A new feature for visitors to this year’s ITB Berlin is a guide to the fair which is available on their mobile phones: the ITB Mobile Guide - provided by GIATA & TOURIAS - will make it easy for them to find their way around the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. In addition to a plan of the grounds it also contains the programme of the ITB Convention, a list of events together with press conferences, presentations and receptions, and the list of exhibitors. At the end of the fair each day the ITB Mobile Guide can be used to show the quickest way to the city centre and also offers ideas about how to enjoy the Berlin nightlife. Restaurants and bars can accessed along with tourist information, as well as details about some of the city’s sights. This clever system can be easily downloaded onto many commonly available mobile phones: For example, via the mobile link at www.itb-berlin.com, using a mobile (WAP) at mobile.itb-berlin.com, by SMS (a minimal one-off charge is incurred for the SMS or download) or directly from a Bluetooth station on the GIATA stand (Hall 6.1/Stand 156).

The technology is based on a system used by the travel guide for mobile phones, TOURIAS tips&deals, which has been developed by the Wurzburg-based provider of tourism services Campagnon Media, and GIATA, the leading content provider for the tourism sector. Tour operators can use TOURIAS tips&deals to supply their customers on their mobile phones with travel information about more than 100 destinations. “Mobile travel information via mobile phones, PDAs etc. is the coming trend,” says Christoph Schotter, general manager of Campagnon Media GmbH & Co. KG, “and with TOURIAS Mobile tour operators can be at the forefront of this new development.” And of course, TOURIAS Mobile also enables tourism associations to introduce themselves and their services on mobile terminals.

Apart from its uses at ITB Berlin, trade visitors can also call at the GIATA stand (Hall 6.1 / Stand 156) to learn more about the practical advantages of this advanced and compact system for providing portable travel details.