Exhibitors from around the world and across the U.S. reported that business was brisk with hosted buyer appointments, group presentations and drop-in traffic at AIBTM 2012 in Baltimore, held June 19 – 21.
The structure of this year’s AIBTM Americas Meetings Week kicked off with a day of education and more than 2,250 people in attendance, over 50 percent more than the previous year. The number of exhibiting companies on the show floor also increased, resulting in a five percent increase in overall growth of the event. This year’s hosted buyer program had representatives from 29 countries.
Education was a highlight with a variety of speakers, sessions and keynotes that were supported by all of the major industry associations including PCMA, ICCA, Site, ACTE and MPI. Taking place pre-show enabled both exhibitors and hosted buyers to attend sessions.
Research also formed part of the continuing program including the delivery of MPI’s updated BVOM, and Eric Rozenberg, non-exec chair, global meetings and events portfolio, RTE, presented the first U.S. regional version of the AIBTM Global Meetings Research findings.
“I work for a military meeting association, so most of our events include active-duty personnel,” said Lindsey Lassiter, Navy League of the United States. “It is helpful to know if we are going in the right direction or need to go in another direction. We work closely with a lot of legislative folks, so it is good to know we are doing the right thing.”
The second CEO Summit welcomed some 30 industry leaders from the U.S. and around the world.
“For me, I look forward to the opportunity to hear trends and projections on the future of the meetings industry and business in general,” said attendee Michael Owen, CEO and managing partner, EventGenuity LLC. “But as important as anything else is the peer connection and in my view after attending maybe half a dozen EIBTM CEO Summits this was the best ever. It was provocative, and it gave me inspired thought that I can apply directly and immediately to my business.”
The first “Market Focus SPOTLIGHT on Europe” debuted on the final morning with a turnout of approximately 162 hosted buyers and some 15 European exhibitors conducting open-market style appointments and mixing with each other to discuss business in Europe. The one hour session had been organized as a direct response to the AIBTM 2011 post-show research, which confirmed that 60 percent of U.S. hosted buyers have a direct interest in placing business internationally.
Attendees expressed satisfaction with the program.
“First, I really like AIBTM because I can meet with so many different vendors in one place,” said Samantha Friedman, director of national accounts, Resort Meetings Consortium. “I also like booking my appointments so I get a mix of what I want. I have been to other hosted buyer programs where there are too many appointments in a day, so you are exhausted at the end. I have seven today and I can spread things out so I can attend some education sessions and look around the exhibits that are interesting.”
Packing in even more appointments into her day was Maggie Johnston, manager, meetings and events, Assurex Global, who attended AIBTM last year. “When I come to a show like this, I like the hosted buyer program” she said. “I have 15 appointments today, more than scheduled last year, so I can meet with the people I need to talk to. I like getting into a routine, and I get a lot of business done as well as connecting names to faces.”
By the close of AIBTM 2012, the show floor had already booked more than 50 exhibitors for Choose Chicago, which will be the next host city for AIBTM from June 11-13, 2013.
“Two years on and it’s great to see that AIBTM has established itself in the U.S.,” said Craig Moyes, portfolio director, IBTM Global Events Portfolio, Reed Travel Exhibitions. “The quality of education, business concluded and networking achieved gives us a positive close to this event and a great launch pad for our move to Chicago.”
Finally, it was announced during the show that AIBTM will rotate starting with 2013 in Chicago at McCormick Place and in 2014 in Orlando, Florida, at the Orange County Convention Center.
