The sixth edition of the ITB Buyers Circle, the meeting place for the travel industry’s leading buyers, will again welcome 1,000 buyers from around the world. They work for start-ups, SMEs and global players, and mainly represent the leisure, MICE and business travel sectors.
ÒThe ITB Buyers Circle is one of the many success stories of ITB Berlin,Ó David Ruetz, head of ITB Berlin. ÒMore and more leading buyers apply from one event to the next. This year we will be welcoming many newcomers as well as regular visitors. It shows us that this exclusive meeting place for buyers strikes the right chord.Ó
Buyers were able to apply for membership between November and February. An international panel assessed each request. Figures for the ITB Buyers Circle 2017 are as follows:
¥ 90 per cent are decision-makers
¥ 80 per cent work for tour operators or travel agencies
¥ 70 per cent regard the economic outlook for their sector as good
¥ 70 per cent work in Europe and around the world
¥ 60 per cent have a budget of one million euros or more at their disposal
¥ Around 50 per cent work in companies of up to 100 employees
¥ 40 per cent have visited ITB Berlin at least 10 times
Membership of the ITB Buyers Circle comes with numerous benefits. Members are granted free admission to ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention. They can hold their business meetings in separate rooms and despite the hectic atmosphere can save time by using the shuttle service and fast lanes at the show.
ITB Berlin is also organising events for specific groups of buyers. In addition to the ITB Chinese Night on March 9, for the first time a luxury reception will take place on March 10, as well as the Travel Technology Breakfast on the same day. The established ITB Speed Networking Event satisfies the needs of buyers and exhibitors and for the first time will host an advance matchmaking session. 1,000 meetings have already been booked for this event, which will take place on March 9 from 9.30 to 11am.
The Sundance Travel Group, powered by LATIF Group, has been secured as the official sponsor of the ITB Buyers Circle and the ITB Speed Networking Event 2017. It sells hotels in Alamein, Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh. With an investment volume of USD 2.7 billion the LATIF Group is a leading brand in the Egyptian real estate and tourism investment sector.
