• TravelBizNews > News > Travel Conference /Marts / MICE News > ITB Berlin 2014 kicks off in Berlin

    ITB Berlin 2014 kicks off in Berlin

    March 3, 2014
    Travel Conference /Marts / MICE News
    ITB Berlin 2014 kicks off in Berlin

    Berlin: A total of 10,147 international exhibitors from 189 countries are participating at the 48th edition of the world’s largest travel trade show this year’s ITB Berlin, higher than ever before.

    More than two-thirds of the exhibitors showcasing their products and services in the 26 halls on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds are from abroad.

    Overall, 110,000 trade visitors are expected to attend. ITB Berlin will be offering visitors a representative overview of travel products and services from around the world and of growth-intensive niche markets from 5 to 9 March 2014.

    Members of the public will have an opportunity to purchase travel products directly from exhibitors this year. The focus will be on Mexico, this year’s partner country, which will have information on its wide range of products and services in Hall 1.1.

    As the partner country of ITB Berlin Mexico will be hosting the opening ceremony on the eve of the show in the International Congress Center (ICC Berlin).

    “ITB Berlin mirrors the entire value-added chain of the international tourism industry and boasts the world’s largest attendance of international exhibitors from all parts of the globe. ITB Berlin is also a leading knowledge platform. Exhibitors and trade visitors can find out about all the latest trends and innovations, information on exploiting new markets and listen to thought-provoking views on current topics,“ CEO, Messe Berlin GmbH Dr. Christian Göke said .

    ‘Furthermore Travel Technology and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Travel (LGBT) are clearly among the growth segments at ITB Berlin.’

    ITB Summit and ITB Innovators

    ITB Berlin 2014 will be celebrating the debut of two events. Among the speakers at the ITB Summit will be Lee McCabe, head of Travel, Facebook, who will be talking about how omni-channel marketing combines new and established marketing methods. ITB Innovators is a new web platform which provides a compact overview of 100 travel and marketing innovations.

    Nils Müller, CEO of TrendONE, will cast his eye into the future and give his prediction on how people will travel in 2025.

    ITB Buyers Circle for senior travel industry buyers

    ITB Berlin will be providing senior buyers from the international tourism industry with access to an exclusive business circle which offers them numerous benefits. Around 700 hand-picked senior buyers from the international tourism industry from Europe, Canada, the USA, South America, Australia, Asia and Africa will be joining the exclusive Buyers Circle at ITB Berlin 2014. The overall purchasing power of the Buyers Circle is equivalent to 1.8 billion euros.

    International Speed Dating event for bloggers

    ITB Berlin will be staging 40 events organised by bloggers for bloggers. Taking place this year for the second time, the ITB Bloggers Speed Dating event provides a platform for hotels and destinations that enables them to meet travel bloggers from around the world.

    ITB Berlin expects around 300 participants from 15 countries to attend, almost a third more than at last year’s event.

    More Travel Technology

    With its Travel Technology segment ITB Berlin has taken on a pioneering role. Around 170 exhibitors will be showcasing the world’s widest range of travel technology products. 30 companies will be making their first appearance at the world’s leading travel trade show. They include IATI, Nor1 Inc, Accelya, Gate7 Reservation Systems, Abreu Online, Roomize and Vioma.

    The tours will focus on software for the hotel industry, travel agencies, destinations and tour operators. A Mobile Technology tour will also be on offer.

    Popular trend: Gay & Lesbian Travel

    Besides Travel Technology, the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Travel (LGBT) segment also has enormous growth potential. For many years ITB Berlin has been helping to develop this booming area of the market. Besides numerous LGBT-themed events there will be a Networking Brunch for journalists, a seminar on ’Gay Pride Events“, numerous receptions and the popular TomOnTour Party.

    The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) will be hosting the largest display. Co-exhibitors will include Florida, Fort Lauderdale, Key West, World Rainbow Hotels (UK), organisers from Tel Aviv, India, as well as Toronto World Pride, Japan and China, a newcomer to the event.

    Youth Travel, Adventure Travel and Responsible Tourism

    Responsible Tourism, Adventure Travel and Youth Travel & Economy Accommodation are also expanding at ITB Berlin. More than 130 exhibitors from 35 countries will be represented and 70 exhibitors will be represented in the segment Adventure Travel & Responsible Tourism.

    India, Asia and the Arab countries are booming travel markets and will be represented at the world’s leading travel trade show in unprecedented numbers. Exhibitors from the Arab countries and Africa will be attending the show in similar numbers to 2013.
    Leading think tank of the global travel industry

    The ITB Berlin Convention is Europe’s largest and most important event in its field. 20,000 international participants will be attending 200 events featuring 400 leading speakers. Loveleen Tandan, co-director of the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire, will deliver a keynote speech on ’Slums, war zones and extreme regions: development potential and tourism destinations’.

    Christine Duffy, president & CEO of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), will be showing how destinations can benefit from the booming cruise market. Bernhard Bohnenberger, president of Six Senses Hotels Resorts & Spas, will be talking about luxury travel and sustainable tourism in the hotel industry. The award-winning travel writer Doug Lansky will be talking about ’How to fix overcrowded destinations and attractions with new intelligent visitor management technologies’.

    The members of the Airline CEO Panel, among them Alex Cruz, CEO of Vueling, will discuss how low-cost carriers have changed the leisure industry. Jean-Claude Biver, president of the administrative board of Hublot, will be offering fascinating insights into an entirely different sector, taking a look at established luxury markets and showing how the travel industry can learn from them.

    The ITB Berlin Convention will have information on the key topic of luxury travel at the Africa Forum, which will discuss ’The prospects for luxury tourism in Africa’. At the ITB Hospitality Day the CEO Panel will also devote time to this subject and the ITB Asia Panel will be discussing ’Exclusively Luxury Travel – The Asia Definition’. ITB Berlin Convention will focus will on Asia as a source market of the future , ITB Berlin reported.

    March 4, 2014

    Other News

    • Connecting you with the world of travel and tourism

      Theme Park Expo Vietnam 2025

      Asia Pool & Spa Expo , May 10 – 12, 2025 , Guangzhou , China

      KAZAKHSTAN International Exhibition “Tourism & Travel” Almaty, Kazakhstan

      CHINA- Beyond your imagination

      China – Lunar New Year 2025 

      This Lunar New Year (LNY) is shaping up to be a festive season of exploration and connection as celebrating families and friends worldwide embrace the holiday spirit.

      This year marks the year of the Snake, a symbol of wisdom, intuition, and transformation — themes that reflect the everchanging travel landscape. While some choose to celebrate at home, others have taken the opportunity to create memories in destinations far and near. With travel back in full swing, Trip.com Group has unveiled its latest LNY trends for 2025, showcasing how travellers are prioritising longer stays, meaningful experiences and unconventional destinations this year.

      Data reveals strong year-on-year growth for cross-border travel, with travellers combining public holidays and annual leave to increase their length of stay.

      Notably, in the Chinese mainland, a key source of LNY travel, New Year’s Eve is officially recognised as a holiday in 2025. This allows travellers to take just two days of leave for an eleven-day holiday. Korean travellers need to take one day for a nine-day break, while Singaporeans can create a five-day holiday with a single day off. As such, extended stays are a hallmark of this year’s LNY. On average, Asia-Pacific travellers will stay up to 10% longer this festive period.

      Popular destinations frequented by travellers who celebrate LNY include Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Chinese mainland. -PRNewswire Jan. 20, 2025 /

      FITUR tourism exhibition

      opens as sector fully recovers

      The 2025 FITUR international tourism exhibition opened  in Madrid, showcasing a robust recovery in the global tourism sector. Over 9,000 companies from 156 countries are participating in the event, which marks the 45th edition of the exhibition. Running until Jan. 26, FITUR is hosting 153,000 industry professionals, highlighting its significance as a key gathering for the global travel industry.

      The United Nations Tourism (UN Tourism) announced Tuesday that 2024 saw international tourism fully recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, with 1.4 billion international travelers recorded. The organization forecasts further growth of 3-5 percent for 2025.

      Spain, a leading global tourism destination, recently reported a record-breaking 94 million visitors in 2024, underscoring the sector’s resilience and strength.

      Brazil takes center stage as the invited nation at this year’s FITUR. The exhibition also features 10 specialist areas, including cruises, sports tourism, film tourism, and language-learning tourism, reflecting the growing diversity of travel trends.

      The Asia-Pacific region has reached 87 percent of its pre-pandemic tourist numbers, according to the UN Tourism. China has a strong presence at FITUR, with companies such as Enjoy China, Fantastica China, The Chinese Office of Tourism in Spain, and Focus China showcasing their offerings over the coming days. – Xinhua ,Jan. 22 ,2025

      France holds off Spain

      as world’s tourist favourite

      Olympic host France retained its spot as the world’s top tourist destination in 2024 with 100 million visitors, holding off stiff competition from countries including Spain.

      As world tourism returned to pre-pandemic levels with 1.4 billion people taking a trip abroad, according to the UN, both France and Spain announced record visitor numbers.

      Spain said last week that a record 94 million foreign tourists flocked to the Iberian nation in 2024, a 10 percent increase from the previous year.

      France, which hosted the Olympic Games in July – September 2024, welcomed two more million visitors in 2024, an increase of two percent compared with 2023.

      But although France had more visitors, they spent less than those in Spain — 71 billion euros ($74-billion) compared with 126 billion euros in Spain.

      France’s takings from international tourists rose by a total of 12 percent year-on-year, driven largely by Belgian, English, German, Swiss and US citizens, the tourism ministry said in a statement.

      Despite the return of customers from Asia, the number of Chinese visitors to France remained 60 percent lower than before the pandemic.Thirty percent fewer Japanese visited the country than in 2019.

      Good snowfall in late 2024 meanwhile drove a rebound for the end-of-year holidays as snow sports lovers flocked to the French ski slopes.

      “The outlook for the first quarter of 2025 is very good, with visitor numbers on the rise,” the ministry statement added.- enca.com ,22 January 2025

      Nepal hikes Everest climbing fee

      KATHMANDU – Nepal has sharply increased Everest climbing permit fees and introduced a slew of measures aimed at controlling garbage pollution and preventing accidents on the planet’s tallest peak.

      Under the revised rules, every two climbers must hire a guide to climb any mountain over 8,000 metres, including Everest.Under the revised mountaineering regulations, the royalty fee for foreigners climbing Everest from the normal south route in the spring season (March-May) has been raised to $15,000 from the current $11,000 per person.

      The autumn season (September-November) climbing fee has increased from $5,500 to $7,500. At the same time, the permit cost per individual for the winter (December-February) and monsoon (June-August) seasons has risen from $2,750 to $3,750.The new rates will take effect on September 1, 2025.

      The last royalty fee revision was made on January 1, 2015, when the government switched from a group-based system to a uniform fee of $11,000 per climber for the spring season from the normal route.

      For Nepali climbers, the royalty fee for the normal route during the spring climbing season has doubled from Rs75,000 to Rs150,000.Climbing permits, previously valid for 75 days, will now be limited to 55 days. The reduced validity is aimed at streamlining climbing activities.

      As per the amended rules, from the upcoming spring season, Everest climbers will be required to bring their poop back to base camp for proper disposal. Climbers must carry biodegradable bags to collect waste in the upper reaches.

      Base camps typically have designated toilet tents with barrels to collect human waste during expeditions. However, in higher camps, only a few agencies provide similar facilities, while others rely on pits. Very few climbers use biodegradable bags to transport waste from the summit.

      The government has also hiked the insurance coverage for high-altitude workers.Insurance coverage for high-altitude guides has gone up to Rs2 million ($14,400) from Rs1.5 million ($10,800), and for base camp workers, it has been raised to Rs1.5 million ($10,800) from Rs800,000 ($5,760).

      According to the Himalayan Database, which records all expeditions and deaths in the Himalayas, more than 200 people died on the Nepal side of Everest between 1953, when Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa first scaled the peak, and 2022.

      Nearly 8,900 people have summited the world’s highest peak from Nepal’s side since 1953.- Kathmandu Post , January 22, 2025

      Bangkok named the world’s

      second-best city by Time Out

      The ranking, based on surveys of city dwellers worldwide, highlights culture, food, affordability and overall happiness as key factors in making a city truly great.

      Climbing from 24th place last year to an impressive second place, Bangkok is celebrated for its rich cultural heritage, dynamic food scene, and vibrant lifestyle.

      The city’s affordability is a major plus, with 84% of residents agreeing that dining out, grabbing a coffee, or catching a movie is accessible to all. Additionally, 86% of locals rated Bangkok’s food as “good” or “excellent”.

      One urban expert described Bangkok as “a city of contrasts”, where the scent of sizzling street food fills the air, Michelin-starred restaurants thrive, and the majestic Chao Phraya River flows past luxury hotels.

      The city’s temples such as Wat Arun and the Grand Palace stand as timeless cultural icons, while modern parks like Benjakitti Park provide much-needed green spaces.

      Beyond affordability, the city exudes happiness and warmth. The famous Thai hospitality, vibrant night markets, and world-class nightlife districts like Thonglor and Ekkamai offer endless excitement.

      Time Out has previously recognised Bangkok’s nightlife, listing it among the coolest neighbourhoods in the world. The growing BTS and MRT public transport networks have also made exploring the city more convenient than ever.

      Bangkok’s diverse culinary scene is another highlight, from the bustling Chatuchak Market to the legendary street food in Yaowarat (Chinatown).

      Whether it’s a bowl of boat noodles or an extravagant fine-dining experience, food is an undeniable part of Bangkok’s appeal.

      The No 1 city this year is Cape Town, South Africa, known for its breathtaking landscapes and cultural vibrancy. Following Bangkok in third place is New York City, while Melbourne, London and New Orleans round out the top six. Mexico City, Porto, Shanghai and Copenhagen complete the top 10.

      Thailand’s rising global status is further reflected in Chiang Mai, which secured the 28th spot, adding to the country’s reputation as a must-visit destination.

      With its blend of tradition and modernity, Bangkok is more than just a tourist hotspot – it’s a city where people genuinely love to live. Whether you’re exploring hidden street-food gems, temple-hopping, or dancing the night away, Bangkok remains a city of endless possibilities. -The Nation ,January 20, 2025

      FACTS —

      Tourism helps in:

      👉Reducing poverty

      👉Reducing Inequalities

      👉Promoting gender equality

      👉Fostering decent work and economic growth

      World Tourism Day 2021: ‘Tourism for Inclusive Growth’

      In 2019, Travel & Tourism’s direct, indirect and induced impact accounted for:
      -US$8.9 trillion contribution to the world’s GDP
      -10.3% of global GDP
      -330 million jobs, 1 in 10 jobs around the world
      -US$1.7 trillion visitor exports (6.8% of total exports,
      28.3% of global services exports)
      -US$948 billion capital investment (4.3% of total
      investment)

      Best Tourism Villages 2024

      Video Player

      ” Nihao ! China ” Silk Road Tourism

      Video Player
preload imagepreload image