ENHANCED EIBTM PROGRAMME FOR HOSTED BUYERS

Getting into business overdrive!

New focus. New effectiveness. New meetings formats. New success.

EIBTM 2001 is destined to deliver a brand new experience for its thousands of buyers and exhibitors.

More efficiency, stricter qualifications and a wealth of new features will make everyone's Geneva experience more rewarding than ever.

In an imaginative quest for greater business value and time efficiency, three different types of visitor categories have been devised for the first time. They follow extensive research with all sectors of the industry following last year's show.

As top international professionals responsible for organisation, planning and recommendation of international incentive travel, meetings, conventions, business travel and other events, Hosted Buyers will also qualify for membership of Reed Travel Exhibitions' exclusive Meridian Club which operates across the company's global network of shows.

For the first time at EIBTM, exhibitors have also been asked to nominate one Hosted Buyer for every square metre of stand space. So the more clients and prospects they nominate, the more pre-scheduled appointments they are likely to get with the "right" people.

The second category, Meridian Club members, will not necessarily be hosted but will still benefit from fast-track show admission, use of the Hosted Buyer Meridian Club lounge with free refreshments, and year-round benefits including discounts, upgrades and special offers.

Trade visitors, who are key decision makers in the industry, are also being invited to attend via an intensive marketing campaign .

Extensive new measures have been put in place to ensure buyers and exhibitors all get to meet those "right" people. Hosted Buyers are undergoing stricter scrutiny, and they will take part in smaller groups for on-stand visits, to again maximise communication with the full-range of respective on-stand exhibitors.

Improved communications, enhanced traffic flows between the exhibition halls and a new, fully-equipped, press working area, are among other new benefits.

A much-upgraded website, features on-line registration for visitors and the media. And a few weeks before the show, an on-line diary will allow Hosted Buyers to plan their visits in advance by studying information on each exhibitor, its products and services, and then requesting appointments. The site also includes information on Geneva and travel to Palexpo , plus details about the extensive programme of special show events. Go to https://travel.reedexpo.com and click on the EIBTM logo. All will be revealed.

Here's a quick word with a handful of EIBTM's seasoned Hosted Buyers:

JOHN PAGE, Head of Incentive Travel with Lloyds TSB Bank, based in Birmingham UK, is responsible for 12 major overseas incentive travel and motivational programmes each involving 120-140 people, including partners. Another six overseas events are already planned for other arms of the Lloyds TSB Group, plus anything up to 15 smaller events involving 20 to 30 participants.

"This will be my ninth year at EIBTM. As I'm now able to attend as a solo visitor with my agent I'm able to select beforehand the countries I need to sit down with - that saves lots of time as I'm seeing just the people and destinations that I need to. EIBTM arrives at just the right time for me - and I'm there for two reasons: to book and confirm groups for the following year and to begin research for the year after that.

"It's also a great place to meet old and new colleagues, to discover new destinations and to discuss my requirements with a whole range of suppliers from DMCs to hoteliers. This year I'll be looking closely at places like Vietnam, Argentina and Canada."

MARTIN FIELDEN, Secretary General for the International Association for Radiation Research, based in the UK, handles international events in two distinct sizes: for 150 participants and for 1,500-plus.

"Over my ten years at EIBTM I have always enjoyed meeting suppliers who know their product and destinations inside out, and are serious and knowledgeable. And of course it's good to encounter people and places that were not on my original contact list - to have my eyes opened to other venues and possibilities. I'm a great fan of the show!

"This year I would also like to find out what the situation is in Bali and the possibilities in Puerto Rico."

JOHN HASTINGS, Conference Secretary with the Australian Insurance Law Association, based in Sydney organises world congresses every four years.

There was a 650-delegate event in Sydney in 1994. He has also had heavy involvement in meetings in Spain, England, Hungary, Denmark and Morocco, plus annual conferences in Australia, joint conferences in New Zealand and Indonesia and a regional conference in Singapore.

"I've only been to EIBTM twice before, in 1995 and 2000 but I'm looking forward to meeting the tourism authorities and convention bureaus from places like Hong Kong, Philippines, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea, plus getting updates from the countries I mentioned earlier. It's also very helpful to talk to people who can advise me about how local delegates can make their attendance at overseas conferences that much easier.

"This year I'll be looking closely at new product in places like the USA, South Pacific and, inevitably, Asia."

PAUL WILSON, Congress Manager with FDI, World Dental Federation, looks after a huge conference and exhibition that can draw anything from 12,000 to 50,000 participants.

"I have been going to EIBTM for the last four or five years. It's a good place to meet so many international providers under one roof in one day. Most of my time there is spent with people I already work with, but this year I will probably also look at destinations like India, Dubai and Canada."

* The opening keynote address at EIBTM 2001 will be given by James Rothnie, Director of Corporate Affairs with the easyGroup which hit the headlines four years ago with easyJet's revolutionary travel ideas and bargain-price flights. The brand now includes easyRentacar, easyBank and the world's largest network of internet cafes. He is set to talk about motivational skills in an ever increasingly competitive business world. The event was introduced last year, featuring Prof. Dr. Ruud Lubbers, former Dutch Prime Minister, international economist and leading authority on the future of Europe.

* Other events will include the Worldwide Watch presentation from the organisation, which, according to an independent panel of judges, presents the most imaginative and effective programme or device serving the events industry. Last year's award went to Belgium-based TourWeb for its upcoming TwinFind system, a palm-held event navigator system for use at meetings, conferences and exhibitions, that has already generated plenty of interest in Europe and North America.

* A major new international 20-page report on developments within the meetings, incentive travel and events sector, will also be launched at the show in conjunction with industry research specialists, Travel & Tourism Intelligence.

* EIBTM takes place from May 29-31, at Palexpo, Geneva.