ITB Berlin News 2021 - Day 1 Edition

EDITORIAL
Richard Barnes
Editor-in-Chief,
ITB Berlin News
Welcome to NOW…
Welcome to NOW… ITB Berlin NOW, that
is. Wherever you may be in the world,
indeed, the show is here and now, with
a wealth of online functions, enabling all
players in the sector to meet up virtually,
exchange ideas, do business and make the
most of your B2B trade show experience.
With thousands of tourism companies from
over 120 countries registered, the World’s
Leading Travel Trade Show enters a new
era, where, thanks to smart matching
technology, participants can hold oneon-one
meetings with relevant partners,
group video chats, explore theme worlds in
virtual cafés or follow lectures by leading
experts and industry figures at the ITB
Berlin NOW Convention.
ITB Berlin NOW is an innovative platform
for tourism professionals everywhere,
who over four days will be able to focus
on business, networking and updating
their knowledge. Whether by providing
smart matching technology with the socalled
“Discovery Graph” and "Lead
Finder", inspirational showcases or expert
discussions, in this extraordinary year
the organisers are offering exhibitors and
visitors a wide range of options, enabling
them to make the most of their time at the
virtual ITB.
The positive news is that ITB Berlin and
Statista have just published a survey
indicating that a large number of private
respondents surveyed in Germany, the US
and China were thinking about travelling
this year. Specifically, 37% of Germans,
42% of Americans and 66% of Chinese
were planning one or more trips. Close to
25% of respondents in Germany and the
US and over 35% in China also believe
they will spend more money on travelling
over the next 12 months than during the
same period to date.
So, welcome to the show. NOW you’re able
to get down to business!
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CONTENTS
#04 DAILY BRIEFING
#05 NEWS
#09 TRADE TALK
#10 EXCLUSIVE
INTERVIEWS
#18 REGIONAL SPOTLIGHT
EUROPE
#14 GERMAN REGIONS
SAXONY
SPECIAL FEATURES
#22 TRANSPORT
#25 TRAVEL TECHNOLOGIES
#26 CULTURAL TOURISM
CULTURE
IN ITALY
ITB BERLIN NEWS • TUESDAY 9 TH MARCH 2021 3