Organized by Reed Exhibitions Brazil, in partnership with ABAV – Brazilian Association of Travel Agencies, LACIME 2006 – Latin America and Caribbean Incentive & Meetings Exhibition, the most important event for…
Organized by Reed Exhibitions Brazil, in partnership with ABAV – Brazilian Association of Travel Agencies, LACIME 2006 – Latin America and Caribbean Incentive & Meetings Exhibition, the most important event for tourism, congresses, incentives and business fairs in Latin America enters its third edition in Brazil. The event, which takes place between the 20 and 22 of June at the Transamerica Expo Center, in the city of Sao Paulo, confirms Latin America (LA) and the Caribbean in the international business tourism.
Lacime 2006 bases itself on the same concept as the most important fairs in the segment, such as EIBTM (Barcelona-Spain) and AIME (Melbourne-Australia). Organized by Reed Travel Exhibitions (RTE), globally responsible for the organization of several tourism industry events for professionals in the sector, for travel, corporate and incentive events. “Holding these events in the Latin American and Caribbean markets reflects the alignment Lacime 2006 has with the other state-of-the-art events in the group, references to carry out business deals among the diverse players in incentive tourism, events and business”, says the show-manager for Reed Exhibitions Brazil, Daisy De Marco.
During Lacime, over 300 exhibitors are expected in an area of 8 thousand m². These are companies and organizations from a great diversity of branches of activities, linked to incentive tourism, events and business, such as: corporate travel agencies, land agents, trade associations, incentive bureaus; hotels and hotel chains; convention and exhibition centers; air travel companies; convention and visitors bureaus; sea cruises; incentive destinations; DMC – agencies specializing in receptive tourism; specialists in event management; technology providers for tourism; event venues; transport operators; tourism operators; tourist organizations; professional conference planners and organizers; fair promoters and organizers; specialized publications; resorts and spas.
Lacime 2006 also counts on the support of agencies and associations such as Embratur (Brazilian Tourism Institute), the Ministry of Tourism, ICCA (International Congress & Convention Association) and COCAL (Confederation of Entities Organizing Congresses & Similar Events in Latin America).A total industry audience of over 3 thousand professionals linked to the sectors under question is expected. “One of the main differentials is the focus of the event. Differently from other tourism fairs, Lacime is specially geared to professionals who come from Latin America and the Caribbean, who organize, plan, recommend, survey, have influence over or the final decision in the holding of events, annual meetings, incentive and corporate trips, conferences and special events”.
One of Lacime’s main attractions will be the exclusive Hosted Buyer Programme through which key buyers in tourism, congress, incentive and business events are identified and invited, after going through a stringent process of screening and qualification, to participate and attend 15 meetings with exhibitors of their interest during the three-day fair. The organization of the event hopes to host approximately 450 buyers, of which 250 are Hosted Buyers and 200 Trade Buyers – buyers invited coming from the Greater Sao Paulo. In this edition, LACIME 2006 has designed a specific program for the Trade Buyer, in which the buyer will be attracted by the possibility of setting up five meetings with suppliers of his/her interest in a single day, whilst broadening his/her knowledge by participating in the educational program.
Furthermore, another differential at Lacime will be the space devoted to the lecture program, with educational interest for buyers and professionals in the sector, presented by national and international experts on themes and trends in the tourism industry of the MICE segment (Meetings, Incentive, Congresses and Events). “The proposal is to offer the visitor an environment to circulate knowledge, by means of quality educational material, and always attentive to the needs of professionals in this market”, explains Daisy.
Reed Exhibitions Brazil estimates that this event should move at least R$ 5 million. According to Daisy, the event promises to heat up the market already under expansion in Latin America and the Caribbean, backed by the good results achieved in the second edition of Lacime, in 2005. A survey carried out among buyers invited to last year’s edition showed that the average amount of business generated (as a result of participation) was that 75% of them during the fair had a turnover of US$ 206 mil. Through a joint diagnosis with Abav, Reed was able to raise the following characteristics of present day visitors to Lacime: they organize more than 10 events a year; the annual budget is of approximately US$ 150 mil; the main sectors of interest are airlines, incentive destinations, tourist organizations, hotels in general and specialized services.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
