A constant flow of new technology products and services has made it possible to explore new developments in technology innovations and incentives and to maximise business potential at EIBTM 2002, one of the most important weeks in the international meetings and incentive industry`s calendar.

For the first time, EIBTM has introduced a new technology for Meetings`s area giving the opportunity to keep up to date with the latest developments in technology innovations and trends.

Here at EIBTM
, executives and exhibitors can discover and experience a world of video conferencing for meetings and ideas of how to save valuable time and travel.

EIBTM`s online diary has been further enhanced since last year. Now that it is buyer driven, the online diary is easier to use. All pre-scheduled Group Appointments have been confirmed before the event. Once hosted buyers receive notification of their diary, further additional individual appointments can be made online simply by accessing a personal password.

The Meetings for Technology Area offers a relaxed office environment that makes full use of the latest audio-visual technology, large plasma screens and speedy direct access, broadband internet terminals. There are two large web cams to welcome the business-person into the web.  Meeting planners can also benefit from the extra touches such as a massage section; Technology with a human face has been achieved here.

The Technology for Meetings Area is sponsored by World Internet Group, The Jamaica Tourist Board
, Sandals, Great Vacations Ltd, Half Moon, Jamaica Tours, Air Jamaica and participating suppliers.

As a technologically advanced meetings and incentives destination, The Jamaica Tourist board have been major sponsors for this event. A spokesman commented that Jamaica saw the Meetings for Technology Area at EIBTM as a great way to create awareness that Jamaica is a technologically cutting edge destination.

World Internet Group has delivered a variety of dynamic virtually websites to the travel industry. At EIBTM, they are exhibiting virtually-meetings.com
; for the meeting planner, major time and cost savings as well as pure convenience are catered for at virtually-meetings.com.

Graham Cooke, Managing Directer of World Internet Group is thrilled with the response that has been received the Meetings for Technology Area. He told ITN “We are very happy and have been extremely pleased with the response. The 68 terminals that we have here have been almost fully occupied throughout the show. Our latest research has shown that the average travel executive travelling to trade exhibitions will use the Internet and online facilities for between 30 to 45 minutes of the day, which in EIBTM terms equates to something in the region of 4000 hours a day, which means to satisfy full demand, perhaps we should be looking for between 3-400 hundred online servers.

“I believe as the internet develops further, with faster connectivity, this will enable executives feel far more comfortable when they travel, so they can carry on doing their world work in the comfort of the trade show where they are meeting new people, face to face, and creating more business opportunities.”

EIBTM has recognised the changing face of meetings and incentive industry, with an exhibition that matches industry requirements. The Technology for Meetings Hall is providing an increasingly important service, allowing users to continue their business as usual in a wonderfully relaxed and yet exciting environment.

A live web cam of Technology for meetings area available on the worldwide web: www.195.65.142.212, http://195.65.142.215
and at http://195.65.142.210, until 6pm GMT on 23 May 2002.

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