ibtm america consolidates its pod format

ibtm america has a new format, as an exclusive event. Why it is a business opportunity for Spanish companies wanting to win American business?

We launched this groundbreaking meetings industry event last year in Chicago. The format provides a more intimate, dynamic and exclusive event where every supplier has an identical meeting pod space – they just show up with their own branding and they are ready to start work. ibtm america is truly exclusive because everyone stays in the same hotel, does business together, networks and socializes at the same events – it creates a community for those 2.5 days that really helps create and build business connections. ibtm america 2016 will offer 100% mutual match business appointments which will allow exhibitors to select who they want to do business with and create a diary of up to 30 pre-scheduled appointments. Compatibility with each other is the key to great business opportunities and that is why we created this type of event.

ibtm america 2016 will take place in Nashville – the world´s capital of country music and one of the USA´s hottest convention cities. In fact, Nashville was voted America´s friendliest city in Travel + Leisure 2015.

How can a Spanish company benefit from the ibtm america Hosted Buyer programme?

We are focused on delivering business opportunities to all of our attendees. We have created the first event in the US to delivers a community of professional meeting planners who will meet with suppliers in a 100% mutual match process. Exhibitors will have the first opportunity to review Hosted Buyer profiles and make their own preferences, identifying the Hosted Buyers that are relevant to their business needs. When it´s the Hosted Buyer´s turn to select, they will see the details of the exhibitor that requested to meet with them and they can then accept that meeting. All of the Hosted Buyers will be pre-qualified to attend from the US and will come from corporate, agency and incentive sectors.

ibtm america meeting planners ranked Spain within the top 5 countries of interest in Europe, so it is clear that any Spanish exhibitors who attend ibtm america will find their destination of interest to a large number of attending Hosted Buyers.

Besides to scheduled appointments, does the show facilitate opportunities for unplanned meetings?

ibtm america has been designed to create a community that stays together, works together and networks together. All attendees will be staying at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center and will benefit from an itinerary that is packed with opportunities to meet, for both business and pleasure. Last year 5,200 appointments took place on the show floor but we know that coffee, lunch, afternoon tea, the full evening entertainment programme, plus Discovery Day, the itinerary provided many more opportunities to network. Staying together at the same hotel means attendees can create their own additional meetings whether be at breakfast or during their down time, there are so many connection points and all in the luxury of a 5 star meeting resort and of course the downtown fun of Nashville itself!

Tell us what ibtm america has planned for this edition.

Apart from the business of meetings, ibtm america has a knowledge programme and a “Discovery Day” with all attendees experiencing Nashville, networking together and concluding their day with some industry education sessions. Right now we have a call for speakers out, and we will for sure have some thought provoking topics by experts. We are also introducing a new central hub area of the show floor which will be not only a networking area but will have live demo stations for immersive and hands-on experiences, updates on event technology, and some exciting new ideas that we are working on right now. The point is that this area will provide a spotlight on the industry and it will be live throughout the show!