The changing face of EIBTM - the leading global event for the meetings and events industry - will see a number of innovations at this year’s show, dedicated to bringing business directly to trade visitors, hosted buyers, and exhibitors more effectively.

Reed Travel Exhibitions Event Director EIBTM Graeme Barnett commented: “Whilst we expect some 60,000 pre-scheduled business meetings to take place during the 3 days of the event, we are also delivering new ways of providing communications between more than 14,000 attendees through every available digital channel from live TV to interactive floor plans and apps.

“The changing world we are all living in is being re-shaped every day by emerging technologies that connect and engage individuals all over the world to contribute, share, express, and debate information. They also affect the way businesses are run today, and that consequentially impacts all aspects of the event industry. One of our key objectives is to utilize every tool available to us to ensure all business opportunities are delivered in a relevant, accessible, and meaningful way.”

The onsite TV channel, EIBTM TV produced by Grupo eventoplus, has been developed to add new business dimension to the event. The channel will deliver a continuous news stream including the EIBTM program of events, products, and services. Content will be projected on two 6m LCD screens, which will be suspended over the main aisle and in key locations around the exhibition to ensure that content can be clearly viewed by all show attendees.

EIBTM will deliver the first full show EIBTM event app, which has been designed to meet the individual needs of all hosted buyers and trade visitors. The app will contain exhibitor and show information, venue maps and floor plan, a guide to the city of Barcelona, and direct links to all social media portals. It has also been designed to allow users to build their event itinerary before and during EIBTM. The EIBTM event app will be available soon and you can download the app by visiting www.eibtm.com/APP .

This year EIBTM will launch A2Z’s newly-developed event map tool to offer all attendees an interactive floor plan of the EIBTM exhibition online. The interactive platform will facilitate better pre-show planning by enabling users to click on each location to view full exhibitor details so they can plan their business visits before arriving at EIBTM.

In conjunction with Poken, EIBTM will also provide each association-hosted buyer attending the show with a unique device, which will allow them to exchange a social business card with other association buyers present. Following the show, EIBTM association hosted buyers can download all data to their PCs and explore business opportunities via the personalized hub. The move served to illustrate the ways in which technology can be used to improve networking, business and contact building at the show.

EIBTM will use digital posters around the Future Events Experience to showcase exhibitor advertisements digitally. QR codes will be used on the show floor to assist visitors in downloading information directly to their mobile device. There will also be a series of video blogs and education content posted on the EIBTM TV website following the show to ensure that all education and show content can be accessed remotely.

EIBTM 2011 takes place November 29-December 1, 2011, Barcelona.

Barcelona.city.mobi
To find out all the latest news and information whilst in Barcelona, City.Mobi has launched its new guide to the city.

Barcelona.city.mobi is the latest in this illustrious line up, offering click to call functionality – which means no scribbling down telephone numbers.

City.Mobi offers the most comprehensive mobile travel guides available, with over 800 cities in 200 countries listed. Each is developed by the City.Mobi team to combine into a single global travel directory.

However, each city retains its own mobile identity via a dedicated domain. Already on offer are Brussels.Mobi, Paris.Mobi, Sanfrancisco.Mobi and Sydney.Mobi.

Most entries are also linked to websites where users can quickly access more detailed information if needed.

Other key features include information on accommodation, restaurants, attractions, entertainment, nightlife, shopping, and transport.

City.Mobi guides include user reviews and traveller utilities such as a translation guide, currency converter, news and local weather guide.