DRBerlin: The stage is set, the curtains rise, marking the beginning of the 52nd edition of ITB Berlin, the world’s leading travel trade show. Reflecting the worldwide dynamic developments and growth in the travel industry, the gala event will see around 10,000 tourism companies from 186 countries and regions rubbing shoulders and exchanging ideas from March 7 to 11 at the Messe Berlin fairgrounds. Over 80 per cent of the exhibitors are from abroad. The organisers expect over 1,00,000 international trade visitors seeking prosperous business opportunities as well as many thousand members of the public on the weekend.
“In 2018, ITB Berlin remains strongly in touch with the industry’s trends. We provide a forum for pressing issues such as overtourism, revolutionary forms of travel and digitalisation as well as topical themes such as luxury travel, technology and sustainability. ITB Berlin has firmly established itself as an international brand and above all stands for acquiring industry contacts from around the world and industry knowledge that is first-hand. It is the logical consequence of positioning ourselves as the leading market force and opinion former of the global travel industry,” said Dr. Christian Göke, CEO, Messe Berlin.
The focus is on this year’s partner region Mecklenburg-Vorpommern which, taking as its slogan ‘The Spirit of Nature’, will have information on its wide range of products in a number of locations, including Hall 6.2. and 4.1. The German federal state will also be organising the big opening ceremony on the eve of ITB Berlin at the City Cube Berlin. For the first time since the inception of the trade show, the event will leave a zero carbon footprint.
Manuela Schwesig, Minister-President of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern said: “The event gives us a unique opportunity to showcase the attractions of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern to the world. The state will present itself as a modern, successful and extremely diverse holiday region. In particular, we would like to welcome more international guests to our state.” In the future, ITB will present itself as an international umbrella brand and focus not only on promoting the annual event in Berlin. This re-orientation on a global scale means a concentration of three formats, the trade shows in Germany (ITB Berlin), Singapore (ITB Asia) and China (ITB China), under one label.
