From 6 to 10 March 2013 at ITB Berlin the eight Danube countries will be hosting numerous activities showcasing the opportunities for tourism along Europe’s second-longest river. This is the second year that Germany, Austria, Hungary, the city and region of Bratislava, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova will be presenting the region’s cultural diversity and a wide range of opportunities for holidaying on the Danube.

Travel Technology has become one of the most stable and dynamic exhibitor segments at ITB Berlin 2013. The halls have been booked up for months. In March more than 150 companies from 25 countries are again exhibiting premium IT-related services and product innovations for back and front offices in the travel industry as well as hotel software solutions and hotel booking portals. Exhibitors representing social media networks and mobile and analysis services will be attending in large numbers.

Travel industry research authority PhoCusWright has announced a pioneering program for its premier European event, PhoCusWright@ITB Berlin, taking place Wednesday 6 March 2013 in conjunction with ITB Berlin. Now in its eighth year, PhoCusWright@ITB is designed to help executives capitalise on the advances, strategies and innovations that are shaping the global travel, tourism and hospitality marketplace.

TB Berlin has set up a new consultation network that provides a meeting place for qualified experts and customers. ITB Advisory lets tourism associations, destinations, representatives of government and tourism experts communicate with travel industry experts who assist in analysing customers’ problems and developing new solutions.

Travel and event managers have to take decisions with the future in mind, which is why they must constantly take their core expertise to new levels and detect changing situations at an early stage. Very shortly, they will be gathering again at their established meeting place, at the ITB Business Travel Days in Berlin. From 6 to 8 March 2013 this three-day event features training courses on basic methods, information on strategies and tools in the field of business and travel event management.

In terms of outbound travel South Americans are ahead of everyone else in the Americas. In 2012, they undertook 12 per cent more trips abroad than last year, marking a new record. The country clearly driving growth is Brazil. This is one of the findings of the ITB World Travel Trends Report, compiled by IPK International and commissioned by ITB Berlin. Outbound travel from the US this year is forecast to rise by about three per cent. The number of long-haul trips rose by six per cent, while short-distance travel fell by around one per cent.