exhibition of business tourism

• The ICT and the private sector specialized in business tourism participate in the IBTM World exhibition in Barcelona, Spain from November 27 – 29.
• The participation in the exhibition has the main goal of reinforcing Costa Rica’s positioning as a destination for business tourism.

As a part of the follow-up of the strategy for the consolidation of Costa Rica’s positioning in the business tourism industry, the Costa Rican Institute of Tourism, along with 15 specialized companies of the private sector, will participate from November 27 – 29 on the IBTM World exhibition in Barcelona, which is considered to be a leading exhibition for meetings, incentives, conferences, events and business trips, as it facilitates the direct contact between specialized companies and international buyers.

IBTM World is considered as the main gathering point for decision makers in the tourism industry. The event gathers 3,000 global exhibitors and 15,000 industry professionals, who will have numerous business opportunities in three days, as well as different specialized work sessions that contribute to increase the knowledge of this segment and encourages networking. According to the organizers, this event will ease strategic connections to be part of this competitive business and show its new tendencies. Also, one of the most meaningful approach of this edition is to show the participants the presentation of the macro tendencies of business gatherings, technological advances, evidencing the drive to which the industry grows from multiple perspectives.

For Juan Carlos Borbón, Marketing Director of the ICT, participating in this edition of the IBTM is a valuable opportunity to strengthen our strategy and show the world that Costa Rica represents a high-potential destination for the meeting industry because we have excellent airline connectivity, strategic location, top level services, among others.

In addition, Borbón added that “this segment is invigorating the economy, as congresses and meetings usually take place at low season, when there are less tourists visiting the country for leisure and pleasure. It also constitutes another clear example of economic chaining, as many service providers are small and medium enterprises.”

World showcase for business tourism.

The participation on this edition of IBTM Barcelona is led by the ICT and it shows the joint work with the private sector, particularly a strategic alliance with the Costa Rica Convention Bureau, the administrators of the Centro de Convenciones de Costa Rica and other high-level venues that our country offers for the development of reward meetings, congresses and events.

For Alvaro Rojas, General Manager of the Centro de Convenciones de Costa Rica, the joint work of the public and private sector is fundamental for the development of the promotion strategy of business tourism. Rojas indicated that the most important is to highlight Costa Rica as a solid destination and then show in one of the showcases the evolution of our high-quality services.

Costa Rica’s stand covers a 861 ft2 area and offers spaces for one on one attention to participants and will have a large format image that shows the Centro de Convenciones de Costa Rica, as well as other natural attractions that make the country stand out and offer different unique experiences for those who decide to hold a congress, event or business meetings in the country. At the same time, videos of the touristic offer related to the segment and the quality of the services offered will be played. The participation of the private sector specialized in business tourism includes the Costa Rican Convention Bureau and the Centro de Convenciones de Costa Rica as the main strategic partners and other high-level representatives.

As part of the efforts of the business tourism strategy, an annual action plan is underway, which includes participating in specialized exhibitions, such as IBTM World 2018 in Barcelona, as well as an advertising and marketing plan that includes the presence in media related to the business tourism industry. In addition, a digital strategy is being developed, which consists of having advertising on social media. There is also the participation in the process for candidacy presentation for renowned international congresses and a solid ambassador program, all with the purpose of bettering Costa Rica’s positioning.