MAJOR INVESTMENT BY EIBTM TO SUPPORT HOSTED BUYER GROUP CO-ORDINATORS

"EIBTM has long acknowledged that the partnership they have with the Group Co-ordinators is key to the success of the Hosted Buyer programme and really value the hard work our co-ordinators put into making the Hosted Buyer programme the success it is. We hope that the changes we have made and the implementation of the new Group Co-ordinators Guide will assist their administration" said Debbie Jackson, Exhibition Director.

The major change, designed to facilitate travel arrangements for Group Co-ordinators, is the introduction by Reed Travel Exhibitions of a new division- Reed Travel Services (RTS) - which will manage all flights and accommodation for Buyers registering onto the Hosted Buyer programme at EIBTM 2002.

RTS will book buyers flights and once they have been accepted onto the programme each buyer will be given a unique reference number and PIN which will allow them to access their personal page on the EIBTM website. This page will show their flight details, times, airport and locator number and enable them to extend their stay, change flights and book additional nights' accommodation direct with RTS. Group Co-ordinators will be kept aware of the changes to their Groups' schedules by regular updates and will also be able to access their buyers' pages for the latest information.

To improve communications with Hosted Buyers EIBTM has produced a Guide which is designed to provide Group Co-ordinators with all the information needed to organise groups.

The Group Co-ordinators Guide sets out clearly the responsibilities of EIBTM, the Group Co-ordinators, Hosted Buyer and RTS. It also clearly sets out deadlines for participation in the programme and details on Meridian Club Membership. The Guide also announces details of another major change - the choice of Group or Individual Appointments for Hosted Buyers who attend EIBTM as part of a group.

For the first time Hosted Buyers can choose to attend appointments with destination exhibitors as part of a group (maximum of 10 buyers per group), or the whole group can choose to have individual one-to-one Pre-Scheduled appointments. They will still travel to EIBTM and stay in hotels as a Group, however the individual option offers a direct match for each buyer's request with an exhibitor of their choice and is not limited to destination stands. All buyers will still be able to make additional appointments through the on-line diary to supplement their pre-scheduled appointments one month in advance of the exhibition.

"Further developments in new technology introduced within Reed Travel Exhibitions last year are designed to streamline the registration process, completely re-design the stand numbering to facilitate navigation and improve the on-line diary to make it clearer and easier for visitors and exhibitors to use and available one month before the exhibition" added Debbie Jackson, Exhibition Director.