Reed Travel Exhibitions, organizer of the world’s leading portfolio of incentives, business travel, and meetings industry events, has announced that it is to launch IBTM India which will take place at the Grand Hyatt in Mumbai from September 12-14, 2013.
IBTM India will provide an integrated platform for the MICE and business travel sectors to come together and transact business, share knowledge, and network in the business and financial hub of Mumbai. Scheduled to take place over 2.5 days, this event will provide a tabletop format for exhibitors to meet with Hosted Buyers.
IBTM India will join 6 other events in the RTE portfolio on 5 continents including AIME in Melbourne, Australia, (owned by Melbourne Convention Visitors Bureau); EIBTM in Barcelona, Spain; GIBTM in Abu Dhabi; AIBTM in Chicago, USA; CIBTM in Beijing, China; and Business Travel Market, London, UK. www.ibtmevents.com
The first IBTM India will have 100 MICE and business travel suppliers from international and Indian hotels and venues, national/state tourism boards, travel and destination management companies, and airlines, along with other suppliers including technology and event management companies. A proportionate number of top-level decision makers will be hosted as buyers from key markets around the globe, all of whom will be pre-qualified to ensure they are planning to place business in India as well as buyers who place outbound and domestic business will be included. Buyers will be from key associations, corporations, and agencies.
Anup Nair, President, Site India Chapter, said: “The Meetings & Incentives market is possibly the most important segment of the travel industry today. With positive growth trends in the Indian economy and the increasing competition in the manufacturing and services sectors, India presents a potentially lucrative market. This has brought many international corporations to India and a burgeoning work force that offers a huge market for motivational experiences. It is my opinion that the outbound and inbound MICE segment in India needs professional education and training to enable it to deliver quality programs. In association with Site Global, we in the Site India Chapter plan to develop quality professionals. IBTM coming to India and partnering with the Site India Chapter will give the right impetus to this drive. We welcome this initiative by the Reed Travel Exhibitions.”
“India holds enormous potential for the MICE industry with a projected GDP growth of over 8% in the next 5 years. The world’s third largest economy is also showing an increase in outbound business, estimated in 2010 to be worth some US$600m for the sector, with projections of a 13% increase in the coming years. There is also a strategic plan of commitment from the India Ministry of Tourism for the development of new convention centers and a significant number of global hotel chains are now focusing on new facilities and venues to support the MICE industry,” said Craig Moyes, Portfolio Director, IBTM Meetings and Events Portfolio, Reed Travel Exhibitions.
Barcelona Turisme confirmed the importance of the Indian market to the city. “India is a key market for us; we have been building business from there over the past six years. Since 2010, we have received almost twice the number of incentive groups than previously so we are very interested to learn about this new development from Reed Travel Exhibitions,” said Mercedes Garcia, Deputy Director of Barcelona Turisme.
