ITB Berlin 2025 kicks off with great momentum: fully booked and with a record number of 5,800 exhibitors from over 170 countries, the show opens its doors today to trade visitors, exhibitors and buyers from the international travel industry.
Themed 'The World of Travel lives here', the show will once again set the standard for the future of global tourism. Media professionals and content creators can find the latest information on ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention for their editorial coverage here.
ITB Berlin 2025 is officially open!
Albania, the official Host Country of ITB Berlin 2025, thrilled the audience with a spectacular show at yesterday's Opening Ceremony. Prime Minister Edi Rama spoke on behalf of Albania. Other speakers included Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin, Dieter Janecek, Federal Government Coordinator for the Maritime Industry and Tourism, Julia Simpson, President and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organisation (UN Tourism) and Dr Mario Tobias, CEO of Messe Berlin.
The official opening press conference and the impressive opening ceremony of the ITB Host Country Albania with high-ranking representatives from politics and tourism marked a successful start to ITB Berlin 2025. The video is available free of charge for editorial use.
ITB Berlin Morning Briefing with Deborah Rothe
Deborah Rothe, Director of ITB Berlin, gives an exclusive preview of ITB Berlin 2025 and talks about groundbreaking innovations, exciting new products and the highlights of Host Country Albania. She also reveals her personal highlights of her third ITB Berlin as Director.
Dr. Mario Tobias, CEO, Messe Berlin
At today's opening press conference on the eve of ITB Berlin, Dr Mario Tobias, CEO of Messe Berlin, welcomed guests to the historic Marshall House with an exciting outlook for the next three days.
In addition to interesting innovations, he presented key figures, highlights of the ITB Berlin Convention and an outlook for the coming year with exciting news about ITB's activities beyond the German capital.
Edi Rama, Prime Minister, Albania
Albania's tourism industry is booming – and the figures speak for themselves. At the opening press conference of ITB Berlin 2025, Prime Minister, His Excellency Edi Rama, impressively explained why the country was chosen as the official host country of the World's Largest Travel Trade Show this year. Albania is one of the world's most rapidly growing travel destinations and currently has the fastest expanding airport in Europe. German visitors in particular are increasingly discovering Albania for themselves. Only a few years ago, there were barely a few ten thousand, but by 2023, 374,000 Germans had already visited the country. Rama said: “When the Germans come, we know that provides a strong basis for further tourism to develop.“
Mitra Sorrells, SVP Content, Phocuswright
Despite a gloomy consumer outlook the global travel market continues to grow, although not at the same rates as before. That was the message of Mitra Sorrells, Senior Vice President Content of the US market research institute Phocuswright, in her keynote speech on Monday at the opening press conference of ITB Berlin 2025. By contrast, there was a greater willingness to invest in travel startups in 2024, albeit at a lower level than in previous years, she said. With digitalisation increasing in all areas of life, AI is proving to be an important tool for the travel industry and consumers. However it still needs to adapt.
Norbert Fiebig, President, DRV
Norbert Fiebig, President of the German Travel Association (DRV), spoke today at the opening press conference of ITB Berlin about current developments in the German travel market. Despite economic and geopolitical uncertainties, travelling remained one of the top priorities for Germans. They were not prepared to cut back on their holidays – this was positive news for the industry, said Fiebig. In challenging times, travelling offered a valuable opportunity to escape everyday life and gain new impressions.
