Students of Cologne Business School will award the Best Exhibitor Award at ITB 2009 on March 14 / All exhibitors to be evaluated in 11 categories. Which stand showcases its country or company in the best way? Which one is the most informative and which one offers the best service?
This year, again, aspiring tourism managers of Cologne Business School (CBS), being partners of Messe Berlin, will award the Best Exhibitor Award to exhibitors at ITB. During the first three days of the trade fair, a team of more than 30 students will be taking a close look at the nearly 11,000 individual and joint stands at ITB. At the end of the exhibition week, they will award the coveted prizes to the winners in a multi-faceted and colorful award ceremony. Klaus Laepple, President of “Deutscher ReiseVerband e.V.” (DRV – German Travel Association) and of the Federal Association of the German Tourism Economy (BTW) will again act as patron of the Best Exhibitor Award 2009.
For several months, 32 students were feverishly preparing the event under the guidance of CBS lecturer and consultant Martina Leicher. They will be spreading out during the days of the trade fair in order to evaluate nearly 11,000 exhibitors.
This will be the 9th time for the team of students to evaluate all individual and joint stands at ITB in the 11 categories of Germany, Europe, Asia/Australia/Oceania, America/Caribbean, Middle East, Africa, Hotel Industry, Carriers, Tour Operation and Service Providers/Suppliers/Tourism Industry Media. They will take a close look at the stands, going by a catalog of criteria on stand design, information, service, activities and overall impression.
The winners will be awarded with the Best Exhibitor Award of their respective category before being thoroughly celebrated during the following “Kölsch” evening at the CBS trade booth (hall 5, stand 106).
Cross-section of the world of tourism
The show of the Best Exhibitor Award on Saturday evening has become an integral part of the supporting program of ITB and has gained a lot of importance among exhibitors over the last years, with the awards often being received by ministers for tourism, ambassadors and other respected personalities from the various nations. For countries such as Rwanda (winner in the Africa category 2007 and 2008), receiving the Best Exhibitor Award translates to a proof of success of their efforts in foreign marketing.
The show of the Best Exhibitor Award shows the many facets and the cultural diversity of tourism in a very lively and optically rewarding manner, honoring exactly that which attracts trade visitors: highly beautiful and service-oriented stand designs.
