Tourism New Zealand to make big return to IBTM World

Tourism New Zealand, Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism and Meetings & Exhibitions Hong Kong are among the new exhibitors at the IBTM World conference set to take place in Barcelona from 27 to 29 November.

Tourism New Zealand, which makes a return to IBTM world after an eight-year hiatus, will be bringing four partners to the event, along with a 300-kg kauri wood table hand carved with traditional Māori techniques.

The organisation's partners are New Zealand International Convention Centre (opening in Auckland next year), Te Pae Convention Centre (opening in Christchurch in 2020), Te Puia, the centre for Maori culture in Rotorua and the New Zealand Maori Arts & Craft Institute. New Zealand International Conference Centre has recently exhibited in IBTM Beijing last September. 

Leonie Ashford, international bids manager from Business Events Tourism New Zealand, noted the upcoming new openings that give impetus to the body's return to IBTM World. "With our table we are bringing a genuine flavour of the uniquely Kiwi experience, manaaktitanga—the notion that a stranger can soon become a friend after a conversation and a meal; something that is entirely relevant to us and our stand partners as we come to Barcelona," said Ashford.

In addition to the above organisations, the Malaysia Convention & Exhibition Bureau will also be representing APAC at IBTM World. The confirmed corporate buyers participating in the event include those from InfoWatch, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Procter & Gamble, Siemens, Viacom and Sony.