EIBTM 2002 OFFERS MORE DEVELOPMENTS TO THE HOSTED BUYER PROGRAMME

The Hosted Buyer Programme is integral to the success of EIBTM and the exhibition team is continually striving to enhance this Programme to ensure Hosted Buyers can use their time to maximum effect. To improve communications with Hosted Buyers major investments in technology have been made by Reed Travel Exhibitions over the past year, which will significantly benefit buyers at EIBTM 2002.

New technology will streamline the registration process for EIBTM 2002. The travel itinerary will be on-line within days of acceptance into the programme and buyers will be able to easily view their travel and accommodation arrangements.

The on-line diary to book appointments has been further developed to make it clearer and easier for visitors and exhibitors to use, and will be available one month in advance of the exhibition.

Further changes include smaller and more targeted groups of buyers attending group appointments with destinations - and groups can attend appointments or follow an individual appointment schedule.

Debbie Jackson, Exhibition Director of EIBTM commented: "We were very pleased with the improvements made to EIBTM 2001 as a result of our research last year. Our Hosted Buyer programme is now second to none. Designed to allow top level decision makers to make the best use of their time, EIBTM sponsors European flights and accommodation, ground transportation to and from the airport, hotels and exhibition centre and arranges all pre-scheduled appointments, trying to match the needs of the Hosted Buyers as closely as possible."

"However we felt that there was even more we could do to ensure that everyone who participates in EIBTM gains maximum benefit. As a result we commissioned detailed research to Hosted Buyers after the event this year to enable us to build on the strong foundations laid at EIBTM 2001.

Research showed us that 98% were satisfied with EIBTM in meeting their objectives, 96% felt that EIBTM gives them a competitive advantage and importantly 91% would recommend EIBTM to associates and colleagues. The research also showed that nearly half the Hosted Buyers have already placed specific business as a direct result of their visit and agree strongly that EIBTM is the right exhibition for them. This is demonstrated by these buyers' quotes attached."

"But this research was not undertaken merely to prove we have an excellent product - it was undertaken to help us identify further areas for development and improvement to help us deliver a quality event that completely matches industry needs", Debbie Jackson added.

Areas include:

* Increase educational seminars

* Enhance content of presentations to Groups by exhibitors

* Improve on-line diary introduced at EIBTM 2001

* Improve travel processes

* Improve communications

* Improve stand numbering

EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS

EIBTM 2002 is looking to develop more focused educational opportunities for existing and new Hosted Buyers, particularly through discussions with Associations in the MICE market.

For example ESAE and EIBTM will run an educational day for Association Executives on Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd May using the same format for each day. Association buyers, hosted by EIBTM, will be invited to attend on either day with the option of staying the night to attend an additional day at the exhibition.

Other educational seminars will be run by SITE, ICCA and MPI to cover other topics, including industry trends, advice on incentive trips and new technology.

BETTER PRESENTATIONS TO GROUPS BY EXHIBITORS

EIBTM is working with selected exhibitors to provide feed-back from Hosted Buyers about what they need to see in their group presentations. EIBTM are slightly reducing the number of Buyers in each group to enable destinations to tailor their presentations to a smaller and more targeted number of people - a maximum of 10 in each group. This will help exhibitors to meet the needs of the buyers more effectively.

ON-LINE DIARY IMPROVEMENTS

The on-line diary, successfully introduced for EIBTM 2001, continues to be developed and will be available much earlier next year to enable buyers to request and arrange their individual appointments well ahead of the exhibition. The improvements will make it clearer and easier for visitors and exhibitors to use to book appointments.

IMPROVE FLIGHT PROCESSES

To enhance the co-ordination of travel arrangements to the exhibition, Reed Travel Exhibitions has set up a new division - Reed Travel Services - which will manage all flights and accommodation for Hosted Buyers. The introduction of Reed Travel Services will enable Buyers and Group Co-ordinators to check their travel itinerary on-line within days of their acceptance onto the Hosted Programme. Buyers will be emailed a unique reference number and PIN which will allow them to access their personal page on the EIBTM website. The page will show their flight details, times, airport and locator number and will allow various options to extend the stay, change flights and book additional nights' accommodation. This will give the Buyer much more control over their flight details and make any flight changes a much simpler process. This initiative will ensure that Reed Travel Services will communicate directly with the buyers and the Group Co-ordinators, keeping them fully up-to-date with the latest itineraries.

COMMUNICATIONS WITH HOSTED BUYERS AND GROUP CO-ORDINATORS

EIBTM has invested heavily in technological solutions and aims to deliver a consistently high quality service to all participants. Further developments in new technology have been introduced within Reed Travel Exhibitions to streamline the registration process. Buyers should will be able to fulfil all their requirements on-line, being able to view their own personal web page for full details of travel arrangements, change flights and book additional accommodation, request new appointments and view their complete on-site meetings diary.

IMPROVE STAND NUMBERING

One point that the research raised was the difficulty some visitors had in navigating their way around the Halls. For EIBTM 2002 the stands will be completely renumbered to make journeys between stands as easy as possible.

INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENTS FOR GROUPS

In an effort to further match buyers needs, new for EIBTM 2002 is the choice for a Group of buyers to have group appointments to destination stands or to attend individual one-to-one appointments. Hosted Buyers normally attend a programme of group appointments with destination exhibitors, which are selected by matching the most popular destination chosen by the Group as a whole. These are scheduled between 10.00 and 14.00 daily, leaving the afternoon free for participants to make their own additional appointments using the on-line diary on the EIBTM website.

Hosted Buyers can now travel to EIBTM and stay in a hotel as a Group, but have individual one-to-one Pre-Scheduled appointments at the exhibition. This schedule will run throughout the day with appointments starting at 10.00am. This option offers a direct match for each buyer's request with an exhibitor of their choice and is not limited to destination stands. The decision for the Group to attend on an individual basis has to be made by the Group Co-ordinator not individuals within any Group.

"The programme for Hosted Buyers for EIBTM 2002 is even more exciting than the successful changes implemented at EIBTM 2001" said Alix Blumsom, Customer Relationship Management Director. "Membership of the much sought after Meridian Club introduced at EIBTM 2001 remains, as does the stricter qualifications for Hosted Buyers. But the new technological advances in registration and appointment scheduling, coupled with the introduction of Reed Travel Services will ensure that all Buyers utilise their time even more effectively."

HOSTED BUYER QUOTES

"I feel that EIBTM is the best exhibition to attend because of all of the great destinations represented. The EIBTM Team have done a great job with improvements to the show. They are noticeable right away. It was so well done that it makes me want to attend EIBTM again. I only wish that I had 3 days instead of 2" Andrea S. Miller, President & CEO, Meeting In-Site Corp, USA.

"The EIBTM is the C&I world in a nutshell - if I could only go to one trade show per year it would be EIBTM" Katrina Gillard - Event Manager, Vantage Point Ltd, UK

"EIBTM, the conference and incentives industry at its finest" Chris Nicolaides - Managing Director, TAG International, SA.

"EIBTM is the most important exhibition I have attended" Ana Romero - Director, Viajes Arizona

"I've picked up more information in 2 days than in 2 years" Paul Neale, KSAM

"I thoroughly enjoyed EIBTM. I thought it was the best yet and I am working on a meeting in Switzerland for 2003 from the leads I started at EIBTM" Doug Stives - New Jersey Society of SPAs, USA

"Year 2001 was the best I ever attended" Keddy Sofair - Managing Director, London House Travel

"EIBTM is the most important event for any incentive or conference organiser" Paul Baylis - Senior Partner, Event Link