My first introduction to the ITB Berlin: the international tourism trade fair.

In the last week I was a busy bunny. I was a very busy bunny indeed. This was because for the very first time I attended the ITB Berlin, not as a member of the public, but as a convention participant, a social media person and a blogger.

Now since my blog started just last year, the media organisers deemed my blog to be too new however the ITB press team were marvellous and gave me complimentary tickets so that I could attend. Thank you so much ITB Berlin!

 What is the ITB Berlin?

The ITB Berlin stands for the “Internationale Tourismus-Börse” or in English, the “international tourism trade fair.” The ITB represents B2B, hotels, tourists boards, tour operators and providers, airlines, transport operators, responsible travel organisers, information technology experts, social media bloggers, and anybody else interested in travel and tourism.

I am enormously lucky because the ITB is the world’s largest international tourism trade fair and is organised by one of Germany’s most experienced exhibition management company – “Messe Berlin” and is located right here.

In my new home-town city.

In Berlin.

Hurrah!

• In an overall space of 160,000 m².
• 26 halls.
• Approximately 10,147 companies were represented.
• 174,000 visitors.
• 114,000 trade visitors.
• 220,000 delegates and participants.
• 200 lectures, discussions and workshops.
• Representing 189 countries.
• 2,000 social media, mobile travel, networking events for bloggers.
• 120 social media, mobile travel exhibitors.
• Bloggers from 25 countries.
• Taking place over 5 days within 5^th March – 9^th March, 2014.
• Bringing in €6.5 billion to Germany.

The ITB Berlin is a big deal and the partner country for 2014 was Mexico with the motto “Live it to believe it”.

Mexico came all out and dazzled participants, delegates and visitors with programmes of entertainment, traditional music, dance performances, authentic Mexican dishes, regional handicrafts, cultural treasures, multi-media shows and therefore a platform to show a modern, sophisticated and diverse Mexico.

This year, the ITB Berlin reported a 4% increase in trade visitors and business and a large focus on travel bookings on smart phones and laptops, innovation, responsible and sustainable travel and an attractive trend towards luxury travel. A welcome growth back towards Greece and Spain and huge popularity in holidays and vacations to Germany and Europe, by visitors from Asia, the USA, and the Middle East.

As I mentioned above, I went as a blogger which meant that I would meet other bloggers who I could bounce ideas from and network with.

The first event that I went to was the “Tuesday Pre-ITB Party” co-hosted by a young company called GoEuro and an organisation called Travel Massive. There were over 400 people of whom I was 1, mainly from the travel industry, start-ups, industry partners, writers and bloggers. With a whole list of backed sponsors, the night was a blast.

I was enormously nervous as this was the first event of its kind that I have ever joined. The location was in my neighbourhood and at a trendy metal box called Platoon Kunsthalle. Thankfully, there was a film presentation to watch about a German explorer couple called Tanja and Denis Katzer who spent 3 years travelling from Germany to Mongolia and spending their time with reindeer nomads. Wow! Theirs was an innovative and inspiring trip.

After the business of the day, it was time to mingle and meet the bloggers there who were great, and with free beer and mojito cocktails, ice-breaking became an easier task. I’m a talker and it didn’t take me long to get into my groove!

From Wednesday through to Saturday, I spent my days going to seminars, lectures, discussions and workshops and learning a lot. I networked with fellow bloggers, travel industry people and people who had never heard of blogging. I also took the opportunity to eat, drink, dance and attend a Thai boxing session. I’ll talk more about that and what I learnt, next week.

This article is not sponsored and all opinions are my absolute own.

As a last note, if you want to attend the ITB Berlin, next year’s convention is from Wednesday, 4^th March – Sunday, 8^th March 2015. I’ll see you there!

Have you been to a trade fair? Have you been to ITB Berlin? Are you a blogger, trade exhibitor, or in the travel industry?

For more information about:

• the international tourism trade fair contact: ITB Berlin.
• tourism in Berlin contact: visitberlin.
• trade shows and events in Berlin contact: Messe Berlin.
• Mexico contact: the Mexico Tourism Official website.
• low-cost budget travelling around Europe contact: GoEuro.
• global travel industry gatherings contact: Travel Massive.
• trendy industrial venues in Berlin contact: Platoon Kunsthalle.
• adventure exploration in Mongolia contact: Tanja and Denis Katzer.

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