ITB Berlin News 2018 - Review
WEDNESDAY 21 ST MARCH 2018 REVIEW EDITION NEWS TRADE TALK EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS Alex Dichter Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company “Overcrowding is easier to prevent than to recover from and the real lesson from our work is that good management is vital for all tourism destinations.” Read page 18 Christian Strupait Contract Manager DACH, Voyage Privé “ITB Berlin is the number one meeting point, connecting the world of travel for a few days in one single place.” Read page 21 Mevlut Cavusoglu Minister of Culture and Tourism, Republic of Turkey “Tourism is a soft power that helps to bring people together and we truly believe that travel will continue to grow.” Read page 26 Marc Aeberhard President & Managing Director, Luxury Hotel & Spa Management “it has to be economically profitable, socially responsible, and it’s ecologically sustainable.” Read page 28 Optimism High - Challenges Omnipresent ITB Berlin 2018 ends on a very high note, but with feet still firmly on the ground With a 5% increase in business volume at ITB Berlin 2018 compared to last year, and excellent business being forecast for the coming months, the international travel industry is well on course for a record year, as ITB Berlin closes its gates for 2018. But the challenges remain, as underlined by Messe Berlin CEO Dr Christian Göke: “The extremely positive economic trend in the travel industry should not blind us to the fact that the industry faces great challenges around the world. The digital transformation of an entire industry continues to move forward apace and affects every company and provider, regardless. On the other hand, issues such as the need for greater security on one’s travels, the increasingly important and controversial phenomenon of overtourism, and the globally changing face of travel brought about by companies such as Airbnb are decisively influencing the social discourse on the future of tourism.” Finishing the week on a cultural high, the grand finale in the Palais am Funkturm on Sunday 11 March saw the dance and music of this year’s official partner region, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, convention partner Zambia, Estonia, and next year’s Official Partner Country, Malaysia – See also our exclusive interview with Dato’ Sri Abdul Khani Daud, Deputy General Director (Promotion) – Tourism Malaysia – page 24 Dato’ Sri Abdul Khani Daud, Deputy General Director (Promotion) – Tourism Malaysia SPECIAL FEATURE A TOUR OF THE SHOW THAT WAS © Messe Berlin GmbH In this review edition, as well as recapping some of the highlights when it came to key events at ITB Berlin 2018, we also take you for a visual tour of the show, its most “stand-out stands”, and the faces of some of the participants in the “greatest travel show on earth”. If you were there, it’s sure to bring back a few memories, and smiles, and if you couldn’t make it, you’ll get just a little taste of the show that was. From page 29.
