IBTM World, which this year explored the connection between events and culture, closed last week with over 100,000 business meetings reportedly having taken place and over 10,000 attendees gathering in Barcelona for the event. The show investigated how the technology we use, the experiences we create, and the destinations we visit, create cultures for businesses and potential for events.
Exhibitors from 150 Countries
Over 2,200 exhibiting companies from 150 countries around the world were in attendance, including the convention bureaus of Spain, Ireland, Brussels, Croatia, The Czech Republic, Canada, Malaysia, Jordan, Bahrain, Canada, Miami, Las Vegas and Boston.
More than 3,500 buyers were present, with corporate, association and agency Hosted Buyers attending, including European Union of Medicine in Assurance and Social Security (EUMASS), Pfizer, Cosmopolis, International Stereoscopic Union, Saudi Telecom Company, UNICEO (United Network of International Corporate Events Organisers), The British Pain Society, Maritz Global Events, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Citigroup, and CWT Meetings & Events.
Successful Framework Programme
This year, the Association Leaders’ Forum and The Corporate Experiences Day both took place in venues in Barcelona. The Corporate Experiences Day, a tailored day of learning for corporate buyers, provided an interactive look at the latest technology and sustainability developments within the industry. The Association Leaders’ Forum, curated by associations expert Stylianos Filopoulos, considered the role that associations play in a changeable world.
In partnership with ACS, IBTM World’s Knowledge Programme was said to be well-attended with interactive sessions focusing on the event’s core theme of ‘culture creation' including session tracks on connections, business, careers, brands and experiences.
2023 Trends Report
During IBTM World, several sessions revealed the latest market trends and insights, including the “Global Meetings & Events Trends Report” presented by Amex. In addition, the annual IBTM World Trends Watch report, presented by its author, Alistair Turner, MD of Eight PR, explored how current world events are shaping culture, influencing both the events we create, and the people that attend them. A preview of the 2023 Trends Report is now available for download on the IBTM World website.
The highly anticipated Stand Awards returned this year with awards going to Visit Norway and the Norway Convention Bureau who won the award for Best Stand Feature; Graduate Hotels and Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts took home the award for Best Stand; Menorca Island DMC was awarded Best Culture Campaign; Abu Dhabi received the award for Best Large Stand and Atout France was awarded Best Stand Personnel.
IBTM Continues Partnership with Fira de Barcelona
During the event, IBTM announced that it has signed a new three-year contract with Barcelona Convention Bureau and Fira de Barcelona that will see IBTM World take place in the city up to and including the 2025 edition. The new contract builds on the existing 18-year relationship between the three organisations, with the next edition confirmed at Fira Gran Via for 28 to 30 November 2023.
Commenting on the close of the event, David Thompson, IBTM World Event Director, said: “IBTM World 2022 has been a fantastic success, surpassing all our expectations with more quality one-to-one business meetings taking place per attendee than in 2019. It was brilliant to receive feedback on the show floor that there is so much appetite for doing business that many exhibitors and buyers have already scheduled additional meetings to take place in the coming weeks. There has been a real sense of excitement and we look forward to returning to Barcelona in 2023.”
