|
Time-poor meeting and event planners are busy enough without having to attend exhibitions around the world every month or more. But if they want to be kept up-to-date with the very latest products, attractions and services then attending business event exhibitions is a must.
Thankfully, many business event exhibitions have come of age in recent times. Exhibitions successful in past years have been reviewed by organisers and made even better with new additions such as visitors being able to make early online appointments with exhibitors, as well as a wealth of new technology and services to spark the imagination. What this means for attendees is a better show experience all around. One major change to the exhibition schedule this year is CIBTM in Beijing which has been postponed for 2008 as a result of the Olympics. However, the other big expos will have more than enough to treat the senses, with Australia’s biggest show AIME just a few weeks away and set to start the year with a bang.
AIME www.aime.com.au
Asia Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo
February 19-20, 2008. Melbourne Exhibition Centre
Expected exhibitors: 850 exhibitors from 50 countries
Expected visitors: 2500 trade visitors and 400 hosted buyers.
USP: AIME 2008 will be a climate neutral event by using green power energy from a wind farm in South Australia to power facilities, paper consumption, and meals. Exhibitors come from around the world to attend this expo, which is considered the largest in Australia for the business events industry, and this year will include new exhibitors Abu Dhabi and Bahrain.
DON’T MISS: New master classes ranging from ‘”Y aren’t they talking to me”, which is all about dealing with Gen Y, to “It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to”, where the extreme event make-over team will help with ideas for planning upcoming functions. There will be five sessions each day of the expo and organisers have also included “60 ideas in 60 seconds” which is back by popular demand.
Meetings Africa www.meetingsafrica.co.za
Business & tourism exhibition
February 27-29, 2008. Johannesburg
Expected exhibitors: 260
Expected visitors: 3000
USP: Renowned as the only exhibition in Africa to offer solutions to business event practitioners, with a specific focus on showcasing events, incentives, conferences and business travel products and services.
DON’T MISS: Events TBA
ECQ www.ecq.com.au
Event ConneQion Queensland
April 2-3, 2008. Brisbane
Expected exhibitors: 85
Expected visitors: 2500
USP: Visitors can expect to sample catering, meet top party and event suppliers, network, as well as look at venues for that dream location.
DON’T MISS: The culinary cook offs, where visitors can taste canapés created by top chefs and caterers. This is a new event for 2008.
GIBTM www.gibtm.travel
Gulf Incentive Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition
April 8-10, 2008. Abu Dhabi
Expected exhibitors: more than 250
Expected visitors: more than 1000
USP: For the first time the GIBTM will be held in the new Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, which is considered a world-class centre with state-of-the-art facilities, offering premium comfort for exhibitors and visitors.
DON’T MISS: New features such as the European Pavilion as well as the Technology and Event Services village.
Arabian Travel Market www.arabiantravelmarket.com
May 6-9, 2008
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Expected exhibitors: 98 from 31 countries
Expected visitors: 23,500
USP: Celebrating its 15th anniversary, the Arabian Travel Market is renowned as the industry’s leading travel and tourism exhibition dedicated to business tourism within the Middle East and Arab regions. A unique feature of this event is the New Frontiers Award which recognises destinations that against setbacks such as tsunami or hurricanes have outstanding resilience, and have also made a positive contribution to tourism development in the wake of a natural disaster.
DON’T MISS: Organisers have planned a seminar program which has yet to be released, however is claimed to be delivered by top industry leaders and global tourism experts.
IMEX www.imex-frankfurt.com
April 22 – 24, 2008. Frankfurt
Expected exhibitors: more than 3400 from more than 150 countries
Expected visitors: 8300
USP: One of the world’s big two events
DON’T MISS: Events and Seminars TBA
ITCM www.itcmchina.com
Incentive Travel Conventions and Meetings
April 9–11, 2008. Shanghai, China
Expected exhibitors: More than 500
Expected visitors: More than 1000
USP: An event that is “positioned to sell China to the world and the world to China”.
DON’T MISS: Case study seminar “The bidding and building up for 2008 Summer Olympics and World Expo”. This case study will look at how China successfully won bids to host two grand-scale international events, as well as looking at the hurdles and challenges the organising committee faced.
RSVP www.rsvpevent.com.au
May 14 – 15th 2008. Melbourne
Expected exhibitors: more than 220
Expected visitors: more than 3000
USP: RSVP is claimed as Australia’s premier showcase of suppliers to the special events industry and will have everything to create innovative, stylish and quality events. This is the second year the event has been held in Melbourne.
DON’T MISS: Bite Tastings, where Australia’s leading caterers showcase the latest trends in food and drink.
Australian Events Expo www.australianeventsexpo.com
May 21-22, 2008. Sydney
Expected exhibitors: 160
Expected visitors: more than 2000
USP: It is renowned as a national event for the business, corporate, association, incentive and festival events industries. This is the second year that this event has gone from being a Sydney-centric show to a national show.
DON’T MISS: TASTE – Live Theatre Kitchen, where chefs whip up the latest trends in culinary treats that visitors can sample as well as great ideas on selecting catering companies and ways to avoid pitfalls in food service.
Incentive Show www.motivation.net.au
June 3-4, 2008. Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre
Expected exhibitors: more than 120
Expected visitors: 1000+
USP: Is said to be the marketplace for rewards and corporate gifts, incentive travel and meetings, performance improvement solutions and claims to deliver an exclusive, hard to reach audience.
DON’T MISS: This year’s event and seminar program is yet to be released.
ITE MICE www.itehk.com
International Travel Expo for MICE industry
June 12 – 15, 2008. Hong Kong
Expected exhibitors: 650 from 50 countries
Expected visitors: 11,700 buyers and corporate visitors, 53,000 public visitors
DON’T MISS: Cultural performances as well as trade and travel seminars.
esp…2008 www.espevent.com.au
The event for office professionals
July 2-3, 2008. Sydney Conference & Exhibition Centre
Expected exhibitors: more than 100
Expected visitors: 2500
USP: This expo has everything for office professionals and offers personal and professional development sessions, with something for everyone at every level of their career.
DON’T MISS: Don’t forget to stop by the Pamper Bar, where visitors can relax with a “mini make-over” or have their hair re-styled and leave feeling refreshed and revived.
RSVP Sydney www.rsvpevent.com.au
July 2-3, 2008. Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre
Expected exhibitors: 280
Expected visitors: more than 3000
USP: RSVP is packed full of ideas for those in the business of events. This exhibition has everything from ‘bite tastings’ to sourcing unique venues. The show is now owned by AAV, the parent company of Staging Connections, after being purchased from Single Market Events in 2007.
DON’T MISS: Inspirational ‘events talks’ and exciting ‘roving entertainment’.
MEETINGS 2008 www.meetings.co.nz
July 30-31, 2008. Christchurch
Expected exhibitors: more than 160
Expected visitors: 1000+
USP: Considered New Zealand’s leading industry forum, this is the country’s only annual exhibition dedicated to the conference, meetings, events, exhibition and travel incentive industry.
DON’T MISS: The Online Diary where hosted buyers can electronically link up with exhibitors to set up appointments, thereby making it easier and more time effective.
PAICE 2008 www.paicexpo.co.nz
Pacific Area Incentives & Conferences Expo
August 19, 2008. Auckland
Expected exhibitors: more than 100
Expected visitors: more than 200
USP: The fifth annual PAICE is planned to have the most diverse mix of exhibitors yet, from hotels, airlines, destination management companies and cruising companies.
DON’T MISS: Program TBA
Motivation Show www.motivationshow.com
Sept. 23-25, 2008. Chicago
Expected exhibitors: nearly 2000
Expected visitors: 10,000 +
USP: Is said to be the world’s largest exhibition of motivational products and services.
DON’T MISS: Workshops on how to create more effective, measurable programs and use motivation to get the most out of business relationships.
Meeting Mart www.conferenceworks.net.au
October, 2008. Venue TBA
Expected exhibitors: over 130
Expected visitors: 500+
USP: In its sixth year, Meeting Mart is considered one of the premier conference and incentive exhibitions within Australia that focuses solely on Victorian conference venues and products.
DON’T MISS: program yet to be announced.
IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific www.itcma.com.sg
October 7 – 9, 2008. Bangkok
Expected exhibitors: more than 100
Expected visitors: 1000+
USP: This double bill event is said to be packed with new products, resources, services and technology that will engage your imagination.
DON’T MISS: The “Sticky” Awards which is a jovial “Oscars” style event where delegates can vote for the most creative and unforgettable effort by an exhibitor that impressed their audience.
EIBTM www.eibtm.com
The Global Meetings & Incentives Exhibition
December 2-4, 2008. Barcelona
Expected exhibitors: 3200 (approx.)
Expected visitors: more than 7000
USP: This is one of the “big two” exhibitions for the business events industry in the world, and is held in the beautiful Mediterranean city of Barcelona. High visitor numbers has this event on the list of some of Australia’s major venue operators and convention bureaux.
DON’T MISS: There are many things on offer at EIBTM that are a must including the spa and wellbeing area for those who need a refreshing break.
Top
|