ITB Berlin 2021 to be an entirely virtual event: from 9 to 12 March
World’s Leading Travel Trade Show will provide the industry with the main online platform for networking, business and content
Next year the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show® will take place as an entirely virtual event. This decision was taken by Messe Berlin after weighing all the circumstances. ITB Berlin 2021 and the accompanying ITB Berlin Convention will be open to trade visitors only. The trade visitor days will take place from 9 to 12 March 2021, adding an extra day to the event.
”The situation surrounding the pandemic remains difficult, particularly for the travel and tourism industry. Our decision to hold ITB Berlin 2021 as an entirely virtual event now provides exhibitors and trade visitors with maximum planning certainty,“ said David Ruetz, Head of ITB Berlin, explaining the move. ”We have developed an alternative concept with which we as the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show® can again offer our partners and customers a reliable platform for global networking, business and content. The event will be highly relevant in terms of content. In these challenging times business meetings, exchanging specialist information and orientation are of special value for the industry.”
Among other features, the virtual concept of ITB Berlin 2021 will include numerous live-streamed high-level panel discussions and lectures as well as digital networking opportunities, an intelligent matchmaking event and a virtual exhibition area. On 16 November ITB Berlin will provide further information on exhibitor and sponsorship packages, tickets and booking options.
ITB Berlin’s recent experience with virtual formats has been positive. With its launch of itb.com in March of this year the team had already established a global virtual platform for the tourism industry. Next to daily news it features podcasts, networking opportunities and monthly Virtual Convention sessions. In mid-October, ITB Berlin and the Berlin Travel Festival as well as ITB Asia in Singapore successfully held virtual tourism events. Numerous leading industry speakers, some of them in person, others live-streamed from remote locations, took part in discussions and exchanged information on a variety of topics ranging from marketing and sales to CSR.
From 16 November 2020 additional information on the concept of ITB Berlin 2021 as well as regular updates will be available on our websites at www.itb-berlin.com and www.itb.com, our ITB trade visitor news and the social media channels of ITB Berlin.
About ITB Global Brand Family
For more than 50 years the name ITB has stood worldwide for the travel industry knowledge 365 days a year, networking and trendsetting events - in a virtual, in-person, or hybrid format alike. As the travel industry resurges, the ITB brand family is among the first to come back to offering on-site in-person events. ITB Asia will be held in Singapore from 15 to 17 October 2025, covering the broader regional market. ITB China, the premier marketplace for China's travel industry, is scheduled for 27 to 29 May 2025, in Shanghai. ITB India will take place in Mumbai from September 2 to 4, 2025. ITB Berlin, the world's leading B2B trade show for the travel industry, will take place in Berlin from March 3 to 5, 2026. The inaugural ITB Americas will be held in Guadalajara, Mexico, from 10 to 12 November 2026, covering the American market.