Summary of IBTM World 2024
IBTM World 2024 celebrated the power of people, surpassing last year's success with over 73,000 pre-scheduled business meetings—an increase of more than 19% from 2023—and numerous spontaneous exchanges on the show floor. Visitor attendance rose by 10% compared to last year, with 18% more Hosted Buyers from over 120 countries engaging with more than 2,350 exhibitors.
The event highlighted the potential of collaboration among event professionals, emphasizing that success relies on human connections. Sue Baimbridge, Chief Commercial Officer of RIHGA Royal Hotel Osaka, noted, “This is our first year exhibiting at IBTM World as part of our strategy to grow our business pipeline for 2025. The quality of buyers and volume of meetings over the past three days have been excellent. I’m returning to Osaka with eight solid leads and several more to follow up on.” The conference program focused on Insight, Innovation, Experience Design, Social Responsibility, Marketing, Careers, and Advocacy, featuring three impactful keynote addresses.
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson inspired attendees on day one, discussing the limitless possibilities that arise from empowerment and inclusivity. On day two, Simone Heng emphasized the importance of meaningful relationships in an age dominated by artificial intelligence. The final day featured Julius Solaris and industry leaders exploring how to create human-centric experiences in a tech-driven world. New features introduced at the trade show included Exceptional Experiences, aimed at helping in-house event professionals and marketers foster business growth, with speakers from Amazon, TikTok, and Canva. The Hotel Pavilion debuted as a space for independent hotels to showcase their offerings, while the Forum for Advocacy gathered leaders to discuss the economic and social impacts of global business events. IBTM World also launched its Trends Report, highlighting the importance of talent in the industry and the emergence of a new type of event professional.
The Business of Events released its Global Destination Report, noting budget stability in developed regions and the need for alignment between the business events sector and government policy. In its most advanced iteration, IBTM World 2024 implemented new technologies to enhance attendee experience. Exhibitors utilized Lead Booster to attract targeted leads, while the Lead Manager App allowed real-time lead management. Colleqt QR enabled attendees to capture information effortlessly, ensuring no leads were missed. Claudia Hall, IBTM World Exhibition Director, remarked, “It’s been an exhilarating three days, especially as we celebrated our 20th anniversary in Barcelona. Our community arrived eager for knowledge and opportunities, and the event delivered with phenomenal speakers and innovative initiatives, reinforcing the strength of our industry.”
