IBTM Americas has revealed strong hosted buyer confirmations for its 2019 event, including first-time attendees from China, Hong Kong and Singapore, as well as a large proportion of domestic buyers from Latin America and Mexico, all gathering May 29-30 at Centre Citibanamex in Mexico City.
So far, more than 600 buyers have been confirmed from Asia, Europe, Canada and North America, as well as Latin America and Mexico. These include international buyers from Bank of America Merrill Lynch; Beijing Painting and Calligraphy Art Research Association; BLC Capital Group; Citigroup; Grant Thornton International; International Political Science Association (IPSA); Pinnacle Financial Group; Provident Global Capital Group; and RJC Engineers.
Regional buyers from Latin America and Mexico make up 75 percent of the total confirmed to date and will attend from Bristol-Myers Squibb; Cámara Mexicano-Alemana de Comercio e Industria (CAMEXA); Mexican Federation of Schools of Orthopedics and Traumatology (FEMECOT); and Scotiabank, among others.
Corporate meeting planners so far make up approximately 30 percent of the total, with association buyers making up 20 percent and agencies 50 percent.
“We’re delighted with our robust hosted buyer recruitment for IBTM Americas, and to see so many hosted buyer applications from new destinations like Asia, which is testament to the increase in appetite around the globe for meetings in the region,” says David Hidalgo (pictured left), show director for IBTM Americas. “Latin America is increasingly recognized as a perfect place for the exchange of ideas, knowledge sharing and face-to-face engagement.
“Building upon the success of last year’s event, IBTM Americas will once again combine a carefully curated program of valuable educational content, quality meetings and networking in an exciting destination. I am looking forward to welcoming both our new and returning clients to help them build valuable business connections and inspire them with the insightful programs on offer this year.”
To date, over 300 new and returning exhibitors are confirmed to attend, including international exhibitors Thomas Cook, tour operator Lepis Tour – Incoming Italy, Hilton, Melia Hotels International, Las Vegas and Radisson Hotel Group, and Latin American exhibitors Hard Rock Hotels, Visit Jamaica, Buro de Convencieones y Visitantes Lima Peru, Hyatt Hotels and Guatemala, Corazón del Mundo Maya.
In 2018, over 12,500 planned meetings took place during the two-day event. Over 400 exhibitors were in attendance, representing a 50 percent increase on the previous year, with international exhibitors making up 54 percent of the total.
IBTM, part of Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), is the world’s leading showcase for the meetings and events industry (also known as MICE) with a portfolio of five global and regional events providing business solutions on five continents. They include IBTM World, IBTM Arabia, IBTM Africa, IBTM Americas and IBTM China. For more info, visit www.ibtmevents.com.
Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) is the world’s leading travel and tourism event’s organiser, with a wide-ranging portfolio of 22 international events in 13 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa. Its market-leading, business-to-business events cover all elements of travel and tourism, including leisure travel, luxury travel, meetings, events, incentives and business travel, as well as golf travel. For more info, visit www.reedtravelexhibitions.com.
