IBTM World 2020 goes virtual

IBTM World 2020 goes virtual

The Institute of Business Travel Management (IBTM) will transition its annual global gathering into a virtual event for 2020.

According to the institute, the decision to bring IBTM World 2020 online was made in close consultation with partners and is a result of the incredibly unpredictable travel restrictions that continue to be in place across the globe because of COVID-19.

“Whilst we have been planning positively for a live event in December, and we know that people want to get back to meeting face to face, the situation across Europe and the wider world remains very changeable,” said event director David Thompson.

“Therefore, even though the show is still some months away, we believe we have a responsibility to provide clarity to enable our partners, exhibitors, buyers and visitors to plan for the future,”

“This has been a difficult decision to take and we are very disappointed that we will not be able to bring the industry together in person in 2020 – the first year since 1988 that IBTM World will not take place as a live event.”

Thompson said the institute’s team and its partners in Barcelona worked incredibly hard on IBTM World and are confident that moving to virtual will still provide a place for the global business events industry to gather and to do business.

IBTM World Virtual will take place from 8 to 10 December 2020 and will incorporate one-to-one meetings between exhibitors and buyers, as well as a knowledge program, with a range of targeted education sessions.

Exhibitors and buyers will benefit from IBTM’s bespoke appointment system, matchmaking buyer’s business needs with supplier’s services to conduct efficient meetings.


Featured image source: Facebook/IBTM World

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