ITB Berlin is teaming up with Berlin Travel Festival to create a “hybrid” event featuring both face-to-face and online meetings.
The three-day event, called We Love Travel!, will be held at Arena Berlin in the centre of the German capital on 16 -18 October 2020 and is being billed as “a tourism recovery pop-up event” for both the trade and consumers.
ITB Berlin had to cancel this year’s trade show in March due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Julia Sonnemann, ITB Berlin’s PR manager, said: “During the coronavirus crisis the thing that struck us most was that nothing can replace the magic of personal contact – a smile, a handshake, proximity to one another.
“What we now need more than ever is a physical platform to revitalise the industry, make new contacts and re-establish relations.”
Organisers plans to create an event combining “in-person and virtual formats”, with a programme featuring exhibition areas, networking formats, presentations and discussion panels.
They also insist that the health and safety of attendees will be treated with the “utmost priority”.
Martin Buck, senior vice president, travel and logistics at trade fair operator Messe Berlin, added: “We are in close contact with the authorities, are closely monitoring developments and are working on a comprehensive concept for hygiene rules and safety measures
“We will provide information on our specific measures on our website in the near future.”
ITB Berlin 2021 is scheduled to be held from 10-14 March, 2021, with the first three days open to travel trade visitors only.