Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE) has expanded its partnership with the Society of Incentive Travel Executives (Site), which will now play a larger strategic role in RTE's portfolio of Incentive, Business Travel and Meetings (IBTM) trade shows — including EIBTM in Europe, CIBTM in Asia and AIBTM in the United States — it announced yesterday.
"The Site International Board of Directors is focused on the fact that the conversations we have today will have an impact on our business of tomorrow," said Site Managing Director Allison Summers. "We are very excited about the expansion of our partnership with RTE because we believe the conversations that will be had through the education and networking opportunities will be of great value for Site members and our colleagues in the industry."
At AIBTM, taking place June 19-21, 2012, in Baltimore, Site will serve as a group coordinator, hosting its own group of up to 100 hosted buyers who will participate in a series of special receptions, seminars and pre-scheduled appointments with exhibitors during the event.
At both AIBTM and EIBTM, meanwhile — the latter of which is scheduled for Nov. 27-29, 2012, in Barcelona — Site will host a "Young Leaders" education seminar for the next generation of incentive travel professionals, who will have the opportunity to interact onsite with industry leaders, politicians and advocates.
Finally, Site will co-locate its annual conference, the Site International Conference — which is expected to attract 500 attendees from more than 40 countries — with CIBTM, taking place Sept. 12-14, 2012, in Beijing.
"We have always valued the contribution Site has made to our global portfolio of events through the education programs and now look forward to extending this relationship to bring the incentive industry closer to our events," said Craig Moyes, group exhibitions director for RTE's global portfolio of meeting events. "Hosting top-level executives personally selected by Site for AIBTM as well as the other expanded programs will, we believe, deliver tangible business opportunities to our exhibitors."