26 ITB
26 ITB BERLIN CONVENTION the itB Berlin convention 2013 Top speakers, key themes and the event’s tenth anniversary The ITB Berlin Convention features discussions on the latest tourism issues and topical themes running from 6 to 8 March. Leading speakers representing tourism, industry and politics will discuss the main themes concerning the travel industry, both now and in the years ahead. “Currently in its tenth year, the ITB Berlin Convention has long been established as the world’s largest tourism convention,” Dr. Martin Buck, Director of the Competence Center Travel & Logistics at Messe Berlin, said. “Over the years we have welcomed more than 100,000 trade visitors to more than 800 events showcasing over 2,000 leading speakers. Its success is proof that obtaining up-tothe-minute knowledge and finding out about futureoriented concepts and best practices is indispensable to ensuring survival in a constantly changing market.” On 6 March 2013, the topics to be discussed at the ITB Berlin Future Day include changes in consumer behaviour and travel patterns, the challenges posed by climate change and the prospects for information technology. The Cruise Panel will highlight developments in the cruise industry with a keynote by Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, Chairman of the European Cruise Council and of Silversea Cruises. Dr. Temel Kotil, CEO of Turkish Airlines, will talk about the prospects of commercial aviation and the role of Turkish Airlines. On 7 March 2013, the ITB Berlin Hospitality Day will focus on the hotel industry of the future. At a session entitled the “Hot Seat”, two students will question hotel managers about career opportunities and what employers expect from the next generation. Four hotel chains will present hotel concepts with a difference, including a spectacle in 3-D, living in a cave and eco accommodation in the city. The growing market for mobile apps as a product marketing channel will also be covered. The ITB Berlin Marketing and Distribution Day features award-winning travel journalist Doug Lansky asking why, despite social media, travellers are becoming increasingly unsociable, and why those who represent responsible tourism act in irresponsible ways. A special survey on internet usage carried out by Arbeitsgemeinschaft Online Forschung (AGOF) will reveal important findings concerning the online activities of a tourism-related target audience. Halls 7.1A, 7.1B, 7.3, 5.1, 4.1 DESTINaTIoN DaYS LookS aT faST-gRoWINg maRkETS From 6 to 8 March the ITB Berlin Destination Days will examine fast-growing travel markets such as health tourism, sustainable tourism and gay and lesbian travel. The focus at the ITB Berlin Destination Days will also be on azerbaijan, this year’s Convention and Culture partner, and on indonesia, the partner country of ITB Berlin 2013. The ITB CSR Day features Holiday Encounters in the Light of CSR, a Studiosus meeting will ask if a code of conduct is necessary and examine the role of tour operators and guests with regard to meeting local residents. Other topics include the Green climate Fund, the impact of water shortages on locals and tourists, as well as the challenges and problems of putting a child protection code of conduct into practice. Hall 7.1A ITB BERLIN NEWS • Wednesday 27 th February 2013 www.itb-berlin-news.com
ITB BerlIn COnVenTIOn 27 itB Berlin convention celebrates First 10 Years Firmly established as the world’s leading think tank on travel and tourism The annual ITB Berlin Convention has grown significantly since it was launched in 2004 – not just in terms of number of participants but also, and more importantly, in its breadth and depth of coverage. Prof. Dr. roland Conrady, scientific Director and co-founder of the threeday event, talked to the ITB Berlin News about recent developments and the next steps for the world’s largest tourism convention. Prof. Dr. Roland Conrady Scientific Director and co-founder of the three-day event Prof. Dr. Roland Conrady is currently Scientific Director ITB Berlin Convention, Professor at the Faculty of Tourism and Travel, Worms University of Applied Sciences, and President of the German Society of Tourism Research. Previous to that he occupied a number of roles including Project Manager in the Strategischen Konzernentwicklung of Lufthansa, Managing Director at Lufthansa City Center Reisebüropartner Director at Neue Medien, Lufthansa Frankfurt/M. (responsible for www. lufthansa.com) and Professor for the Faculty of Economics, specialised in aviation, marketing and electronic business, Director for Electronic Business on the degree program at the University of Applied Sciences Heilbronn and Professor at the Faculty of Tourism and Travel - specialised in transport, tourism, and e-business What made Messe Berlin decide to organise a fullscale convention to run alongside the annual ITB Berlin travel trade show? I used to have frequent brainstorming sessions with Dr Martin Buck, about how to add value for exhibitors and trade visitors to ITB Berlin. It was already the biggest international travel and tourism trade fair in the world by a wide margin, but we felt we needed to make it more directly relevant as a barometer of travel and tourism trends. Both government and the industry are always thirsty for knowledge, so we decided to focus attention on key issues – whether global, regional, or national – which had had a significant impact on trends, or were likely to have such an impact in the future. ITB Berlin had always featured an accompanying programme of seminars, workshops and other events, but we wanted to create more synergy between the trade show and adjacent conference programme. How has the ITB Berlin Convention grown and developed over the last 10 years? In our first year, we attracted 4,000 participants. This year we are expecting some 17,000 – roughly the same as in 2012 over slightly fewer sessions. The total will comprise approximately 250 speakers and panellists in more than 100 different sessions, varying in size from small 50-seat interactive workshops to keynote presentations and panel discussions on the most popular and topical issues in large auditoriums with a capacity for 550 delegates. The Convention attracts people of all levels, from upper management to agency counter staff and students. Not surprisingly, as many as 50% of the delegates are from Germany, with about 30% from the rest of Europe and 20% from intercontinental markets. How broad is the Convention agenda? The list of topics is very comprehensive – covering all regions of the world and all sectors of the travel and tourism industry. There are three separate streams over the three days, not all running continuously, with full days devoted to important sectors such as aviation, hospitality, marketing and distribution, business travel/MICE, and, for the first time in 2013, corporate social responsibility (CSR). This encompasses all aspects of environmental and social sustainability, energy efficiency, climate change, etc. Sessions on specialised subjects such as child protection, gender equality, young professionals, wellness, e-travel and social media are also included, and PhoCusWright organises a full day’s programme on technology trends in association with the ITB Berlin Convention. This, together with ITB Future Day, is one of the most popular draws. But the whole Convention offers a very packed programme of events and activities, with something to suit all interests and tastes. Azerbaijan is the Convention and Culture partner this year, and so it will be prominently featured. Are ITB Berlin exhibitors and trade visitors who are too busy to participate directly in the Convention able to access the presentations made? Many of them are freely available to download from the website and the ITB Berlin News will be covering key sessions. In addition, for the first time this year, we are organising podcasts of selected sessions that can be watched at a later date. What are your plans for future years? We would like to be more and more innovative, in particular sustaining interest in topics of relevance, with greater reach to a broader audience through the year. As a result, we are planning to be more active on an ongoing basis, organising more small events, but also tailored teaching sessions online, webinars and the like. Our research shows that this kind of programme of activities will go down really well with our exhibitors and trade visitors – and of course with the global media as well. azerbaijan Co-hosts The Tourism Industry’s Leading Think Tank Azerbaijan will be featuring prominently at the ITB Berlin - as the show’s Convention & Culture Partner. As part of the ITB Berlin Convention a discussion featuring leading panel guests will discuss Azerbaijan’s rich cultural treasures and the country’s prospects for tourism. Azerbaijan’s main stand is located in Hall 3.2, where 15 co-exhibitors will be providing visitors with information on their respective products and regions. On the weekend of 9 th and 10 th March visitors can look forward to a number of cultural events such as displays of traditional dancing on Azerbaijan’s main stand plus regional culinary specialties as well as wine tasting events. “Azerbaijan is a tourism destination with a diversity and attractiveness unknown to most people,” says Dr. Martin Buck, Vice President of the Competence Center Travel & Logistics of Messe Berlin. “So we are all the more pleased that as the convention & Culture Partner of ITB Berlin this country is featuring so prominently at the show.” the itB Berlin Destination Day, a panel discussion at the Azerbaijan Partner Forum will discuss the country’s diversity, its cultural heritage and the prospects for tourism. among those taking part are the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Anja Habersetzer, and ex-Germany manager Berti Vogts, who currently manages the national football team of Azerbaijan. ITB BERLIN NEWS • Wednesday 27 th February 2013
