ITB Berlin: fully booked

BERLIN – Fully booked! In 2009 ITB Berlin will provide impressive confirmation of its significance as the global travel industry’s leading trade show. From March 11-15, 2009, the fair management is expecting some 11,000 exhibiting companies and organizations from more than 180 countries in the 26 halls on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. Despite the difficult economic situation around the world, in 2009 demand still exceeds supply. Messe Berlin is expecting even larger numbers of international trade visitors at the ITB Berlin Convention, the world’s largest meeting of this kind, which is taking place at the same time.

Dr. Martin Buck, director ITB Berlin, said: “Major international trade shows are a reliable indicator of the state of the industries that they represent. Against the background of a significant slowdown of the world economy and mainly sceptical expectations, this year’s ITB Berlin is more important than ever for its exhibitors and its trade visitors. During this phase, ITB Berlin will be able to fulfil its role as a networking platform and a marketing instrument.”

Six weeks prior to the start of ITB Berlin, this trade show reports that registrations are at an impressively high level, despite the global economic and financial crisis. Among the exhibitors who will be meeting trade visitors and the public will be some from the world’s newest nation: Kosovo. The African nation of Gabon has returned as an exhibitor after an absence of several years, along with Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. In 2009, the Middle East reports a continuing boom in tourism. The Emirates of Abu Dhabi and Qatar now have an even wider range of attractions and facilities. For the second time, the airline Emirates is bringing its spectacular stand, in the form of a globe, to Berlin. The increasing number of travelers visiting the USA is also reflected in the plans by American exhibitors: New York and Florida will be occupying larger display areas. Germany’s federal states are coming to Berlin with great expectations this year. All available space has been booked in the halls occupied by the federal states.

One of the dominant features of this year’s ITB Berlin is the European Capital of Culture 2010. RUHR.2010 is the partner region of the world’s largest travel trade show. As the partner region, the Ruhr will be planning the opening ceremonies on March 10, 2009 at the International Congress Center (ICC) Berlin and will also be represented during the fair by various cultural events and culinary delights. In addition, the European Capital of Culture RUHR.2010 and its many attractions will be in the spotlight during the official tour of the fair to show just what makes this metropolis such an outstanding location.