Angelica GermisPress and Communication Chief for Berlin’s ITB

Caribbean News Digital interviewed ITB’s Press and Communication Chief, Angelica Germis, during one of the working sessions of the fair’s latest edition in Berlin.

By Jose Carlos Santiago

CND: What is ITB’s new communication policy toward Caribbean and Latin American countries?

AG: There’s no specific communication policy for the Caribbean and Latin America because ITB relies on an international communication system.

CND: ITB issues no communications in Spanish language at all. Is it going to do it in the future?

AG: All relevant information on ITB is in English and German, but the most important pieces of information are also transmitted in Spanish.

CND: What about Internet information?

AG: The information on the Internet is a different ballgame because we only have two versions, one in English and another on in German. We may also provide information in Spanish, but it hasn’t been posted yet due to a few technical glitches.

CND: Does ITB give any kind of special treatment to Caribbean and Latin American countries that makes this public turn eyes on Berlin rather than on Madrid’s FITUR?

AG: Through our representatives overseas, we always try to keep good contacts. ITB makes more contacts with the German public in general, and that’s very important if we were to stack it up against FITUR.

CND: Is there any chance for Caribbean and Latin American exhibitors to have far more contacts with international impresarios in Germany instead of in other European nations?

AG: Of course. Since we welcome more countries and the fair is bigger, then there are more contacts. Above all, all this media hype makes us a far more attractive fair.

CND: This year, FITUR sold more square feet of exposition surface than ITB, making it the world’s largest travel show as far as exhibition space is concerned. Is ITB planning to make an expansion in 2006?

AG: The Messe Berlin Hall is completely packed. Moreover, we’re offering more than just quantity and quality.