We from the travel and tourism industry have several tools we use to network and promote our services and products. Among the most important tools is our participation in exhibitions, either as exhibitors or as visitors. Exhibitions or trade fairs or trade shows or what ever they are called, they are B2B, B2C, local, international, niche…you name it. Few are worth the time and money – but when we talk about ITB Berlin then its a whole different ball game. ITB Berlin has written the book called exhibitions, conferences, shows, fairs, etc. Although other exhibitions are at best stagnant, if not at a downward trent – ITB Berlin manages to expand and innovate.
How do they do it? They are not stagnant, they are progressive and every year they come up with something new which is either very practical, logical but no one else is doing it or is so innovative that it sends everyone over the roof. No wonder ITB Berlin is called “The leading travel trade show”.
Well last year, among other things that ITB Berlin 2008 did, they set up and implemented something no one else thought of, yet very simple – they established the ITB Berlin International Trade Press Stand. No brainy idea, nor did it take any genius to think about it – just common sense. Set up a stand call it ITB Berlin International Trade Press Stand, make selective agreements with international travel and tourism press to send their publications, staff the booth and let the visitors/exhibitors pick up anything they want. No pushing and no shoving.
The result – they are doing it again this year and Travelling News will participate again this year, and at this rate it seems that we will be doing it as long as ITB Berlin continues to have the ITB Berlin International Trade Press Stand.
Now you will say, why are you fired up so much? Well the folks at ITB Berlin have come up with a win-win situation. Who really wins? Its the travel trade industry – because they get exposure that is unsurpassed. Just think, if you knew that you could advertise in a publication that would be on display and distributed by the organizers of the exhibition, in this case ITB Berlin, you would have another point of visibility by people who are very interested in the country of origin of this publication, which they will carry home or to their offices for further reading – and exposure of your ad. Now how significant can your ad be – you bet – very significant.
So, if I am a travel agent and I am interested in Greece and I pass by the ITB Berlin International Trade Press Stand, find Travelling News on display and pick one up to read the local news, your advertisement will be seen by a super focused interested person who will also view your ad in Travelling News and might contact you or may enhance his/her intention in doing business with you. What else do you want. We can’t drag clients to you, but we can give you the tool to bring in business.
Does this sound very promotional – well yes. I’ll tell you why I am putting it this way, because the times are such that we have to really put things as things they really are. We need to take action, we need to get up and around, employ tools that are simple but are set up to work, we need to get the travel and tourism market on its feet and out of the so called financial crisis.
Tourism can do it – tourism can be the solution.
The days that you gave a salary to who ever could dig a hole, just to keep the economy going are long gone. Our economies are more complex.
The pictures on this post are from the 2008 ITB Berlin International Trade Press Stand and the beautiful girl holding Travelling News is one of the ITB Berlin staff on duty.
So if you too want this kind of exposure, call us – you know where to find us.
————————–
Book your hotel online for hotels in Berlin
For information on ITB Berlin Germany 2009 – dates, operating schedule and all
Post on ITB Berlin Germany 2008