With a view to promoting and fostering measures linked to the hotel sector, FITUR and the Hotel Technological Institute, ITH, have signed a collaboration agreement that will be implemented within the framework of the International Tourism Trade Fair, whose twenty-seventh edition is due to take place between January 31 and February 4.

Exhibitors from the United States and Canada are moving to a new location next year at ITB Berlin. This will occupy more than half of Hall 2.1, “thereby making it the largest North American and U.S. participation since 2001,” according to Björn Bieneck from B-FOR International, organizers of the Discover America Pavilion.

A new year has begun and Aruba is ready to step onto the spotlight in the MICE business. The happy Caribbean island is gearing up for planeloads of events, gatherings, festivals and congresses that promise to give the sunny destination a big leg up in one of the fastest-growing market segments in today’s world travel industry.

Set to take place at the Sandton Convention Centre from February 28 to March 1, 2007, Meetings Africa will see some 200 exhibitors marketing their products and services to local and international delegates. Arranged by the Thebe Exhibitions and Events Group, it is the region’s only one-stop shop for meeting planners, event organizers and incentive travel professionals.

With less than 100 days to go to the start of the 2007 World Cup, officials in the Caribbean are frantically putting the finishing touches to arrangements for the hosting of the event.

The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) and the Caribbean Hotel Association (CHA) teamed up on December 7 and 8 in Miami at the Downtown Hyatt Regency Hotel for the Second Annual Caribbean Sales & Marketing Strategy Conference, in which they welcomed a who’s who of companies and organizations that do business in the Caribbean.