With pre-registation numbers up on last year, Reed Travel Exhibitions’ European Incentive Business Travel and Meetings (EIBTM) show 2007, which will be held in Barcelona on 27-29 November, looks set to be one of the busiest events in the history of the trade show.

More than 4,000 individuals have registered for the EIBTM Hosted Buyer programme and trade visitor pre-registrations are up 60% on 2006. Over 80 new Hosted Buyer group co-ordinators will be bringing groups from the key European markets plus long haul destinations, including Australia, Brazil, Argentina, China, South Africa, Canada and the US. International corporate companies already in the extensive list of trade visitor registrations include Nike, Barcardi-Martini, Citizen Watches, Honda, Mitsubishi, Novartis, Prada, Sara Lee, Walt Disney, Wrigley, Rolls Royce and Motorola.

EIBTM has also seen a significant rise in first time exhibitors, as well as many returning exhibitors increasing their stand space. There are more than 60 new main exhibitors, including Chile Tourism, China National Tourist Office, Prestige Hotels of the World, Vietnam, Vincci Hotels, Regione Campania, Korea, Nepal, Dallas CVB, Zambia, Trinidad and Tobago, Gibraltar and Guadeloupe. The major European cities of Munich, Birmingham and Oxford have also confirmed stand-alone representation for the first time.

Meanwhile, The MPI Technology Village and Event Services Village have been sold out for months, and with a total of over 40 exhibiting companies, will be the largest collection of specialist suppliers ever seen at EIBTM. The trade show will also feature over 20 general seminar sessions, plus the Association, Agency and Corporate programmes for Hosted Buyers.

Mandy Torrens, exhibition director for EIBTM, said: “We are really looking forward to EIBTM 2007 and the positive build-up to the event is very encouraging. Over the last 12 months the EIBTM team has put all their efforts into ensuring that once in Barcelona, exhibitors, Hosted Buyers and visitors will have access to the very best business, education and networking opportunities. Therefore, we are confident we will deliver a strong show for the industry again this year. ”