Australia, recently ranked second in the world for future scheduled meetings, are planning to build on this success, by participating at EIBTM. The premier international event, dedicated to the global meetings and incentives industry, is taking place in Barcelona, Spain from 30 November to 2 December.

A summary of world rankings from the ICCA Statistics Report (October 2004) shows that Australia is ranked second for future scheduled meetings, behind the USA, with Germany, Spain and Italy making up the top five countries. This position has moved dramatically from Australia's previously ranked eighth position for meetings that took place in 2003.

Mara Patterson, Business Tourism Manager commented, "Australia is excited to be heading to Barcelona for EIBTM in 2004. Barcelona is a great city for this event and I have high expectations that EIBTM will attract top quality buyers. EIBTM provides Australia with a fantastic opportunity topromote their country as an affordable and achievable destination for organisations to hold their next meeting or incentive trip. Australia is great value for money and companies can easily achieve a seven day incentive program. It is also a great choice for a global conference or meeting with a large number of UK and European blue chip corporations choosing to base their Asia Pacific headquarters in Australia"

The International Visitor Survey (IVS) for the year ended 30 June 2004, published by Tourism Research Australia shows that Australia's overall trends for 2004 were positive. Arrivals increased by nine per cent, and the total trip spending increased by two per cent, compared to 2003. Convention, conference, meetings and exhibition visitors for 2004 were up by 17% compared to 2003.

Australian exhibitors planned to feature at EIBTM include, Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, JCM Destination Australia and New Zealand, Cairns Convention Centre, Hilton Sydney, The Australian Incentive ravel Company, Adelaide Convention Centre, The Northern Territory Convention Bureau, Crown Towers and Crown Promenade, Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau, Melbourne Exhibition and Convention Centre and Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Jon Hutchison, Managing Director of Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau (SCVB), comments, "The Sydney Convention and Visitors Bureau regards this year's EIBTM as an opportunity to build on the impressive number of multinational corporation meetings and incentive visits it has won during the past year."

Jon Hutchison, continues "Sydney is a city that is constantly on the move. Over the coming months we will have more new attractions and venues coming on line which will make us even more attractive as a meetings destination. EIBTM provides the perfect opportunity to remind companies why Sydney is so popular and update them on what's new in our city."

Garry Kingshott, CEO of Melbourne Convention and Visitors Bureau (MCVB) commented, "This year, Mebourne more than doubled the number of future business events it has scheduled, to help push Australia's 2004 ranking to 2nd in the world.

Garry Kingshott continued, "MCVB are planning to hold a joint media conference at EIBTM providing an update on the new Melbourne Convention Centre, a 5,000-seat convention centre announced earlier this year, and due to open in 2008. We will also provide an update on the exciting XVIII Commonwealth Games, being held in Melbourne in March 2006, which is expected to be the biggest Commonwealth Games in history."