More than 300 exhibitors will attend BTC 2011, the Italian trade show for the events, meetings, conferences and incentive travel industry which is now around the corner. This is an excellent result, further confirmed by the huge diversity of products and services that will be exhibited on Thursday 30 June and Friday 1 July in pavilion C1 of the Fiera di Rimini Exhibition Centre. More than 100 conference hotels, 25 hotel groups, 23 convention bureaus, conference centres, historic venues, events venues, communication and entertainment agencies, DMCs, technology suppliers, transport services… Around 300 hosted buyers expected: two thirds come from Italy, and the remaining third from 13 European countries and Russia.

This year, BTC will again confirm its role as a leading provider of professional content and education: the seminar programme consists of 18 events conducted by Italian and international speakers from both the meetings and events sector and other industries, ensuring a variety of opinions and contributions.

Highlights include the presentation of the new survey "The events market", which was conducted by the Piepoli Institute, commissioned by BTC and endorsed by industry association Federcongressi&eventi (EventReport is the media partner): the survey analyses investment in events by Italian and Eurpean companies for 2011, covering volumes, buying behaviour and organisational processes, as well as international buyers’ perception of Italy as a destination.

The exhibition floor will contain three new themed areas:

- The MarkEvent, the marketing area managed by magazine P5 with 16 non-conventional exhibitors presenting tools, technologies and languages to turn an event into a marketing tool. A creative and dynamic space, it will feature ““Pop Art” decorations, bodypainting performances, a waterwall with holograms, a synthetic ice rink and many other high-impact elements.
- Tech&Fun, the technology island created by Teknocongress, which will present three types of software that can be used to liven up an event, share and distribute content and ensure interactive communication among participants. Each software will be presented by its own product manager, who will help visitors experiment personally with its functions.
- Personal Expert, the area where representatives from six Italian and international media specialising in meetings and events will make their know-how on selected topics available in one-to-one meetings.

Finally, there is the BTC Moonlight Party “This is the dream”, an evening of networking and entertainment: this will be held on Thursday 30 June in Rimini’s Borgo San Giuliano, the old fishing village and home to the murals celebrating Rimini-born film director Federico Fellini. Six restaurants will host the BTC dinner, which will be followed by entertainment and an open-air DJ set. The evening is sponsored by the Region of Emilia Romagna.