Substantial space has already been sold for EIBTM 2006, which represents a 10% increase compared to EIBTM 2005.  Moreover, the MPI Technology Village @ EIBTM and the Event Services Village have both sold out.

The event will welcome 40 new main exhibitors including destinations such as; Monterey County (USA), Paraguay, Zaragoza, Tanzania, Arizona, Serbia, Chile and China. Also, some 60 main stand holders have increased their stand space including Accor Hotels, Argentina, Cuba, Greece, Canarias, Morocco, Norway, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Turkey, Venezuela, Colombia, Miami, Germany, Macau and New York City. We also welcome back Quatar, Charming Hotels, Sandals, Jolly Hotels and Uruguay to EIBTM this year.

Kathryn Carlton, Director of Sales of the Monterey County Convention and Visitors Bureau (MCCVB) said: “With many options for luxury accommodations and incentive programmes in Monterey, the incentive market continues to be a strong market segment for us. The MCCVB is hosting a promotional lunch at the SITE International Conference in Barcelona and is taking the opportunity to exhibit at EIBTM before hand in order to raise our visibility and highlight Monterey County for international incentive travel and meeting planners.”

Trade visitor registration is currently 25% up in comparison with the same time last year while Hosted Buyer registrations have increased by 10%.

Mandy Torrens, Event Manager commented: “EIBTM is clearly seen as an integral part of our exhibitor's strategic marketing plans. Our objectives to ensure that the event remains the best for business, professional education and networking, has clearly resulted in a huge demand from the industry sector. We have over 40 new exhibitors this year with many more opting for larger stands. Our new initiatives and features have also generated growing interest from exhibitors and the Events Service Village which made its debut in 2005 has already sold out as has the MPI Technology Village @ EIBTM confirming that EIBTM is clearly seen as the leading business platform for the global meetings and incentives industry."

EIBTM has appointed over 50 new Hosted Buyer co-ordinators this year to bring groups from all over Europe as well as the US, Russia, China, Scandinavia and Brazil. New Group Co-ordinators for this year include TUI, Carlson Wagonlit, BBT Online and many of the MPI European chapters whilst Accor, AC Hotels, Hilton, Langham hotels, Helmsbriscoe and Sol Melia have all increased the size of their groups for 2006.

Judy Henrich of HelmsBriscoe commented: "We are very pleased to be working in close cooperation with EIBTM this year to bring a large group of our HelmsBriscoe associates to the show. We have seen attendance at EIBTM grow year over year and we are thrilled to be a part of their expanded global Hosted Buyer Programme. This show affords us the opportunity to meet with key suppliers and conduct our business quickly and efficiently."

Boris Vrnoga, Sales Manager Meetings and Incentive of Great Hotel Organisation, explained: “There are a couple of objectives Great Hotels Organisation has for hosting a group of clients to EIBTM. The most important one is to introduce some of our key clients to our member hotels in and around Barcelona. Various activities have been arranged during and after EIBTM in order for our clients to get to know some of our member hotels better. Secondly EIBTM is a very good show to catch up with old colleagues in the industry, a perfect networking opportunity. All in all it will be 3 days in which we will try to combine the business aspect with the social aspect and of course Barcelona in that perspective is a great destination.”

Post event fam trips for Hosted Buyers attending EIBTM have increased to 8 different destinations this year. Six of these are already fully booked with Hosted Buyers on a waiting list.

EIBTM 2006 will take place from 28-30th November 2006, at Fira Gran Via in Barcelona. Online registration for Hosted Buyers, visitors and press is open on the EIBTM website www.eibtm.com