technology provides an impetus for the global travel industry
Travel Technology is booming. Halls 5.1 and 6.1 have been booked up since December and there are already long waiting lists. The high level of demand expressed by first-time exhibitors reflects the dynamic nature of the market. Around 30 per cent of exhibitors in this section are newcomers to the show, including major international companies such as Tuniu (China), Bynder ’getbynder’ (Netherlands) and Clicktripz (USA), as well as Beachinspector, the winners of the Sprungbrett Innovators' Competition. Roompad, Citos Systems and Freshcells occupy larger display areas and Sabre, the world’s leading provider of solutions for the travel industry, has moved to the Travel Technology Hall in 5.1. Following a long absence, Traffics is exhibiting at the show again. This travel tech company is also a sponsor of the eTravel Lounge, which has established itself as an important platform for startups. On 9 March the final round of Start Tourism Up will be held on the company’s stage. For the first time the etravel Lab is being sponsored, namely by Pisano Holding. David Ruetz has good news for everyone on this year’s waiting list: “Due to high demand, in 2017 ITB Berlin is planning to expand this highly topical segment, which continues to grow.“
Pink Pavilion: world’s largest display of gay and lesbian travel products
Since 2010 Gay & Lesbian Travel has been highly successful at ITB Berlin. In the meantime it represents the world’s largest specialist display of travel products in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) tourism. Companies from around the world are represented in the Pink Pavilion, including the International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) and many co-exhibitors. Newcomers include include India and Nepal as well as Moments, an operator from Mauritius, Quiiky Travel from Italy, and Illinois Tourism, the partner of the Media Breakfast.
Culture Lounge: increase in international exhibitors
This year the Culture Lounge has experienced a considerable rise in international exhibitors, making it one of the highest growth segments at ITB Berlin. As well as regular exhibitors in Hall 16 over a dozen European cities, destinations and institutions are appearing for the first time, showcasing their cultural highlights. They include Aarhus 2017 – the European City of Culture, Belgientourismus Wallonie-Brussel, Federation Europeenne des Cites Napoleoniennes, Fondation Beyeler, Innovation Norway, Ireland Tourism and the Liszt Academy of Music from Budapest.
ITB CSR Day: Practical advice for greater social responsibility in tourism
On Friday the ITB Berlin Convention will focus on the refugee situation, human rights and how tourism can further peace – presentation of the first guide to sustainable tourism destinations – admission is free for trade visitors to ITB Berlin
This year’s ITB CSR Day at the ITB Berlin Convention will be addressing topical issues in connection with sustainable tourism, the refugee situation, climate change and how tourism can further peace. On Friday, 11 March in the New York 3 Room in Hall 7.1a, lectures and discussions will be providing trade visitors with new ideas and suggestions for greater social and ecological responsibility in tourism. Trade visitors can attend the international travel industry's leading think tank free of charge.
Rika Jean-Francois, in charge of CSR at ITB Berlin, will open the ITB CSR Day 2016 with a keynote panel on ’Climate change: the challenges facing the world’s tourism industry’. Around the world, tourism contributes to climate change and suffers from its effects. The panel will deal with questions regarding the further development of transport systems and energy efficiency in the hotel industry. Following a successful launch last year, National Geographic and ITB Berlin will be presenting the World Legacy Awards again in 2016, which will take place on 9 March at the ITB Future Day, part of the ITB Berlin Convention. Afterwards, at the CSR Day moderated by Costas Christ, chairman of the National Geographic World Legacy Awards and editor of National Geographic Traveler, both the award winners and judges will discuss how the winners have managed to become pioneers of sustainable tourism.
This year’s Studiosus discussion will focus on human rights in tourism. The key topic is how the federal government’s national action plan on business and human rights affects the tourism industry, and the new challenges facing this sector. Among those taking part in the discussion will be Christoph Strasser, member of German parliament and the federal government’s commissioner for human rights policy and humanitarian aid, Dr. Nicole Haussler, advisor on sustainable tourism, Myanmar, and Peter-Mario Kubsch, managing director of Studiosus Reisen. They will also be examining the responsibilities of tour operators. The journalist Tanja Samrotzki will moderate the event.
The panel discussion on ’Sustainable tourism destinations: sustainability standards and systems, practical recommendations and implementation’ will be celebrating a first. With the support of the Federal Ministry of the Environment the German Tourism Association (DTV) has put together a practical list of criteria for German tourism destinations. At the ITB CSR Day this manual will be presented to members of the German and international tourism industry for the first time. Martin Balas, a consultant at BTE Tourismus- und Regionalberatung, Dirk Dunkelberg, deputy general manager of Deutscher Tourismusverband, Dr. Stefanie Pfahl, divisional head at the Federal Ministry of the Environment, and Prof. Dr. Hartmut Rein, managing director of BTE Tourismus- und Regionalberatung, will be explaining how tourism regions can make use of this opportunity to successfully compete in the sustainable tourism market.
The shortage of specialists which the tourism industry has been suffering for some time has been positively influenced by the refugee situation. Under the heading of ’Specialists needed – the refugees are coming. What does this mean for the tourism industry?’, Matthias Beyer, managing director of mascontour GmbH, will be talking to Norbert Fiebig, president of DRV, and Christian Wiesenhutter, deputy managing director of IHK Berlin, among others, about how to integrate refugees in the German employment market, the opportunities and challenges, and about cases that have set an example in the hotel industry. A hotel director who has employed a refugee will recount his experiences.
Women are not only important tourism industry customers, they also occupy a central role. The presentation of the first ’Celebrating Her – Global Awards’ is proof of this. After an introduction by Ajay Prakash, president of IIPT India & Chief Executive Nomad Travels India, and keynote speeches by tourism ministers, including the Hon. Alain St. Ange, Minister of Tourism and Culture, Seychelles, IIPT India will provide impressive examples of best practices managed by women. The winners will have suggestions on how to successfully develop tourism services.
The ITB CSR Day 2016 will conclude with a look towards the future and the topic of ’Travelling for peace’. Aziz Abu Sarah, founder of Mejdi Tours and a multiple award-winning keynote speaker, will examine how tourism can help to prevent violent conflicts and illustrate how peace initiatives and business success can be combined in the travel industry.
