More than 100,000 connections were made at this year’s edition of IBTM World.

The show, which ran from November 29, 2022 to December 2, 2022 at Fira de Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain, connected representatives from more than 2,200 exhibiting companies with over 3,500 high quality buyers.

Exhibitors came from 150 countries. They included the CVBs of Spain, Ireland, Brussels, Croatia, The Czech Republic, Canada, Malaysia, Jordan, Bahrain, Miami, Las Vegas and Boston, as well as leading hospitality companies such as Meliá Hotels and Barceló Hotels.

Planners who participated in the show’s corporate, association and agency Hosted Buyers program, included representatives from the European Union of Medicine in Assurance and Social Security (EUMASS), Pfizer, COSMOPOLIS, International Stereoscopic Union, SAUDI Telecom Company, UNICEO (United Network of International Corporate Events Organiser), The British Pain Society, Maritz Global Events, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, citigroup inc., and CWT Meetings & Events.

Making Connections: Exhibitor and Buyer Comments

The show not only brought buyers face-to-face with MICE suppliers but also provided an opportunity for planners and suppliers to discuss recovery from the pandemic with their colleagues and contemporaries from other countries. Here is some of the feedback exhibitors and buyers shared with the show’s organizer.

“One of the key takeouts so far is collaboration and partnerships. We have had conversations with other convention bureaus from the continent on how we can partner to keep business in the region, before it goes out into the world. A lot of the meetings that have taken place on the stand have resulted in business leads. We continue to see how face to face interactions are imperative in business events.” ~ Zinhle Nzama, Acting Chief Convention Bureau Officer, South African National Convention Bureau

“It’s so good to have face-to-face meetings again, especially after the last two and a half years. The quality of buyers is very high, and we were able to sign business on the show floor with further warm leads to follow up. Attending IBTM World is important to create confidence in the industry and to sell a new and exciting destination like Rwanda is easier to do in person. We will definitely come back and recommend it to colleagues too.” ~ Matthias Widor, Cluster General Manager, Kigali Marriott Hotel / Four Points by Sheraton. 

“IBTM is one of the best shows I have ever attended. You can meet with the people yo want to meet with and have spontaneous meetings with people you didn’t get a chance to make an appointment with. People are relaxed and it’s easy to get around, plus it’s in Barcelona which is amazing!” ~ Ron Williams, Business Development Manager, TBEX Conferences LLC.

“I am truly amazed by the organization of this event. It brings together so many interesting destinations, venues, experiences people and insightful information all in one place.” ~ Cynthia Vercruysse, Manager Marketing Fairs and Events, Ansell. 

“A great range of destinations to meet with. I found the organization to be very smooth and the city of Barcelona very welcoming. I had so many back-to-back meetings which has been great.” ~ Brendan Gormley, Events Manager, BBC. 

During the event, IBTM announced that it has signed a new three-year contract with Barcelona Convention Bureau and Fira de Barcelona that will see IBTM World take place in the city up to and including the 2025 edition. The new contract builds on the existing 18-year relationship between the three organizations, with the next edition confirmed for November 28-30, 2023.

“IBTM world 2022 has been a fantastic success, surpassing all our expectations with more quality one-to-one buisness meetings taking place per attendee than in 2019,” said David Thompson, IBTM World Event Director. “It was brilliant to receive feedback on the show floor that there is so much appetite for doing business that many exhibitors and buyers have already scheduled additional meetings to take place in the coming weeks. There has been a real sense of excitement and we look forward to returning to Barcelona in 2023.”