IBTM AMERICA 100% MUTUAL MATCH BUSINESS APPOINTMENTS

• First US meetings event to deliver the concept

ibtm america 2016 which will take place at the Gaylord Opryland in Nashville, June 15-17, 2016 (www.ibtmamerica.com) will be the first event of its kind in the US to create a community of professional meeting planners who will meet with suppliers for appointments selected in a mutual match process that guarantees both parties choose who they want to do business with.

Using technology developed by Reed Exhibitions – the world’s leading events organizer – and following research amongst the community that gathered at ibtm america this year, the show format will now allow for 2 days of intense business with up to 30 appointments and a third day dedicated to discovery of Nashville and industry education.

“With some 5,200 appointments that took place during ibtm america 2015, we are aware of the need to perfect the system even further and have been working on helping our attendees eliminate non-relevant meetings. As a result we are now able to deliver a 100% mutual match, which we believe is the first event of its kind in the US," said Jaime McAuley, Event Director, ibtm america.

Exhibitors will have the first opportunity to review Hosted Buyer profiles and make meeting preferences. When it’s the Hosted Buyers’ turn to select, they will see the details of the exhibitor that requested to meet with them and they can then accept that meeting.

Professional buyers will be pre-qualified to attend from the US, and around the world.

After this new “mutual match” is run, both buyer and supplier can then accept or decline an appointment, giving complete control to both parties.

“This is a unique method of ensuring that both parties at ibtm america have control of their time and investment at the event, knowing they have back to back appointments that are totally at their own request, matching their business objectives," added McAuley.

ibtm america 2016 will also feature a “Discovery Day” with all attendees experiencing Nashville, networking together and attending some education sessions. Full details of Discovery Day will be announced in the coming weeks.

“Creating our ibtm america true industry community has been a successful concept. The new meeting pod design gives exhibitors everything they need with none of the hassles of booth build, and once onsite the event format keeps buyers and suppliers together in one hotel, at one event venue, during all meals and networking. The new format ensures that buyers and exhibitors are truly engaged, making new connections and building long-lasting business relationships – as a result, the show is one of the hot tickets in 2016!” said McAuley.