In times of crisis more market players are making increasing use of the world’s leading platform for the industry. 110,000 trade visitors, 42 per cent from abroad – topical issues ensure record attendance (plus 10 per cent) at the ITB Berlin Convention – public interest remains high – successful premiere for the ITB partner region: RUHR.2010 now firmly established on the international stage – 180,000 visitors in the display halls
“More market players visited the leading platform of the international travel industry than ever before. In times of rapid structural changes and highly competitive markets they focused on gaining a comprehensive market overview and on new business approaches. Thus, unlike many other industries, the travel sector is actively responding to the challenges. Trade visitor attendance remained high, proof of ITB Berlin’s resilience even in economically difficult times. We are delighted that there was an increase in visitors from abroad. Once again, ITB Berlin re-established itself as the world’s leading travel trade show“, said Dr. Christian Göke, Chief Operating Officer of Messe Berlin.
From 11 to 15 March 11,098 companies from 187 countries (2008: 11,147 companies from 186 countries) exhibited their products and services and discussed their future market strategies. Of the 110,857 trade visitors who attended (110,322), 42 per cent came from abroad, an increase of four per cent. Once again, record numbers took part in the convention. This year’s figure was 12,000, compared with 11,000 in 2008.
“Clearly we were once again able to address urgent problems and topical market issues with leading experts. The result was a global survey of the market and possible scenarios for solutions”, Dr. Göke added.
Crowds thronged the halls over the weekend as well. Approximately 68,114 members of the public (67,569) came to find out about travel destinations and products and services from around the world. Overall attendance in the display halls was 178,971 (177,891).
Despite the global financial crisis there was a positive mood among exhibitors, who were satisfied with business at ITB Berlin. According to a representative survey carried out by Fachhochschule Eberswalde during the fair, six out of ten exhibitors said the recession had had no impact on their business. However, they said that travel behaviour would change. 52 per cent of exhibitors expected tourists to take even shorter trips, 60 per cent believed local tourism would boom, and 68 per cent expected demand for last-minute travel to increase. More than half of the exhibitors claimed they were currently adapting their products to suit changing conditions, for which ITB Berlin is the ideal venue. According to a survey by an independent market research institute, more than 87 per cent (85) of exhibitors obtained a positive impression of the fair. As in 2008, even before this year’s fair had ended, 91 per cent said they would be back next year at ITB Berlin.
BTW and DRV set the tone for the future
Klaus Laepple, President of the German Tourism Industry Federation (BTW) and of the German Travel Association (BTW): “This year there will be huge challenges facing the global economy. Against this backdrop it is impossible to offer any sound predictions for tourism this year. What is certain is that the tourism industry has already overcome many crises, and this is where ITB Berlin, the world’s largest tourism trade show, plays a major part. This is the venue where during the last few days the foundations were being laid for the future. There was short-term as well as long-term business in particular being concluded. Equally, there were discussions about companies finding strategies and measures to react to the current situation and about stimulating the market by optimising products and quality. In such difficult times it is especially important to maintain existing relations and networks, and build new contacts, for which ITB is ideal. This year ITB Berlin once again gave a clear signal, and as such the industry is well equipped to face the future.”
Trade visitors’ reactions to the range of products and services at ITB Berlin were even more positive than last year. 79 per cent (77) rated it either “excellent“ or “good“. 94 per cent (93) were satisfied with their visit to the fair and 95 per cent (94) would recommend it to friends or colleagues. At 92 per cent, the proportion of trade visitors planning to return to ITB Berlin next year increased (2008: 88).
ITB Berlin is an international media event. In addition to international news agencies some 7,7000 journalists from 87 countries were at the fair. Representatives of politics and the diplomatic services attended the world’s largest travel trade show in large numbers. 178 (176) members from 100 countries representing politics and the diplomatic services attended ITB Berlin, among them 77 ambassadors, 85 ministers and 16 state secretaries.
The next ITB Berlin will take place from Wednesday, 10 to Sunday, 14 March 2010, with Turkey as its partner country.
Comments from exhibitors
Pilar Cano, President of the Central American Tourism Agency (CATA): “All those involved praised the outstanding quality of talks with customers. Thus at ITB Berlin 2009 the global recession was not just negative but had a positive impact for Central America too. This year our aim is to increase the number of operators offering tours to Central America by 20 per cent. We are delighted that Costa Rica, Panama and Guatemala have been so successful, but we also want to bring El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua into the picture.“
Nabil Sultan, Senior Vice President Commercial Operations, Emirates: “ITB Berlin is a driving force for the travel industry. It is important for us to be in Berlin and to stand by the fair in these challenging times. ITB Berlin is an ideal place to meet business partners and contacts from our key markets.”
Sandra Morales, Deputy Director of tourism offices in Mexico City: “From our point of view the first day of the fair was rather quiet, but after that there was keen interest in our stand. Our exhibitors reported doing good business and meeting new trade visitors from around the world. We are delighted that Mexico is in demand, particularly with German operators and tourists. The open days on the weekend are great fun.“
Birgit Koller-Hartl, Director of Österreich Werbung Deutschland GmbH: “ITB Berlin is the top event, in international terms too. It is our most important fixture, next to WTM and BIT in Milan. From the size of our stand one could probably see that it was also the show that was most important for us. We booked 1,000 square metres, and had 38 exhibitors sharing the combined display of Österreichwerbung.”
Jan Wawrzyniak, Director of the Polish tourism organisation, the Polish tourism board: “With stands covering more than 1,500 square metres Poland was one of the larger exhibitors at ITB Berlin. The entire hall has been ours for several years now and I hope we will be here for the foreseeable future. This is the most important event and most important market. The whole world and the entire travel industry is represented at ITB Berlin. For us it is very important that it is held in Berlin, the capital of Germany, and that there are many visitors from Berlin and Brandenburg on the open days of the event, as Germans make up more than 37 per cent of all foreign tourists in Poland.”
Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways: “It always fascinates me to be at ITB Berlin, our press conference is like a family reunion.“
Franck Thiébaut, Chairman of the Sales Coordinating Committee of the SkyTeam aviation alliance: “This is the first time we had our own stand at ITB Berlin. From the reactions we could see the decision to be here was right. We will be back next year celebrating the tenth anniversary of our alliance.“
Brigitte U. Fleischauer, Manager of Tourism Business Central, Southern & Eastern Europe, Singapore Tourism Board: “We met our business partners, some of whom were extremely satisfied. They did good business, including for their partners in countries bordering Singapore. I believe the mood is quite positive and as a result we are quite satisfied.”
Theresa Bay-Müller, South Africa Country Manager for Germany: “I can only say that booking additional space at ITB Berlin for the 2010 FIFA World Cup was the best move one could think of. People were queuing up to find out about accommodation, transport in South Africa and naturally tickets, because tickets went online two weeks ago. FIFA representatives and service providers from South Africa were also on hand, and they were very busy at ITB Berlin.“
Emanuel Berger, delegate of the administrative committee of the Victoria-Jungfrau Collection, Switzerland: “For me ITB Berlin is an event that saves time and money, particularly in times of crisis, because I can see the world in a few days.“
Commentary by Joachim Fischer
I am somewhat surprised by the many positive statements and Messe Berlin’s numbers on this year’s ITB. I think I must have attended another event! My impressions of and information on the ITB 2009 are slightly more sober, and less positive:
The trade visitor days unveiled the following picture: Hundreds of young students – very often talking Polish – populated the fair and the stands. The trade visitors complained about not coming through to the stands and their meetings due to all the young people, while exhibitors complained that they were often asked for trivial things, such as souvenirs, which left them with little time for their actual trade visitors. There was also a remarkable number of school classes and their teachers attending these „trade visitor days“.
Is that a way to increase the number of trade visitors?
On my tours through the Asia hall, as well as in Africa and Arabia, I saw empty tables and meeting booths, with the exhibitors mostly sitting around, bored. Many of the people from the media and the circle of exhibitors that I talked with reported no or few trade meetings. According to their impressions, there were considerably fewer genuine trade visitors this year.
Two more, very negative things that caught my attention this year:
1.: On Sunday, which was open for the public, thousands of visitors surged to the ITB, like always. Unfortunately, however, they mostly ended up standing in front of empty stands, for the exhibitors had already started departing on Friday afternoon. By Sunday noon, most of the stands, especially in the Asia and Africa hall, were empty. Quite frankly a fraud against the visitors who payed their entry tickets in full, expecting to visit a whole trade fair. The organization should take more action here.
2.: On Thursday, the day of the buyers and the trade audience, I noticed three adolescent visitors (ca. 16, 17 years old) at the shuttle station in front of the radio tower, who were drunk and noisily joking around. Coincidentally, they were taking the same way I was, and were heading to the halls. On the stand of Poland, they were given a schnaps, and another small bottle of alcohol a few stands along the line. I tried to address one of the hall attendants, or one of the regulators in uniform. I was turned down by both, for it was apparently not part of their field of responsibility. Afterwards, I asked the staff at the information booth to inform the fair administration, but the lady was not able to give me a single relevant contact number.
I wonder: Does the alcohol restriction for adolescents apply for the fair grounds, or is every youth allowed to drink his alcohol there?
We are interested in your opinion on these matters. Please feel free to send us an e-mail to: j.fischer@tourism-insider.com.
