Tag Archives: ITB Berlin

After a hiatus of two years, ITB Berlin is back on track with a brand new theme, titled, “Open for Change” which is ironic as all borders have not opened up and in many ways different than before. 7th to 9th March 2023, the travel, tourism and hospitality fraternity across the globe gather together to network, understand, learn the new ropes, and initiate business for this new era of tourism. Deborah Rothe, Exhibition Director, ITB Berlin, shares with TTME. “With the motto of this year’s ITB Berlin “Open for Change,” the world’s leading travel trade show celebrates its live comeback from 7 to 9 March in Berlin.  As a pure B2B show, it now has a duration of three days for buyers, trade visitors, exhibitors and media. As usual, the tourism industry’s most important Think Tank, the ITB Berlin Convention will also be held in parallel with the trade show under the motto “Mastering Transformation”. In terms of the number of exhibitors she responded, “We are very satisfied with the current booking status – more than 90 percent of space is fully booked, and we are still receiving exhibitor registrations at short notice. At the moment we count more than 4.500 exhibitors from over 150 countries, not including companies to be represented by exhibitors that are not on site. The ticket sales for trade visitors are in full swing, and the general profile of trade visitors is high. The ITB Buyers Circle, for example, an exclusive community for top-tier buyers with backgrounds in corporate, leisure, business travel, or MICE, has already more than 1,500submissions from buyers. These are reviewed manually, based on fixed criteria, and are currently being approved one …

To date only two Chinese exhibitors have cancelled their ITB Berlin attendance, confirms Messe Berlin. At 0.3 per cent overall, the share of exhibitors from the People’s Republic of China is very low. The percentage of visitors from China is even lower at 0.02 per cent of the 160,000 visitors. For the upcoming edition of ITB Berlin, more english-speaking staff as well as additional medical specialists and first responders on the grounds, have been added. The sanitary facilities will be cleaned and disinfected at more frequent intervals. In addition to hand cleansers in the bathrooms there will also be sanitiser dispensers at the entrances. The organisers highlight that the safety of our visitors and exhibitors will be their utmost priority and they are taking the situation very seriously.

Two Seasons Hotel Apartments was among the top 10,000 companies and organisations from over 180 countries to have participated at ITB Berlin. With several new hotels lined up for opening in 2020, the year ahead looks promising for the new brand Two Seasons Hotel. Two Seasons Hotel Management Company has an ambitious expansion plan for the next five years with a strong commitment to new destinations in the Middle East and North Africa as well as global cities where it plans to open Two Seasons Resorts. Freddy Farid, Managing Director, Two Seasons Hotel Management Company, said, “European and especially German markets are very important for the UAE as those markets are stable in terms of tourist numbers and business. We are showcasing our new brand as Two Seasons out of the idea of Dubai having just two seasons – winter and summer.” “ITB Berlin represents a fantastic opportunity to exhibit and promote our new brand and upcoming portfolio of hotels to a vast global network. In addition, it allows us to raise awareness about our superb products while targeting strategic business opportunities as we continue to reinforce our capacity to open and reach new markets. ITB is also a great forum to see the new trends in technology that are transforming our industry faster than ever. This is a perfect platform to meet the best of the industry minds and to forge partnership with them,” he concluded.

The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq) is set to announce the exclusive business management updates behind its cultural and ecotourism tourism profile at the 53rd edition of ITB Berlin, which will take place from March, 6-10. The Shurooq stand will be featured at the Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) pavilion, which will offer the world a platform to view the efforts that Sharjah entities are putting in to realise ‘Sharjah Vision 2021’.  Among Shurooq’s major announcements will be revealing the name of a new management operator for its ‘Sharjah Collection’ brand of ecotourism destinations, Kingfisher Lodge in Kalba – a rich mangroves reserve; Al Faya Lodge at Mleiha archaeological site; and Al Badayer Oasis at Al Badayer desert. Ahmed Al Qaseer, Chief Operating Officer, Shurooq said, “For the 12th consecutive year, Shurooq participates at ITB Berlin as part of its mission and vision to showcase Sharjah’s biggest achievements in the travel and tourism sectors on leading global platforms. We are returning this year with new and exciting announcements and memorable visitor experiences to reflect the growth in our corporate profile. We will be at the SCTDA pavilion in Hall 2.2, and occupy Stand 102, where we look forward to connecting with existing and new international partners. The level of tourism investment that Sharjah is attracting continues to grow at a phenomenal rate, and this will be an ideal opportunity for us to share our news with all those involved in the hospitality industry as well as fellow developers and foreign investors.”

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) is all set to showcase Sharjah’s latest major tourism projects and infrastructure developments during its 21st participation at ITB Berlin 2018, to be held from March 7 to 11. H.E. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman, SCTDA, who will attend the five-day event, is set to lead the delegation. High-level representatives from 12 government and private organisations will also join the SCTDA team to put the spotlight on their world-class tourism and cultural services and initiatives. The participating government institutions will consist of Knowledge without Borders, Expo Centre Sharjah, The Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), Environment and Protected Areas Authority (EPAA), The Sharjah Museums Authority and Sharjah International Airport. The private companies will comprise Oceanic Khorfakkan Resort & Spa, Ramada Hotel & Suites Sharjah, Radisson Blu Resort, Sharjah, Sharjah Airport Travel Agency,  Al Rais Tours & Holidays, and Sheraton Sharjah Beach Resort & Spa. H.E. Al Midfa said, “ITB Berlin is a strategic opportunity for us at SCTDA to put Sharjah on the international tourism and business maps in line with the government’s economic development agenda. Germany and other major European nations are important markets for Sharjah. As such, we consistently roll out relevant initiatives catering to European visitors to further strengthen our relations as well as form new mutually beneficial agreements.”

Around 600 companies, destinations, organisations and travel service providers from nearly 70 countries and territories will be represented in China’s new three-day business to business travel trade show on the grounds of the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Conference Centre. ITB China is the Chinese off-shoot of annual ITB Berlin, the World´s Largest Travel Trade Show ®, and its sister show, ITB Asia, in Singapore. The inaugural event has attracted around 600 exhibitors among which 28% are offering MICE products, 34% leisure, 31% Corporate and 7% travel technology solutions. More than one third of the exhibitors made their way from all over Asia and China to the first ITB China. Around 40% coming from European countries, 10% from the Middle East and some 10% from the Americas.

Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) will host the 67th Annual Convention of the German Travel Association (DRV) later this year. The three-day Convention, to be held December 7-9, will welcome more than 800 German travel trade professionals representing a consumer base of around six-to-eight million German travellers. The agreement for Ras Al Khaimah to host the primary international gathering of the German travel industry’s leading special interest group was signed by RAKTDA and DRV at ITB Berlin, the world’s largest travel trade show. During the convention, CEOs and senior executives from tour operators, travel agencies and service providers of all sizes, as well as representatives from airlines, cruise lines and insurance companies, will attend RAKTDA-organised tours, destination workshops and evening events highlighting the emirate’s latest natural and man-made product developments, future plans and unique attractions. Haitham Mattar, CEO, RAKTDA, commented: “Germans are known for their love of travel, as adventure seekers and early adopters of new products – all of which resonate with Ras Al Khaimah’s maturing tourism proposition. Germany is already our largest international source market and we recorded a 24.6 per cent year-on-year increase in German visitors last year, which means German travellers now represent one in 10 of all visitors to the emirate. “We are building on that progress by hosting the DRV Annual Convention, an event that underlines our growing credentials as a leading option for medium-size MICE events. DRV’s exemplary attendees can look forward to experiencing tailored opportunities to explore the unique diversity of Ras Al Khaimah, including our untouched natural beauty, authentic Arabian culture, heritage and a history dating back more than 7,000 years.” “Ras Al Khaimah is gaining importance as a …

Qatar Airways unveiled its highly anticipated new Business Class experience to travel trade leaders at ITB Berlin. The customizable private suites, named QSuite, introduce a host of firsts to Premium Class travel, reshaping expectations for global business travellers. The new seat design was first unveiled by Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Akbar Al Baker on the opening day of the ITB Berlin exhibition, at the Qatar Airways stand. It was attended by His Excellency Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, Ambassador of the State of Qatar in Germany, with the Mayor of Berlin, Michael Müller, as special guest of honour. QSuite features the industry’s first-ever double bed available in Business Class, with privacy panels that stow away, allowing passengers in adjoining seats to create their own private room. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Akbar Al Baker, said, “With these innovations, Qatar Airways has revolutionised the way we serve our Business Class travellers, enabling our passengers to enjoy a First Class experience in Business Class. This is truly Business Class as never seen before and is entirely in keeping with our Premium product and service philosophy.”

By reorganising the hall sections and reallocating hall space at the World’s Largest Travel Trade Show ITB Berlin (March 8-12, 2017) has taken travel industry changes into account. “In recent years there has been an increase in demand for more floor space and two-tier stands for certain markets which up to now we have been unable to satisfy. Several display halls already have waiting lists. By reorganising the halls to suit the market we are now able to meet this demand,” commented David Ruetz, head of ITB Berlin. The new hall concept makes it possible for the fast-growing markets of the Arab states to enlarge their displays. There is now a better concentration of markets, which makes it easier for trade visitors to plan their visit. The major tourism destinations in the Mediterranean, including France, Gibraltar, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus and Spain, as well as Serbia and Hungary, have relocated to the entrance areas in Halls 1.1 and 2.1, directly next the South Entrance. The United Arab Emirates have moved to a new central location in Hall 2.2. Egypt, Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, and newcomer Saudi Arabia are in Hall 4.2 as of 2017. Central America and the Caribbean are now directly next door in Hall 22, with South America in Hall 23. Armenia, Bulgaria, Georgia and Poland had already moved to Hall 15.1 at ITB Berlin 2016, where they can be found again next year.