IBTM World has revealed first details of its 2023 edition, which it hopes will mark an evolution in the show’s culture creation campaign.
Returning to its home at Fira, Barcelona on November 28-30, every aspect of the event has been curated with the aim of illustrating the influence of event professionals in shaping culture and driving the future of business.
The show will include new elements and a targeted education programme to reflect the changing needs of attendees. IBTM World will feature purpose-driven content that aims to optimise attendees’ time and ensure every moment is a catalyst for growth and inspiration.
New look education
Visitors to this year’s event will find a reinvigorated education programme, with five distinct feature areas all serving different needs: the Main Stage, the Impact Stage, Workplace Revolution, ReFuel and the Associations Leaders’ Forum, with the show’s cultural theme embedded into each pillar.
The Impact Stage will make its debut this year, acting as a showcase for the work that destinations, hotels, and tech suppliers are doing across sustainability, D&I, experience design and more. Destination sessions will be curated by The Business Of Events, the Global Think Tank and Policy Platform for the business events industry, and will also feature the launch of the annual Global Destination Report. Sessions will be fast-paced and value-led, lasting no longer than 20 minutes and in the form of case studies and best practice.
Also new this year is Workplace Revolution - a welcoming space where attendees can make the valuable connections they weren’t expecting. Here they can continue conversations in a relaxed setting with inspirational figures (including speakers from the Main Stage) and dissect topics in greater detail. With amenities, comfortable seating and informal campfire-style atmosphere, this aims to be the place for people to come together, connect and enjoy key aspects of business culture that they might be missing with the increase in working from home.
In recognition of the importance of wellbeing, IBTM’s wellbeing hub has re-branded to ‘ReFuel’. A zen-like pod which allows attendees time and space to relax and recharge their physical and mental batteries, it includes a wellbeing bar, sound and aromatherapy healing and solo working area to provide respite from a busy show floor.
The Association Leaders’ Forum (ALF) will be back on day one to help associations increase the impact of their gatherings around the globe and conquer challenges to achieve success in 2024 and beyond.
The Main Stage remains a fixture of the IBTM World programme with inspiring figures from inside and outside of the events industry taking to the stage to tackle the latest topics and trends through inspirational keynotes, panel debates, and game-changing research. New to the Main Stage this year will be an afternoon of marketing content, curated in partnership with experts at The Thought Partnership, who have led content and marketing at businesses including Cannes Lions and Dow Jones.
Exhibitor sales
60 per cent of the floor space for this year’s IBTM World has already been sold, surpassing this point in 2019 and demonstrating an appetite for the event and a positive outlook for the industry. Exhibiting destinations include The Croatian National Tourist Board - a rising star of the European meetings industry; Meet Boston, which is launching its new brand at the event; Enit Agenzia Nazionale del Turismo returns with a strong regional presence along with multiple private companies; and Meet In Ireland returns with more than 35 suppliers from across the island of Ireland.
Melia Hotels International will attend to launch its new hotel in Barcelona, and Romania’s Backstage Production Group, a full-service event production company, will be joining for the first time.
On the hosted buyer side, major international associations have already confirmed their attendance including the European Society of Cardiology, International Association for Enterprise Information Systems, United Networks of International Event Organisers (UNICEO), World Energy Council, and the China Electronics Chamber of Commerce.
Multinational corporations include DELL Tech; Forbes; Intel; Michelin; Delta Air Lines, Sportradar, Puma Sports, Citigroup Inc, Amex GBT, Aareal Bank AG, and Zalando.
Event agencies in attendance will be Aim Group International, BCD Meetings & Events, CWT Meetings & Events, Helmsbriscoe, HPN Global, Kuoni Global Travel Services AG, TUI, Opus Agency, Morris Meetings & Events, and VOYEL.
David Thompson, event director, IBTM World, said: “Business events can be a profound force for change; both economic and social. Events have the power to bring better business results and drive forward agendas around important initiatives. Events are also a place to build communities and create vibrant and positive cultures which are sorely missing from modern working. This year, we’re on a mission to show business the true power of events and shine a spotlight on the #culturecreators who run them.”
More information on the event will be released in due course. Hosted Buyer registration is open. To apply to attend as a Hosted Buyer, please click here
