IBTM World has smashed its record for pre-arranged meetings at the first stage of its bespoke appointment matching process, with meeting numbers up 6% up on last year’s total at this stage. There has also been an increase year-on-year in the average number of appointments per exhibitor.

Furthermore, latest figures show that 50% of Hosted buyers so far confirmed are new to the IBTM portfolio and 61% are new to IBTM World, giving exhibitors more opportunities to do business with completely new contacts.

Commenting on the news, David Thompson, Exhibition Director, said: “We’re delighted to announce such strong results at this stage of the event preparation. All indicators are that we’re going to have another record-breaking event in terms of the number of high-quality opportunities for our customers to do business. It’s also a huge boost for our team as we enter the final stages of preparation for the event.

“We continue to work hard to secure the highest calibre buyers for IBTM World, and to bring new buyers to the event to give our exhibitors a wealth of potential new business opportunities. We’re committed to building on the success of previous years to deliver more, even better quality meetings for our customers.” 

So far buyers representing 77 countries have been confirmed, with delegates from globally renowned businesses including: Google, Adobe, ICBC Bank, La Caja Seguras, BBVA France, Dell, Whirlpool, BMW, European Society of Cardiology and International Association for Enterprise Information Security.

This year IBTM World has also launched an Elite Corporate Buyers programme which will bring senior event planners from a FTSE 500 or equivalent company to the event – providing additional opportunities for exhibitors to connect with high-level event planners. Created in association with American Express Meeting & Events, a division of American Express Global Business Travel, supported by Event Marketing Association and sponsored by London & Partners and Hilton, the Elite Corporate Programme includes four sessions addressing some of the key challenges facing senior corporate event organisers.

Created in partnership with the Association of Association Executives (AAE), the Association programme returns this year and includes eight topical sessions addressing some of the key challenges facing association event organisers. The afternoon concludes with Associations Connect, a peer-to-peer networking event, in association with ICCA.

Event planners can also be inspired by the event’s new IBTM Accelerate zone. Designed to attract and nurture entrepreneurial talent, the zone will incorporate exhibitors and education sessions that will give delegates the opportunity to learn from other successful MICE entrepreneurs and share ideas with their peers.

IBTM Accelerate will feature several interactive discussions for the next generation of event planners; an ‘Influencers of MICE’ series led by ex-MPI president and Founder of Word of MICE Mariska Kesteloo; Future Focus – a series of sessions focusing on the future of the MICE industry, and the hotly anticipated IBTM World Tech Watch Awards which will be presented in the zone. Supporters of the new feature zone include Barcelona Convention Bureau, MPI, Word of MICE, Reed Exhibitions, La Salle Ramon Llull University, CETT-UB, Eight PR & Marketing and Reed Exhibitions UK.

Buyers can also attend tailored education sessions in the Knowledge Programme, which this year includes a packed three-day schedule designed to enhance events expertise and keep attendees on the cutting-edge of industry trends.

For more information on IBTM World 2018 visit ibtmworld.com.