A surge in exhibitor demand over the last few weeks has resulted in over 97% of booth space sold at AIBTM 2011 (www.aibtm.com) as meeting and event industry professionals aim to attend the first large scale U.S. exhibition incorporating a Hosted Buyer Programme, AIBTM Education day and America Meetings Week.

A significant number of national tourist organisations and convention bureaus have come on board during the last month alone, including Meet Taiwan, Switzerland Tourism, Barcelona CVB, Madrid CVB, New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau, Providence Warwick CVB, Philadelphia, Newport Rhode Island CVB and Turespaña.

The sales team continues to be inundated with bookings from exhibitors as Club Med, George Mason University, Revel Atlantic City, Westin St Maartin Dawn Beach, Landry & Kling, Cruise Event Services, AMResorts, Marriott Hotel, Hilton Worldwide and Trinidad and Tobago adding further to the list of destinations and hotel companies exhibiting at the event.

AIBTM Project Director Steve Knight comments: “We’re ecstatic with the extraordinary demand we’ve had from exhibitors all over the world as we start to count down to AIBTM in June. The industry undoubtedly recognises the importance of the U.S. market and the value that AIBTM will deliver. Companies are eager to secure their attendance and participation at AIBTM 2011 for the opportunity to meet with 3,000 global industry professionals, 2,000 of which will be individually qualified Hosted Buyers. No other North American event comes close to offering the same level of opportunities to drive business, maximise ROI, and network with industry professionals.  Clearly, we are providing the value that businesses are looking for.”

In addition, a substantial number of South African private sector companies have also confirmed their participation, including Springbok Atlas, Tusker Tours, Sandton Convention Centre, Dragonfly Africa, Walthers DMC, Mercury 80 and Propel Africa.

Yolanda Woeke-Jacobs, Director of Sales & Marketing at Dragonfly Africa comments: “We are excited to have AIBTM in the North American market, with PSA appointments and a professionally qualified Hosted Buyer Programme – something that we always felt was missing from the U.S. market.  We have had great success with EIBTM in Barcelona, and we are looking forward to the same quality show in the U.S.  North America is Dragonfly Africa’s biggest market, and we are therefore anticipating this to be a very successful show for us as we meet with MICE buyers specifically from this market.”

Panama Tourism Bureau has signed up and will be joining the strong exhibitor contingency from Central and South America, which also includes Argentina Instituto Nacional de Promocion Turistica and Brazil, Costa Rica Tourist Board and Guatemala.