Two friends of Tourism-Insider, Veronica de Santiago from Caribbean News Digital , and Charo Trabado, GM of GSAR Marketing ( the organiser of three important MICE Exhibitions) are talking in an interview about the Exhibitions in Europe and in the Americas. Veronica is a wellknown Journalist in Spain and in the Caribbean and Charo is working long time in the MICE Industry.This two ladies have a wealth of knowledge, experience and network in the business in America, the Caribbean and Europe.
Charo: Indeed Verónica, as you point out, MITM Euromed and MITM Americas are pioneering international B2B fairs in tourism MICE in all Europe, the Americas and Caribbean. The first edition was made 19 years ago.

The two nice ladies in Puebla:Charo Trabado ( left) and Veronica de Santiago


Regarding how MICE industry has evolved in the last 20 years, that question would require a vast amount of time, much more than an interview can last!! In the grander scheme of things, the MICE industry has been continuously growing since I started working in it almost 29 years ago and, even nowadays in these years of crisis, it is the industry that has better endured thanks to the conscience developed by businessmen that understood the importance and value of gathering all their employees for biannual or annual conventions, and the importance of incentives for their employees, clients and final consumer.

Gone are the years when the founder of our Convenco Group, Ramón Alvarez, did seminars all over Spain for the managers of the big companies, explaining them the importance of an incentive, a congress and a convention, to open a market that did not exist at the time.

Another factor that has helped further the business are new technologies, not only have they enhanced its growth but also have expedited the travel agents work, in a technical way (I still remember the telex with holes, what a nightmare!!) and also for budgeting and compiling information from different destinations, since it used to consume massive amounts of time and now all said information is merely just a click away! Another advantage that I find to be an outstanding leap is the direct contact with the client. You can call him to his/her cell phone or even send a Whatsaap message, avoiding having to run through a switchboard or an assistant…beyond that, there is even contact through social networks.

Veronica:As you were saying during the press conference, cultural tourism has changed a lot. Do you think that destinations are investing and promoting this kind of tourism appropriately?

Charo: Yes, it has changed a lot. As a matter of fact, it is a new concept for a new breed of client. When we did the first edition of CULTOURFAIR back in 2007, the attention invested on this market niche was minimal. Nowadays, destinations have developed a conscience for this market and are investing to improve both, its services and its promotion.

Veronica:Delegates from 39 countries have attended this edition. Is it the first time for any exhibitor? We are very satisfied by an outstanding turn up for this edition. Two destinations participated for the first time, Palestine and Czech Republic.

Charo:What is the general feedback from the attendees? Great satisfaction. They have personally congratulated us because of the fair’s organization and the sheer quality of buyers. Furthermore, said satisfaction has been widely reflected on their evaluations!

Veronica:Has the business volume increased comparing it to the past editions?
Charo:Yes, indeed it has! The Americas and Caribbean are experiencing an economic boom that has been increasing in the past few years.

Veronica: Puebla has been a good host in this edition. It is evident that it is a destination very concerned in the MICE market. What ROI do you calculate receiving after organizing this event?
Charo. Puebla has been a great host that has all the infrastructures and appeal desired for an MICE destination. All the participants were able to enjoy the colonial beauty of this great State, the artisanal craftsmanship, the gastronomy and the quality of its people during four days!

Veronica de Santiago is an editor at:
CARIBBEAN NEWS DIGITAL
Exclusivas Latinoamericanas S.L., publisher of the Excelencias magazines, is bringing to you Caribbean News Digital, an online newspaper targeting professionals from the world of tourism.

That readership includes more than 60,780 hoteliers, nearly 74,000 travel professionals, 6,500 tour operators and over 500 tourism offices, plus thousands of service providers, executives and employees in non-hotel facilities, airlines, cruse lines, news media organizations and government officials, among others.
www.caribbeanewsdigital.com

Charo Trabado is the GM of GSAR Marketing:
GSAR Marketing also promotes and operates Marketing and Sales Seminars, Product Presentations, Workshops, Roadshows and their own Travel Trade Exhibitions, organizing annually, since 1997, three international travel trade shows worldwide, with more than 40 editions held around the world: MITM Euromed, MITM Americas and CULTOURFAIR.

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