5 best destinations at IBTM in Barcelona!

3 days to know more about the MICE sector

From 28th to 30th November, IBTM Congress was held in Barcelona, that had a direct economic impact in the city’s economy with so many MICE representatives registered. But the relevance of IBTM Congress was the opportunity to know more during three days about the new trends, business opportunities and differences between destinations all around the world for the MICE sector. Read more about IBTM and the different exhibitors that were present at the following link. http://www.ibtmworld.com/exhibitor-directory/#

During those three days and thanks to the IBTM organizers for my registration, I had the opportunity to visit several stands, talk with many representatives from different destinations and MICE sector. This opportunity to talk with several representatives from the MICE sector, gave me a good overview from the trends of MICE sector at different destinations, and therefore can inform to my network in the MICE sector and others might be interested to read my inputs, so they can have more opinions based on my experience the last 17 years working in the tourism and MICE sector.

What was new and different at IBTM?

During last IBTM Congress I had meetings with over 30 stands from the 5 continents based on pre-arranged meetings, or at the moment with representatives from stands (from press departments, DMC representatives to travel destinations managers. I focused to know their opinions and services with a focus on small business groups (between 20 up to 40 or maximum 50 members), because it gives the opportunity to offer a more individualized service for this target group of the MICE sector. On this article I focused on the following criteria in the meetings I hold with the representatives of the MICE sector at the IBTM.

1) Meeting venues for a business group between 20 and 40 people (max.50)

2) Transportation opportunities and connections (especially from London as an important hub transportation airport for the business sector)

3) What makes different and unique some destinations

Based on those three main criteria, from the 35 interviews hold, stands presentation and brochures information I selected on a geographical distribution (within Norway, Europe, North America, Central and South America and Africa (no representative from Asia and Oceania wanted to be interviews) preference the destination I considered more relevant for a business group meeting as described above. As a differential factor between those destinations selected to present had a high result on the three criteria mentioned, I made a final selection based on the personal approach some destinations had during the interviews and when meeting people on the stands, as the people from my network asked me to attend and inform about IBTM value this personal approach as a value added on business trade.

1. Norway

A DMC is known as “Destination Management Company”, and Euromic offers a full range of services for companies to execute successful events. Although Euromic offers services at several destinations worldwide, First United Norway offers a unique service as a DMC in Norway from their offices in Bergen. Oslo is the capital of Norway, and therefore makes it easier to organise events in the capital due to its logistics facilities, but Bergen and First United Service following the traditional “Hytta” concept in Norway, offers everything needed to organise business meetings with a unique value that represents its surroundings that allows to organise a 2-3 business meeting where is possible to work in a more relaxed environment, with all transportation facilities to Bergen airport (especially from London connections).

Could be organised meetings in cabins prepared around Bergen, or if meeting place is in the city take a one-day break to visit the city fjords or Bergen harbour. The benefits for a business group to work on a nature surrounding as Bergen represents has as Lea McLeod explains (https://www.themuse.com/advice/3-reasons-why-you-should-take-your-work-outside-plus-how-to-realistically-do-it) three good reasons:

1) it reduces business stress to work close to nature and in a relaxed environment

2) it gets you out of the “deadly office chair”, as breaking the routine in a different environment offers new working perspectives

3) it distracts you, because the beautiful nature and a new environment helps to do your work in a new place.

2. Europe

What makes it different to consider moving south to organise business meetings? That is the question makes to consider the potential from a relative new business destination as Slovenia, and the relative lower prices compared to more traditional business destinations in Europe.

Considering Slovenia, and specially its capital Ljubljana with flight connections from all around Europe (especially from Frankfort or London) should take into consideration, that the city is “pedestrians friendly as in the last couple of years’ significant part of the city centre got closed for traffic”. Taking off the stress from daily work in an office with constant transportation noises and traffic jam, should consider the relax that organise business meetings in this relaxed and unique environment provides. Nevertheless, those transportation challenges to/from the airport and moving around, requires from a transportation organisation to move around and Intours DMC offers to organise those services.

Should be considered that a 2-3 days’ meetings in Ljubljana in hotels conference rooms during the morning, cannot forget the opportunity to visit the city and enjoy the local food traditions in the afternoon-night, or an interesting option that IMC Tours offered to bring food trucks. Intours DMC recommended that for a day off meetings and help team building performance in the business group, consider going to the Alpine region that is 40 minutes from Ljubljana, or going to Portoroz in the Adriatic Sea.

3. North America

Considering Canada, should be based to organise business meetings in four major cities as Montreal, Toronto, Quebec and Vancouver that includes close internal connections to smaller cities that may offer specialised business services as for example health industry in the West Coast from Vancouver. CTI Destination Management presented the benefits to arrive with international flights to Toronto, and for instance from there travel to Montreal for meeting venue in unique places as football stadium facilities, arts locations that will suit perfect for a small business group of 20-40 people in a different and relaxed environment. But if decided to stay in Toronto, should be remembered that the city is considered multicultural and vibrant, were an international business group could feel like at “home”.

4. South and Central America

When we talk about Panama some people might think that is not a traditional place for business meetings, but as Visit Panama presented its business diversity, hotels close conventions centres and the Panama City airport increasing number of flights for business purposes, highlights the increasing relevance of Panama for business meetings. The exclusive offer for accommodation on 5* boutique hotels, or a one-day visit to the Panama Channel (located 30 minutes from the capital) helps to consider the benefits to organise business meetings in such a relaxed environment, or the option to visit two oceans within 45 minutes’ distance.

5. Africa

Business meeting in Africa, should consider the unique value of its nature and surroundings that we all might know, and there were presented at IBTM several African destinations that offered interesting options for a one to two days off meetings as Botswana or Madagascar. But the option of Kenya with the support from the Kenya Tourism Board and the practical organisation details from Wedgewood DMC Group, could help to organise transportation, meeting venues and other facilities for business groups considering going to Kenya. Cheaper prices, the unique nature and the option to be in a country as Kenya with its raising economic opportunities helps to consider the country (with several cities as options), to consider for business meetings for small groups.

My opinions about IBTM Congress

I informed to the people I interviewed that due to my professional experience over the last 17 years in the MICE sector and the last 7 years living, studying and working in Norway, I have built an important network in the business sector that demands concrete services and more personalized, that asked me to inform them about IBTM opportunities to organize meetings and conferences abroad, besides possible business opportunities.

I am not sponsored by anyone, and this article as my blog have a focus to share my opinions in opinions (tourism, MICE sector, solidarity, international relations) that my network is interested to read, but open to anyone. My opinions and views are my own, however due to the confidence build the last 17 years and a big trust by so many people I offer to my network more personal opinions. Even though, I informed the interviewers that I will share the information with my network in Norway that asked me to attend the IBTM Congress, the views that you will read are open to everyone and to everyone interested to know more about MICE sector opportunities to organize meetings and conferences abroad.

Thanks to everyone participated at IBTM Congress, IBTM organizers for accepting my registration, and specially to those had some time to talk to me about their services and MICE sector opportunities. Do not hesitate to contact me at the e-mail below for further information, cooperation and topics that you may consider relevant for me to talk about!

Daniel Hernández Iniesta. daniel.hndez@gmail.com