One of the recent successes at EIBTM has been its major focus on technology and the introduction last year of a daily Technology Hour. 

This year the event has organised a comprehensive programme that should not be missed by anyone within the industry with an interest in future developments and how technology impacts directly on their businesses.

The Technology Hour, sponsored by Eventex – Hive the solution - is to include sessions on how technology will impact directly on Trade Visitors, Hosted Buyer and exhibitors; the benefits and pitfalls of using social networking sites for events and strategies for implementing technology to create interactive events.

Commenting on the daily hour sessions Mandy Torrens Exhibition Director said:  "New technologies are at the heart of the meetings industry and impact how we work on a day-to-day basis.  The Technology Hour has, in a very short time, become an essential and valued part of EIBTM with its high calibre speakers and challenging debates."

The 2008 Technology Sessions

Tuesday 2 December - 13.00 – 14.00
Latest technology trends transforming the events and meetings industry
Keynote speaker: Corbin Ball, CMP, Corbin Ball Associates
This interactive session will deal with emerging trends impacting meeting and event planning such as developments in Web 2.0, business networking, strategic management, wireless/mobile technology and current trends highlighted in the EIBTM WorldWide Technology Watch.

Wednesday 3 December  - 13.00 – 14.00
The Third Annual EIBTM Technology Debate
Corbin Ball, CMP, Corbin Ball Associates and Laurent Haug, LIFT Conference
Social networking sales and virtual worlds in the meetings and events industry – should you be using them?

MySpace has 110 million registered users. If it were a country it would be the 11th largest in the world!  When events are reduced to their most essential element, they are all about bringing people together. Online social software to develop communities is a natural addition to face-to-face meetings but are they a welcome addition?

Thursday 4 December - 13.00 – 14.00
Using technology to create interactive events
Facilitator Sam Smith – Spotme Marketing Manager, Shockfish SA

A panel of industry technology experts will cover topics such as messaging and communication tools; brainstorming and group collaboration systems; interaction systems and networking solutions. There will also be an introduction of the Meeting Content Matrix – a tool that teaches planners how to map technology into their event and decide when, where and how to allocate resources.


All three sessions of The Technology Hour will take place in the Conference Centre, Room 4.2.  There is no need to book but please arrive early as places are allocated on a first come first serve basis.  Interactive voting polls, provided by Spotme, will be used during the sessions on Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 December.

Additionally, each year EIBTM, through its WorldWide Technology Watch, seeks to find the newest, most innovative technology product for the meetings industry. Entries from around the world are considered by an expert international, industry judging panel.  On Wednesday 3 December at 15.00 on the Turespaña Events Lounge, visitors can meet with the winner of this year's EIBTM World Wide Technology Watch and hear at first hand about the winner's innovative product and how it could impact on business development.

To find our more information about the EIBTM 2008, please visit our events calender.