EIBTM 2013 was a great experience this year, bigger and better than last year with 15 Hosted Buyers in our group.
Thanks to all of our Hosted Buyers for choosing to join us in Barcelona. We were joined by Penny from Grass Roots, Scott from Toucan, Rebecca – Roselle Events, Sharon and Paul – Insurance Times, Lisa and Sharon – Athena Events, Catherine – Duo Conferences and Events, Chris – Inception Global, Phil – Zibrant, Mark – Penguins, Nikki – MMI and Paul and Ewan – Co-operative Events. You were all such great company. A special thanks to Reed as without flights from Scotland and Liverpool five of our hosted Buyers would not have travelled to EIBTM.
As ever so many agencies from the Midlands and further north feel sidelined by the lack of effective flight options so EIBTM, while very desirable, does not work for them as they cannot afford 3 days for EIBTM. This year Rebecca flew from Edinburgh via Heathrow on Tuesday and returned via Heathrow Thursday! Sharon, Catherine, Lisa & Scott flew out from Liverpool on Wednesday and returned Friday morning. Thanks guys for joining us.
From the feedback we receive EIBTM would really benefit from “new blood” – the first time Buyers who would find two days out of office manageable.
For those of us experiencing our first stay at the W Hotel we discovered the W beds do provide a brilliant night’s sleep. With an early start as our flight was 07:30, a day walking EIBTM and our hosted “events” from 17:40 through to the next morning (longer for those who chose to go on to Opium/EIBTM party) most of us only had a few hours sleep. So I have to admit the “testing” of sleep quality was not ideal.
Wednesday evening started on the MTA stand with Mark of EC Meetings hosting all of our exhibiting DMCs – Ole, Welcome Italy, Across Morocco, Event Makers Greece, g2o Turkey, Event Makers Cyprus and Welcome Swiss. and our Hosted Buyers.
It is surprising how time flies when you have a drink in one hand and canapes in the other – we had to take a fast exit as our Hummers had been waiting. Fortunately the Cava stayed cold and our hosts Baris and Onur (Sales & Marketing Directors) respectively of Kempinski Ciragen Palace Istanbul and Kempinski Babaros Bay Bodrum were there to pour welcome cold cava as we toured Barcelona.
A check in and freshen up later we headed off to dinner at La Viblia – so convenient for the W as only a two hundred yard walk round the corner. Thanks Ole – the selection of Tapas just kept coming and the wine pouring. Our private space was perfect – access to the sea view terrace for the smokers. Big enough for us along with our surprise artist who drew our faces onto t-shirts during the evening.
And our final surprise – personalised desserts – each DMC brought in a taste of their destination and these went down brilliantly with the