IBTM World: a milestone anniversary this year

15.11.2024

The show’s 20th edition since its move to Barcelona will be dedicated to future challenges.

Taking place from 19 to 21 November, IBTM World wants to repeat the excellent results of the previous edition. Last year's show was a great success, say the organisers. In 2023, they had officially welcomed 2,250 exhibitors from over 150 countries and some 4,000 buyers. Over 132,000 connections were allegedly made at the event. Alongside the exhibitors, the latest trends and developments traditionally take centre stage. “This year, the focus is people, the power of working together,” says Claudia Hall. “And the limitless potential that can be achieved when we do that while harnessing the very latest technological developments,” emphasises the IBTM World Exhibition Director. “Our content programme reflects this.” This year's presentations and seminars have also been compiled according to this aim. Speakers will include well-known companies such as Amazon and TikTok.

In addition, IBTM World will put “social responsibility” front and centre this year. The choice of the opening keynote speaker - a well-known former athlete - is a case in point: Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Britain's greatest Paralympic athlete, six-time London Wheelchair Marathon winner and a peer of the House of Lords. Tanni is acknowledged as one of the most gifted and courageous sportswomen of her generation. The Welsh athlete has competed in five Paralympic Games winning eleven gold medals, four silver medals and one bronze medal. Her IBTM session is titled: “People Potential: a Conversation with Baroness and Paralympian Tanni Grey-Thompson”. It will showcase the limitless possibilities that emerge when we empower people, nurture team spirit and champion inclusivity. The speakers in Barcelona also include Shani Dhanda from Innovating Inclusion, recognised as the UK's most influential disabled person.

The Association Leaders Forum is an important part of IBTM World 2024. It addresses practical and strategic issues that associations face today, focussing on the need to balance executive governance and risk management with innovating and adapting to global challenges. The forum will take place on day one and tie in with the theme for IBTM World 2024 - “People Power Potential”. It will explore how people power can be enhanced by harnessing new technologies - and how to integrate AI in the strategic planning of associations. It will also address the question of how digital tools can be used to make conferences and events more impactful, engaging, financially sustainable and greener. The forum will also try to understand how to prevent burnouts. Solutions focus on equipping team members with the right tools and upskilling them to perform in an efficient and rewarding manner (www.ibtmworld.com).