by Volker Hasse

From March 11 to 15, the leading global travel trade fair will be opening up its 26 halls on the ICC. A total of 11,147 exhibitors from 180 countries will be presenting themselves to the estimated 180,000 visitors and 8,000 journalists on an area of 160,000 square meters.

On the weekend of March 14 & 15, the ITB will open up for private visitors, featuring a wide range of offers. Trade visitors will find three fundamental pillars in the ITB concept:

International trend fair for trade visitors
World’s largest public travel trade fair
ITB Convention, featuring diverse daily topics

For the first time, the focal point in 2009 will not be a partner country, but rather a German region. Following the theme of „Change through Culture – Culture through Change“, “Metropole Ruhr” will be giving an impressive display at ITB of how one of the largest European urban centers turned into an attractive holiday destination. In cooperation with other regions and cities in North Rhine-Westphalia, the European Capital of Culture will be presenting its diverse offers of industry culture, museums, sports and events on two floors inside hall 8.2.

In halls 4.1 and 5.1, 50 exhibitors will, for the first time, be aiming to provide interested adolescents with a first step towards climbing the career ladder in tourism and the hotel industry, utilizing their international portfolio of „Training and Employment in Tourism“, “ITB @ CareerCenter powered by YOURCAREERGROUP”, „MeerArbeit Young Talents for Cruise Providers“, „Hosts, Sports & Culture Organizers“, „Youth Travel“, „Experience Adventure“, „ECOtourism“ and „Economy Accommodation, Trends & Events“.