So is it worth going to ITB Berlin? Yes! It most certainly is!

Sadly, it’s over!

What’s that?

Ah! Come on now. Where have you been the last week? And have you seen my Twitter and Facebook feeds?

The ITB Berlin 2017 is oooooover!

For now!

Waaaah!

Back to the question above though. So is it worth going to ITB Berlin?

SO IS IT WORTH GOING TO ITB BERLIN?

Let’s see!

Before I became the awesome travel blogger that I am today, I used to attend the ITB Berlin as an ordinary member of the public. It was one of the highlights of my year!

I was so shy!

Because the first time that I went to the ITB Berlin, I had never ever met a blogger before in real life. Not ever!

My blog was so new at the time, that I wasn’t even accredited! However, the  ITB Berlin Press Team were so nice and supportive, and gave me a VIP ticket so that I could attend!

And it really turned my life around ‘cos not only did I cover the Berlin Music Video Awards as a validated member of the press just two (2) months later, but it was at this very same ITB Berlin, that I made a contact with a lady from France who then invited me for my first press /FAM trip!

In fact, not only was I the only British person, I was also the only blogger!

It didn’t take long before I was on German TV, acting as a side-kick moderator on a live German evening show, in the German press, and having a documentary made about my life as a British blogger living in this wonderful city of Berlin!

I know!

If you’re reading about the ITB for the first time, here’s what I previously wrote:

• My first introduction to the ITB Berlin: the international tourism trade fair
• 10 things to do if you’re a new blogger and what I learnt – ITB Berlin
• I went to the ITB in Berlin, so am I a professional travel blogger?
• How to be a savvy travel blogger with 10 tips to help you prepare, and find your way around! – ITB Berlin
• And here: A first time beginners guide to the ITB Berlin: 10 tips to help you not to lose your mind!

But it doesn’t hurt to reiterate the facts:

WHAT IS THE ITB?

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.

It’s also the world’s leading travel industry think tank, in which the convention trade fair establishes itself as the industry’s main knowledge platform, with top-notch presentations on global trends, travel innovations and path-breaking events for the entire tourism industry!

Phew!

WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT THEN?

Well, the ITB Berlin is the foremost business platform for the global tourism business. We’re talking:

Omigosh!

If you’re at the ITB, you’re in good company.

The ITB Berlin is a huge deal and the partner country for 2017 is Botswana with the motto: – #ilovebotswana.

Wow!

SAFETY IN TRAVEL!

I’m a big advocate for smart travel and that includes safety and security.

Sadly, it’s many a reason that certain destinations are low in tourism numbers and not likely to increase any time soon.

Even my beloved Berlin had issues brought upon, not by a lack of security, but by strike action at the airport!

Having said that, where better to “be stranded” than in trendy hipster Berlin!

Nevertheless, the mainstay of this years’ convention leaned heavily on the increasing concern for safety whilst travelling abroad, geopolitical challenges on whether destinations are able to secure confidence for holidaymakers, artificial intelligence, medical tourism, and sustainable tourism.

Safety and security was such an issue, that there was a huge level of media attention and political interest!

In fact, ITB Berlin this year played host to:

• 11 State Secretaries
• 45 Ambassadors
• 72 Government Ministers
• 110 Foreign Delegations
• 450 bloggers from 34 countries
• And over 5,000 accredited journalists from 76 countries around the world!

How cool is that?

Book your hotel here!

ITB BERLIN IS TRENDING!

The name ITB Berlin stands for a unique success story and things that are made in Berlin.

What began in 1966, as a small overseas import trade show, has developed into a true global success.

What originally, was only an event of five (5) participating countries and regions, has grown to over 180 with an exhibition space expanding from 580 m² to 160,000 m² today!

In more than five (5) decades, so many societal and political changes have taken place. 

As far as the tourism industry is concerned, Germany has developed into one of the world’s most important economic factors!

Today, the ITB Berlin is the leading trade show of the travel industry and, at the same time, the biggest travel show for the German public!

 2017 IS LOOKING GREAT!

This has been the most successful ITB travel trade conference for me yet, because:

• It’s in my expat home-town of Berlin so I don’t have to pay for anything, and I know where everything is!
• It’s free of charge for bloggers and the press!
• I made so many professional contacts
• I had so many appointments which had me going from floor to floor that even though I used the press shuttle bus, my feet swelled up ‘cos I was wearing ankle boots, and I tend to walk like a man!
• My Blogger Speed Dating appointment sheet was filled to the brim with Destinations & Marketing people wanting to meet me face-to-face
• I have official invitations to come visit many of the chosen destinations of this year
• I caught up with other international bloggers
• I was invited to so many After-Hours parties, it became over-whelming…
• Exciting news! A writer asked for one of my old Scotland photographs to be added to their book for a film tour, so the next time you go to the Scottish Highlands, you could be looking at one of my photographs!

• Most endearing of all, as I was browsing through the Poland section, looking for destination information, one of the girls started staring. I gave her my card to give to her boss, and she just started screaming!

She recognised my name and was thrilled and excited to finally meet and see the writer of THAT post! She told her neighbours and they all began rushing to take photographs & giggling! I mean, that post now has over forty-five thousand (45,000) views!

Apparently. In Poland, I’m a bit of a notorious star!

And the title of said piece: Going to Poland: 10 reasons not to go!

See you next week!

SO IS IT WORTH GOING TO ITB BERLIN? YES! IT MOST CERTAINLY IS!

This article is isn’t sponsored and the awesome time that had at the ITB Berlin, is my very own!

On 15.03.17, I’ll be at the Spring Reception for the British Community at the British Embassy in Berlin.

From 07.03.17 – 09.03.17, our friends – the British musical and comedy duo – Carrington Brown – will be performing Germany’s premiere of Carrington-Brown feat. The Swonderful Orchestra: Comedy meets Classics at Tipi!

I’ll be there. Will you?

If you’re not in Berlin in March, I haven’t a clue where you would rather be!

Watch this space!

Please note that there are now affiliate links (for the very first time) connected to this post. Please consider using the links, because every time some sort of accommodation or travel insurance is booked via my links I get a little percentage, but at no extra cost to yourself!

A win-win for all!

Thanks a million!