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ITB Berlin to Run as In-Person Event in 2022

David Ruetz, Head of ITB Berlin (center); Dr. Martin Buck, Senior Vice President Travel & Logistics, Messe Berlin GmbH (right); with Katie who was in charge of introducing ITB Berlin NOW digital platform for the travel industry. Photo © Messe Berlin GmbH

David Ruetz, Head of ITB Berlin (center); Dr. Martin Buck, Senior Vice President Travel & Logistics, Messe Berlin GmbH (right); with Katie who was in charge of introducing ITB Berlin NOW digital platform for the travel industry. Photo © Messe Berlin GmbH

The ITB Berlin travel trade show next year is scheduled to take place as an in-person event in Berlin, Germany, from 9 to 13 March 2022, according to the exhibition’s organizer Messe Berlin.

The announcement followed the ITB Berlin 2021 event that ran in an entirely virtual format due to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. From 8 to 12 March 2021, the travel trade show gathered the industry on its new and entirely virtual platform at ITB Berlin NOW. During the five-day event, around 65,700 users visited the online platform, of whom around two-thirds (64.5 percent) were from other countries.

“The experience gained at ITB Berlin NOW will influence our planning for March 2022. We will take the lessons learned and combine them with our decades-long experience of organising in-person events,” said David Ruetz, head of ITB Berlin.

Messe Berlin CEO Martin Ecknig and Deutsche Welle news anchor Monika Jones (moderator) at the opening press conference of ITB Berlin NOW in conversation with Caroline Bremner (Euromonitor International), Claudia Cramer (Statista) and Norbert Fiebig (German Travel Association-DRV). Photo © Messe Berlin GmbH

Messe Berlin CEO Martin Ecknig and Deutsche Welle news anchor Monika Jones (moderator) at the opening press conference of ITB Berlin NOW in conversation with Caroline Bremner (Euromonitor International), Claudia Cramer (Statista) and Norbert Fiebig (German Travel Association-DRV). Photo © Messe Berlin GmbH

According to Ruetz, Messe Berlin was keeping all options open to expand ITB Berlin’s content and dates with a virtual event. “For us, planning a hybrid trade show means combining the essential elements of an in-person and virtual industry event in the best possible way. That gives every audience the best possible chance to take part in the trade show and convention – regardless of where they are in the world.”

ITB Berlin NOW

Taking as its slogan “The digital Meet-up for the Travel Industry. Anytime. Anywhere.”, the trade show this year gave participants a unique virtual meeting place. Over 3,500 exhibitors representing destinations, hotel chains and tech companies from 120 countries made use of the new format to present their products and services.

The virtual event also attracted over 1,000 media representatives and travel bloggers from 54 countries who covered the event live.

ITB Berlin NOW Convention. Photo © Messe Berlin GmbH

ITB Berlin NOW Convention. Photo © Messe Berlin GmbH

According to organizers, 80 percent of the participants made use of the networking features, which included business meetings via individual and group calls, chats and searching for business partners.

During ITB, the programme of events over a total of 265 hours registered around 52,600 participants: Some 700 speakers at more than 400 discussion rounds at the ITB Berlin NOW Convention, who held lectures, interviews and took part in exhibitor presentations and press conferences and gave their views on how the industry can overcome the effects of the pandemic and initiate a successful recovery.

This year the entirely virtual event targeted trade visitors only, while consumers were able to get inspiration for their upcoming vacations from livestreamed evening events at the Berlin Travel Festival, a partner event.

Trade show experience continues until May

Photo © Messe Berlin GmbH

Photo © Messe Berlin GmbH

All members of the industry who were unable to take part in ITB Berlin NOW virtual event can still access online content by purchasing an “After-Event” ticket, available from the ticket shop at 29 euros. The ticket provides meeting schedules, access to all videos on demand, as well as press releases and exhibitor presentations plus the Show Floor and Brand Cards functions, and the press section. The ticket is valid from until May 31.

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