EIBTM 2003 to have Technology Village

Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) has pulled out all stops to ensure EIBTM 2003 is the most innovative industry event ever. A new Technology Village and its highly regarded WorldWide Watch programme are two key attractions that set EIBTM apart from would-be competitors.

“No other exhibition will have the technology programme that we will offer for 2003. It is a unique selling point,” said Didier Scaillet, director for European Operations and Global Development at MPI. “Surveys of our membership have shown technology is the number one issue as far as they are concerned,” he said.

Together with industry expert, Corbin Ball, Scaillet has developed a new Technology platform for EIBTM 2003: “The MPI Technology Village @ EIBTM”.

There will be 40 technology companies, addressing different aspects: online registration, online venue finding, webcasting, teleconferencing, online RFP, PDA applications, meeting planning software, virtual meetings/shows, e-marketing, wireless technology, exhibition management, audience polling, messaging/kiosks, contact management/lead retrieval, meetings consolidation/budgeting, association management, abstract/content management, room diagramming, incentive management and scheduling.

The Village will be equipped with PCs with large screens, high-speed connections and a presentation area with screens and projectors.

In addition to the vendors from the various exhibitors, three independent technology experts will be available to make neutral presentations on different topics and to answer questions.

ICCA’s new head, Martin Sirk, and Didier Scaillet, both sit on the judging panel of the WorldWide Watch contest and Corbin Ball is the new Chairman. Thus the development of technology for the meetings and incentives industry will be driven by a fresh impetus from industry leaders.

“Technology is changing the face of the meetings and incentives industry. Encouraging and recognising international innovation in this area benefits us all, “ said Corbin Ball.

“From sophisticated databases to video-conferencing, a constant flow of new technology products and services make it possible for us to explore new possibilities and maximise our business potential.”

The winner of WorldWide Watch 2002, Nils Huehnergarth, President of New York based Static & Motion productions, Inc. said: “EIBTM is an ideal forum to introduce our technology because the industry leaders who attend truly appreciate this powerful next generation technology.”

EIBTM 2003 will be held at Palexpo, Geneva 20-22 May.